Galatians 1:2
2 And [kai] all [pas] the brethren [adelphos]
which are with [sun] me, [emoi] unto the churches [ekklesia]
of Galatia: [Galatia] KJV-Interlinear
2 and
all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia: NASB
Paul is about to give the Galatians a lecture as to
their attitude and behavior with regard to their adoption of works as a part of
their spiritual lives, and so the tone is set here, of subtle coolness in the
greeting where the names are absent in Pauls opening remarks.
In other books Paul identifies many people by name,
in giving them compliments and such. But
here, there seem to be several who are with him, and in not naming any, implies
that they all are of the same opinion and mind as to the errors that are now
prevalent within the Galatian community.
The churches is plural but also are not identified
by name. There are several towns and
communities in Galatia. Their number is
not given and their identities are not named.
This letter is addressed collectively to them all,
thus indicating that they all are pursuing the same collection of errors, which
many Judaizes were introducing in that region.
It is not unreasonable to see separate communities,
though separated by some form of distance or geography, to follow similar
errors or trends in beliefs.
When the distances are greater, then there is a tendency
of separation of social attitudes and beliefs.
Even in a single country, there can be differences in views between the
north, south, east or western sections of that same country. Continents offer even more distance and
differences that serve to protect any given society from coming under the influence
or control of another.
But as those distances become shorter, then differences,
that generally protect society, become fewer and fewer.
And while in our current age, the geographical
distances are the same as they were centuries ago, the gap between peoples and
opinions is virtually removed by means of television and the internet, and this
will have a huge impact on life and society, in the future end of days
scenarios. The real ones, not the fake
ones, of course.
