Paul’s letters were personal, written in the context of his ministry with people. No ivory tower academic, his doctrine was not separated from people where they lived.  So as he writes, he is backed up by other Christians with him. So while he speaks with the authority of an apostle, he reminds his readers that his teaching is not unique to him, but the sentiments of the letter are shared by “all the brethren who are with me.”  This is similar to when he appealed to the Corinthians on a gender issue, based on the general practice of the churches—a sort of positive peer pressure to conform to the truth (1 Corinthians 11:16).

Who were these “brethren?” Possibly he was referring to the apostles, elders and others present at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15. Paul and Barnabas had just returned from their first missionary journey, arriving in Jerusalem from the area of Galatia where a number of Gentile churches had been established(Acts 13-14). A council in Jerusalem had been called to work out the ramifications of the new teaching of grace and whether Gentiles would be required to become Jewish proselytes in order to be added to the church. His letter to the Galatians could possibly have been written and delivered at the same time as the letter from the council to the churches of Galatia (see Acts 15:22ff). At any rate, the contents of both letters are related to the issue of whether the Mosaic law is required (in particular the Jewish rite of circumcision) for Gentile believers.

The hallmark of Paul’s writing comes next, “Grace to you and peace …”  which he includes in every one of his letters. He is not giving lip service to mechanical salutations. At the core of his teaching is the desire that all to whom he ministers would understand and experience both grace and peace. Grace is the means by which we are brought into right relationship with God (justification) and the means by which we continue and grown in that relationship (i.e. sanctification). Peace is the result both personally in ourselves and relationally with God and with others. Both grace and peace are essential to life. Grace, because we cannot win God’s favor with our efforts at keeping His commandments, and peace because we separated ourselves from God by our wrong doings. This grace is sourced in God and comes through the Lord Jesus Christ (Paul uses His full title). Paul’s writing was intended to convey that grace and peace, and we would do well to make in our goal to understand and live in that grace and peace.