Greeting and the Only True Gospel
Study note
Paul's greeting immediately establishes his apostolic authority as coming directly from Jesus Christ and God the Father, not from any human source. Unlike his other letters, he skips any words of thanksgiving and moves straight to a rebuke: the Galatians are deserting the God who called them. He pronounces a double curse on anyone -- even an angel -- who preaches a gospel different from what they originally received, underscoring that the gospel of grace is non-negotiable.
1 From Paul -- an apostle who was not sent or chosen by any person. Jesus Christ himself and God the Father sent him. God is the one who raised Jesus from the dead. Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
2 All the brothers and sisters here with me join me in writing to the churches in Galatia. And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
3 May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 Jesus gave up his own life for our sins to pull us out of this evil world we live in. He did this because it was the plan of God our Father. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
5 All glory belongs to God forever and ever. Amen. To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6 I cannot believe how fast you are walking away from the God who called you through the grace of Christ! You are chasing after a completely different message. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 There truly is no other true message. But certain people are confusing you and trying to change the good news about Christ into something else. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 Someone might tell you a message that differs from the good news we already shared. It could be us or even an angel from heaven. Let that person be cursed. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 I already said it once, and I will say it again. If anyone brings you a message that does not match the good news you already accepted, let that person be cursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 Am I trying to win people's approval or God's? Am I trying to make people happy? If I were still living to please people, I would not be serving Christ. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Paul's Gospel Received by Revelation
Study note
Paul defends his gospel by tracing its origin not to human teaching but to a direct revelation of Jesus Christ. He recounts his former zeal as a persecutor of the church and his dramatic conversion, emphasizing that God had set him apart from birth for the mission to the Gentiles. His limited contact with the Jerusalem apostles proves that his message was not derived from them. The Judaean churches could only glorify God for the transformation of their former persecutor.
11 Let me be clear, brothers and sisters: the good news I shared with you did not come from any human source. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 No person gave it to me, and no person taught it to me. Jesus Christ himself revealed it to me. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 You already know how I used to live when I followed the Jewish religion. I attacked God's church with everything I had and tried to wipe it out. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 I was getting ahead in the Jewish religion faster than anyone my age. I was very serious about the ways my ancestors passed down. And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15 But even before I was born, God set me apart and called me through his grace. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
16 God chose to show his Son to me so I could share him with non-Jewish people. I did not go ask anyone for advice. To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 I did not even go to Jerusalem to meet the apostles who came before me. Instead, I went to Arabia, and after that I came back to Damascus. Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18 It was not until three years later that I finally went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter. I stayed with him for 15 days. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19 The only other apostle I met during that time was James, the Lord's brother. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
20 I am telling you this before God -- I am not making any of this up. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
21 After that, I went to the areas of Syria and Cilicia. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
22 The churches in Judaea that follow Christ had never even met me face to face. And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judæa which were in Christ:
23 All they knew about me was what they heard: "The man who used to attack us is now spreading the same faith he once tried to destroy." But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
24 And they praised God because of the change in me. And they glorified God in me.