The salutation with which the epistle ends contains one unusual word. In every

salutation made by Paul there are to be found the core as it were of all his greetings

"Grace . . . . . be with . . . . ." Once this is expanded in II Cor. 13: 14 to include the

Trinity, and the salutation of Ephesians make special reference to those that love the

Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, while II Timothy and Philemon, together with Galatians,

add the words `with my (or your) spirit'; but in the salutation of the epistle to the

Galatians alone the word `brethren' occurs. The word is placed at the very end of the

sentence (not as in the A.V. at the beginning). Apart from `Amen' it is the Apostle's

last word. It seems as though he would remind them that in spite of all his censure, and

in spite of all the trouble they had caused him, they were and always would be `brethren'.

A blessed word with which to end an epistle in which so much felling has been

manifested, and so much error exposed and condemned.

Thus we bring to an end a study that embraces doctrine that lies at the very centre of

the gospel of grace. Its importance cannot be overrated; no one can fully appreciate the

glories of the dispensation of the Mystery who does not whole-heartedly follow Paul in

this great conflict for the truth.

Luther's translation of Galatians was one of the main instruments in promoting the

Reformation, and all who have the responsibility of teaching and preaching are urged to

give this epistle a place in their witness. We feel we cannot do better than end these

studies with the clarion call of Gal. 5: 1: