St Luke's Church Eccleshill, Bradford, UK

Hearing Paul's letter to the Galatians.

Gal 1:1-12 as a dialogue between the reader and a hearer.

The hearer is a member of the congregation and reads the parts in italics. The reader is the person chosen to read the bible reading that day and reads the part in ordinary type.

Well, here we are today in our Christian meeting in Iconium, South Galatia, a church founded by St Paul four years ago, and an important church, because since then we've had other apostles visiting us from Jerusalem who have taught us more about how to live as Christians. And today we are going to hear read out a letter from St Paul himself, received only this last week. I wonder what he will say? I suppose he'll start with a greeting?

1 Paul, an apostle -- sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead -- 2 and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Told you he would, didn't I. I guess the next bit will be all about how well we are doing living holy lives like the apostles from Jerusalem taught us?

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel -- 7 which is really no gospel at all.

Us, deserting Jesus? That's a real cheek. We're just doing what he and the other apostles from Jerusalem told us to do.

Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Well, it is true that the other apostles did say rather a lot of things that Paul didn't say, like being circumcised and obeying the food laws in the Old Testament and not working on the Sabbath and all of that. And I must admit some of that sounds a bit daft, as well as a bit painful - and does it really mean a slave, who has to work seven days a week, can't be a Christian? But after all, all those things are in the bible, and these were genuine apostles from Jerusalem.

8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

Oh, come on Paul, that's a bit judgemental isn't it? Surely you can't mean eternally damned! I thought the gospel of Jesus was supposed to be about love and peace, not hell fire and damnation?

9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

By heck! I think Paul does mean it! Well, that's not the sort of thing which is going to go down very well here in Iconium! Paul, don't you think you ought to learn how to be more tactful?

10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Well, what about these other apostles? Aren't they servants of Christ as well? If they teach something different, how are we supposed to know whether Paul is right or they are right?

11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Go on, tell me more.

This is the word of the Lord.

Oh, I see, we'll get the next instalment next week. After the reader says that, we all say "Thanks be to God". Mind you, I often wonder if it's a mistake only having a tiny bit of a letter read out each time we meet? Ah, well, I suppose we'd better get on with the rest of the service?

Ahem! I said "This is the word of the Lord."

Oh sorry. Lets say together …
All. Thanks be to God.

John Hartley