Paul wrote this of the Galatian Christians … “before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you.” Galatians 3:1

This almost sounds like Paul thought the Galatians had been “eyewitnesses” to the Death of Jesus, His Crucifixion!

Right “before their eyes!”

Yet, we know this is chronologically impossible, in a literal way anyhow. These folks lived too far from Jerusalem, and were born too late to have seen that Epochal Event as well. Plus, they were Gentiles, not interested in Jewish affairs at all!

Then what does Paul mean? “Before your eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you.”

Undoubted the Apostle is referring to … the POWER of preaching!

Paul and his team had so effectively (aided by God the Holy Spirit) proclaimed the Gospel (the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus) to these motley Galatians … that they (nearly) SAW Christ hanging on that old rugged Cross!

The verb translated “evidently set forth” is “prographo” in Greek! As if the Calvary Experience had been “written” (“grapho”) right “in front of, before” (“pro”) their eyes!

That’s graphic preaching, in its truest sense. 

“Among” you … “in” your very midst!

Paul had made the Cross “come alive” as he evangelized there at Galatia!

The point being, our statement in its context: having been so clearly “shown” the heart of the Gospel … how could these Galatian believers ever revert to a Mosaic interpretation of salvation? To a Law-centered soteriology?

How could they every have minimized Jesus’ vicarious Death on Calvary?

But they are in danger of doing that very thing!

And Paul is aghast!

How can one forsake the TRUTH and turn to any inferior, false substitute?

Makes you wonder!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell