The first verse in Galatians: “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) and all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia ….” Yes, Paul nearly always had co-laborers with him. He was indeed a people-person! (Books, lots of them, have been written about the personalities surrounding the Apostle!)

But in Galatians notice he only (specifically) names himself as the writer. “PAUL, as Apostle.”

Whereas in one of the Corinthian Letters, he also names “Timothy” as a cowriter! “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and TIMOTHY our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia ….” 2 Corinthians 1:1

Look at Philippians also. “Paul and TIMOTHEUS, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons ….” Timothy again, Philippians 1:1

What about Colossians? “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and TIMOTHEUS our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse ….” Colossians 1:1-2, of course. Ever he is, “Paul the mentor!”

In Thessalonians, even more are listed!  “Paul, and SILVANUS (Silas), and TIMOTHEUS, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ ….” Wow, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, a trio!

It’s the same in 2 Thessalonians as well. “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus!”

What about Philemon? “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and TIMOTHY our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer ….” Back to just Timothy, but he is listed as a co-author! (Philemon verse 1, King James Version.)

But what is the “point” of all this?

I woke up during the night with this question lingering in my mind. “WHY did Paul only name himself as the composer of the letter to the Galatians Churches?” Especially when it is so clear that others were with him as he wrote the Book! “Paul, an apostle … and all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia ….”

And I think I know the answer.

Or part of it, anyway.

In his friendlier, more love-soaked Letters Paul regularly mentions a co-author. (We all know that The True Writer of the Bible is God the Holy Spirit. I am speaking of human composers, now. See 2 Timothy 3:16.)

To the Churches “closest to his heart” Paul loves to promote comradery and brotherhood!

BUT TO THE GALATIANS … who seem to be on the verge of departing from the faith … it is another matter! Leaving the gospel of Grace … reverting to the rules (613 of them) Moses left so long ago? Dangerously close to spurning Christ’s Death on Calvary as being totally able to provide salvation?

So in this Epistle, Paul spares no words!

Uses harsh condemnation!

Even mimics their silliness!

Questions the reality of their faith to begin with, at its very inception!

And he chooses to do this alone!

With no co-author by his side.

(You can be sure … they were there, just incognito, not listed!)

Paul will do the “dirty work” by himself.

He alone will bear the blame, the censure, the hatred, if any comes. And surely it did.

Today’s lesson may be an incidental.

But it shows Paul’s character (to me) in a special light.

And I admire him more than ever!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

He bore this burden by himself.

Gives new meaning to the line in Paul’s “list of persecutions” … “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care (worry, burden, weight) of all the churches.” 2 Corinthians 11:28, amazing!