1:1 Paul, an apostle - sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead -
1:2 and all the brothers and sisters* with me, To the churches in Galatia: / *The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15; 4:12, 28, 31; 5:11, 13; 6:1, 18.
1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
1:4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
1:5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel -
1:7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!
1:9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
1:11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.
1:12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
1:13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
1:14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
1:15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased
1:16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.
1:17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
1:18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas* and stayed with him fifteen days. / *That is, Peter
1:19 I saw none of the other apostles - only James, the Lord’s brother.
1:20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
1:21 Then I went to Syria and Cilicia.
1:22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
1:23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
1:24 And they praised God because of me.