Paul had been used of God to found the Galatian church, and upon visiting them after three years of absence, he found them in danger of departing from the simple faith of the gospel. False teachers had come and unsettled them in their faith and in their confidence in their spiritual father. 

The letter is rough and rugged. In this fighting epistle, the apostle gets down to the root of the trouble right away. "I am ashamed," he writes, "that you so quickly deserted the gospel of God's grace. I know these false prophets have also asserted that I preached a message of my own compilation. This is not true. I never received it from man nor was I taught it of man. These false teachers, moreover, fail to preach the gospel of the crucified Redeemer. Let it be clearly known that I, myself, glory in the stigma, shame and reproach of Calvary. God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. I am a crucified man."

Brands of the Cross
The apostle brings his message of correction and castigation to a final conclusion: "Oh, Galatians, here is my final word: to all those who would trouble and harass me - leave me alone: I bear branded on my body the 'stigmata' of the Cross." 

The word "marks" comes from the Greek word "stigmata." We are all familiar with the words "stigma" and "stigmatize," which are derived from this word. The word "stigmata" denotes marks on the flesh, either by the puncture of a hot sharp instrument, sometimes hot needles, or more often by branding without puncture. Paul eloquently uses a word which strikingly conveys to the mind's eye of his hearers his attachment to his blessed Lord. 

Slaves were branded as the property of their master. Worshippers of heathen gods branded their bodies with the names of their favorite deity. Roman generals, when returning with the spoils of victory, caused their insignia to be put upon their enslaved captives. Proud warriors, marching fearlessly behind their favorite general, evinced their confidence and displayed their pride, by branding themselves with the illustrious name of their leader. 

What precious thoughts rush into our minds when once we catch the significance of this glorious word, "stigmata!" Here is the language of: 

Dedication
Paul informs us he has enlisted in a mighty army - the army of the redeemed -- and is marching under a banner to which his life is dedicated. Only the truly surrendered soul could take such an uncompromising stand as Paul. As the oak sends its roots down into the ground and is thus firmly rooted and able to weather the storm, so the apostle was firmly rooted in the love of Christ. Being a complete vassal of Christ, Paul could be indifferent to what man did or said. "From henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear in my body the brand-marks of the Lord Jesus." 

Determination
Paul was no weather vane to be turned by every wind of man's opposition. Paul was no weak convert, who turned back in the heat of battle. Opposition only drove this blessed man to a greater determination. His spiritual life thrived in the midst of conflict. He is saying, "You can't deter me by your scorn, opposition and treachery. I'm going right on. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. None of these things move me!" 

This is copyrighted material from James Stewart's book Come O Breath!, available from Revival Literature, PO Box 6068, Asheville, NC 28816.