John Calvin Commentary Galatians 1:2

"and all the brethren that are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:" — Galatians 1:2 (ASV)

And all the brothers who are with me (Galatians 1:2). He appears to have usually written in the name of many persons, judging that, if those to whom he wrote should attach less weight to a single individual, they might listen to a greater number, and would not despise an entire congregation. His general practice is to insert salutations from brothers at the end of his letters, instead of introducing them at the beginning as joint authors of the letter. At least, he never mentions more than two names, and those very well known. But here he includes all the brothers; and thus adopts, though not without good reason, an opposite method. The concurrence of so many godly persons must have had some degree of influence in softening the minds of the Galatians, and preparing them to receive instruction.

To the churches of Galatia (Galatians 1:2). It was an extensive country and therefore contained many churches scattered throughout it. But is it not remarkable that the term “Church,” which always implies unity of faith, should have been applied to the Galatians, who had almost entirely revolted from Christ? I reply, as long as they professed Christianity, worshipped one God, observed the sacraments, and enjoyed some kind of gospel ministry, they retained the external marks of a church.

We do not always find in churches such a measure of purity as might be desired. The purest have their blemishes; and some are marked, not by a few spots, but by general deformity. Though the doctrines and practices of any society may not, in all respects, meet our wishes, we must not instantly pronounce its defects a sufficient reason for withholding from it the name of a Church.

Paul manifests here a gentleness of disposition utterly at variance with such a course. Yet our acknowledgment of societies as churches of Christ must be accompanied by an explicit condemnation of everything in them that is improper or defective; for we must not imagine that, wherever there is some kind of church, everything in it that should be desired in a church is perfect.

I make this observation because the Papists, seizing on the single word Church, think that whatever they choose to force upon us is sanctioned; though the condition and aspect of the Church of Rome are widely different from what existed in Galatia. If Paul were alive today, he would perceive the miserable and dreadfully shattered remains of a church; but he would perceive no building. In short, the word Church is often applied by a figure of speech in which a part is taken for the whole, to any portion of the church, even though it may not fully answer to the name.