Galatians 1:15
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,
Truth to Learn
We have been called by God to serve Him.
Behind the Words
The word translated “separated” is a form of the Greek word aphoridzō which is a compound word made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and the verb horidzō, which means “to define.” Hence, aphoridzō means “to separate” or “to set-apart for a particular office or work.”
Meaning Explained
On the surface, this verse seems to say one thing when, in fact, it is saying something entirely different. The expression, “separated me from my mother’s womb” appears to be a reference to God being in control of Paul’s birth. But, Paul is not saying that God was responsible for, or participated in, his birth, but that from the time he was born, God set Paul apart for a particular work, spreading the gospel to the Gentiles.
If you look at Ephesians 1:4, 5 you will see that God chooses each one of us to be holy and blameless in his sight.
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (Ephesians 1:4, 5)
God does not simply choose us to be his children, he sets us apart. The word holy means “set apart.” Just like Paul, you and I have been chosen and have been set-apart. And, not only did God set Paul apart for the ministry of Gentile evangelism but he also “called” him to the task, and we have also been called by God to serve Him, as Paul tells us in Romans chapter 8.
In Paul’s case, this setting-apart and calling is referenced in the first verse of the book of Romans:
Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God (Romans 1:1)
And later, as part of their commissioning by the church at
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. (Acts 13:2)
Paul was called and set-apart for a specific ministry. He was obedient and he turned the world upside down.
Application
Every Christian has been chosen by God, separated from the remainder of mankind, and called to serve and obey our Lord and Master. And, according to Paul in the current verse, and in Ephesians 1:5 quoted above, this separating and calling is according to God’s choosing, “according to the good pleasure of His will,” not according to what we want to do.
God is the one who does the calling. How we choose to respond to that calling is up to us.
How have you responded to God’s calling in your life?
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2007 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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