Galatians 1:2

all the brethren which are with me It is impossible to say with certainty whothese brethren were. The expression, - allthe brethren" and the omission of any names, render it improbable that reference is intended only to Timothy and Titus. The words are intentionally vague, and certainly do not lend support to the view that St Paul "sought safety in numbers". He knew that truth is generally with the minority. But he never forgot that he was a member of the Church, and not an isolated individual. The truth for which he contended was the birthright of his brethren, dear to them as to himself.

unto the churches of Galatia The abruptness of the address is remarkable. No word of praise, no mention of privilege. Comp. the opening words of the Epistles to the Thessalonians, Ephesians, &c. Even the Corinthians receive a more kindly salutation. They had not "erred concerning the faith" as had these Galatians.

The word -Church" in the N. T. is used either (1) of the whole body of believers, "the whole congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the whole world" (Canon lv.), (Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:24), or (2) of a particular congregation, under the same ministry of the word and sacraments. Thus we read of the Church in Cenchreæ (1 Corinthians 16:1), of the Churches of Asia (1 Corinthians 16:19; Revelation 1:4, &c.), of the Church in a particular house (Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2). (3) It is also used of an assembly of believers gathered together for worship, as 1 Corinthians 14:28. The Churches of the Thessalonians and Laodiceans are exceptions to the usual form, in which the precise localityis designated. We may assume that the Churches of Galatia were bodies of converts living in the principal cities, Ancyra, Pessinus, &c. See Introduction, p. ix.