Book of Galatians - Chapter 1 - Verse 22

When the Apostle Paul made this statement in his letter to the Galatians, he was referring to his lack of personal acquaintance with the churches in Judaea that were in Christ. This could have been due to the geographical distance between Judaea and the places where Paul had been ministering. It is also possible that Paul's intense persecution of the early Christians prior to his conversion had hindered his ability to establish relationships with these particular churches. Regardless of the reason, Paul's main point in mentioning this is to emphasize that his preaching and teachings were not influenced by the leaders of the churches in Judaea. He wanted to make it clear that the gospel he preached came directly from Christ and not through any human intermediary. This verse serves as a reminder that the message of salvation is not dependent on human relationships or approval, but on a personal relationship with Christ.

When examining the theological interpretation of the verse 'And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:', it is important to consider the context in which it is written. This verse, found in the book of Galatians, is part of a passage in which the apostle Paul is defending his authority as an Apostle to the Gentiles. Here, Paul explains that before his conversion, he was unknown by face to the churches in Judea that were in Christ. This can be seen as a demonstration of the radical transformation that Paul underwent when he turned from persecuting Christians to becoming one of the foremost leaders of the early church. The theological significance of this verse lies in the idea that God can transform even the most zealous opponents of Christianity into powerful advocates for the faith. In terms of word studies, the phrase "unknown by face" can be interpreted as referring to Paul's lack of personal acquaintance with the Christians in Judea before his conversion, emphasizing the dramatic change that took place in his life.