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From: Sha’ul, an emissary — I received my commission not from human beings or through human mediation but through Yeshua the Messiah and God the Father, who raised him from the dead — also from all the brothers with me

To: The Messianic communities in Galatia:

Grace and shalom to you from God our Father and from the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who gave himself for our sins, so that he might deliver us from the present evil world-system, in obedience to the will of God, our Father. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

I am astounded that you are so quick to remove yourselves from me, the one who called you by the Messiah’s grace, and turn to some other supposedly “Good News,” which is not good news at all! What is really happening is that certain people are pestering you and trying to pervert the genuine Good News of the Messiah. But even if we — or, for that matter, an angel from heaven! — were to announce to you some so-called “Good News” contrary to the Good News we did announce to you, let him be under a curse forever! We said it before, and I say it again: if anyone announces “Good News” contrary to what you received, let him be under a curse forever!

10 Now does that sound as if I were trying to win human approval? No! I want God’s approval! Or that I’m trying to cater to people? If I were still doing that, I would not be a servant of the Messiah.

11 Furthermore, let me make clear to you, brothers, that the Good News as I proclaim it is not a human product; 12 because neither did I receive it from someone else nor was I taught it — it came through a direct revelation from Yeshua the Messiah. 13 For you have heard about my former way of life in [traditional] Judaism — how I did my best to persecute God’s Messianic Community and destroy it; 14 and how, since I was more of a zealot for the traditions handed down by my forefathers than most Jews my age, I advanced in [traditional] Judaism more rapidly than they did.

15 But when God, who picked me out before I was born and called me by his grace, chose 16 to reveal his Son to me, so that I might announce him to the Gentiles, I did not consult anyone; 17 and I did not go up to Yerushalayim to see those who were emissaries before me. Instead, I immediately went off to Arabia and afterwards returned to Dammesek. 18 Not until three years later did I go up to Yerushalayim to make Kefa’s acquaintance, and I stayed with him for two weeks, 19 but I did not see any of the other emissaries except Ya‘akov the Lord’s brother. 20 (Concerning these matters I am writing you about, I declare before God that I am not lying!) 21 Next I went to Syria and Cilicia; 22 but in Y’hudah, the Messianic congregations didn’t even know what I looked like — 23 they were only hearing the report, “The one who used to persecute us now preaches the Good News of the faith he was formerly out to destroy”; 24 and they praised God for me.

Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through [a]man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead), and all the brethren that are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace [b]from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil [c]world, according to the will of [d]our God and Father: to whom be the glory [e]for ever and ever. Amen.

I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different [f]gospel; [g]which is not another gospel: only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the [h]gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should [i]preach [j]unto you any gospel [k]other than that which we [l]preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man [m]preacheth unto you any gospel [n]other than that which ye received, let him be anathema. 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a [o]servant of Christ.

11 For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the [p]gospel which was [q]preached by me, that it is not after man. 12 For neither did I receive it from [r]man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it: 14 and I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of mine own age [s]among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace, 16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might [t]preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to [u]visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, [v]save [w]James the Lord’s brother. 20 Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 21 Then I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 23 but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now [x]preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc; 24 and they glorified God in me.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 1:1 Or, a man
  2. Galatians 1:3 Some ancient authorities read from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  3. Galatians 1:4 Or, age
  4. Galatians 1:4 Or, God and our Father
  5. Galatians 1:5 Greek unto the ages of the ages.
  6. Galatians 1:6 Greek good tidings. See marginal note on Mt. 4:23.
  7. Galatians 1:7 Or, which is nothing else save that there etc.
  8. Galatians 1:7 Greek good tidings. See verse 6.
  9. Galatians 1:8 See marginal note on Mt. 11:5.
  10. Galatians 1:8 Some ancient authorities omit unto you.
  11. Galatians 1:8 Or, contrary to that
  12. Galatians 1:8 See marginal note on Mt. 11:5.
  13. Galatians 1:9 See marginal note on Mt. 11:5.
  14. Galatians 1:9 Or, contrary to that
  15. Galatians 1:10 Greek bondservant.
  16. Galatians 1:11 Greek good tidings. See verse 6.
  17. Galatians 1:11 See marginal note on Mt. 11:5.
  18. Galatians 1:12 Or, a man
  19. Galatians 1:14 Greek in my race. Compare 2 Cor. 11:26.
  20. Galatians 1:16 See marginal note on Mt. 11:5.
  21. Galatians 1:18 Or, become acquainted with
  22. Galatians 1:19 Or, but only
  23. Galatians 1:19 Or, Jacob
  24. Galatians 1:23 See marginal note on Mt. 11:5.