What does Galatians 1:2 mean?

Scholars believe Paul wrote this letter from Antioch, in Syria, sometime after his first missionary journey. During that journey (Acts 13—14), Paul carried the "good news" of the gospel of Jesus to cities in the southern region of the Roman province of Galatia, in Asia Minor. He helped set up churches of brand new Christians, in cities that included Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and another city called Antioch of Pisidia.

Paul is writing his letter to those churches in Galatia. The intent of a "circular" letter like this one is that it will be passed around the region to be read aloud in each of the churches there. Many of those receiving the letter would know Paul personally from the time he spent with them when they believed in the message of Jesus and joined the Christian community; this community is what is meant by "the church."

Paul emphasizes that those who are with him as he is writing this letter stand with him, as well. This may include all of those listed in Acts 13:1: prophets, teachers, Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, and a man named Manaen. Paul likely mentions that his letter comes from these other men in Antioch in Syria to demonstrate that they, too, stand for the gospel as Paul preaches it and stand with Paul as a genuine apostle.