Paul, (1) an apostle, (not (a) of men, neither by (b) man, but by (c) Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
(1) A salutation which puts in a few words the sum of the apostle's doctrine, and also immediately from the beginning shows the gravity appropriate for the authority of an apostle, which he had to maintain against the false apostles.
(a) He shows who is the author of the ministry generally: for in this the whole ministry agrees, that whether they are apostles, or shepherds, or teachers, they are appointed by God.
(b) He mentions that man is not the instrumental cause: for this is a special right of the apostles, to be called directly from Christ.
(c) Christ no doubt is man, but he is also God, and head of the Church, and in this respect to be exempted out of the number of men.