Introduction

Paul, (A)an apostle ((B)not sent from men nor through human agency, but (C)through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who (D)raised Him from the dead), and all (E)the brothers who are with me,

To (F)the churches of Galatia:

(G)Grace to you and peace from [a]God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who (H)gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from (I)this present evil [b]age, according to the will of (J)our God and Father, (K)to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

Distortion of the Gospel

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting (L)Him who called you [c]by the grace of Christ, for a (M)different gospel, which is not just another account; but there are some who are (N)disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or (O)an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be [d](P)accursed! As we (Q)have said before, even now I say again: (R)if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be [e](S)accursed!

10 For am I now (T)seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a (U)bond-servant of Christ.

Paul Defends His Ministry

11 For (V)I would have you know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel which was preached by me is (W)not [f]of human invention. 12 For (X)I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a (Y)revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For you have heard of (Z)my former way of life in Judaism, how I (AA)used to persecute (AB)the church of God beyond measure and (AC)tried to destroy it; 14 and I (AD)was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my [g]countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my (AE)ancestral traditions. 15 But when [h]He who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and (AF)called me through His grace was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might (AG)preach Him among the Gentiles, (AH)I did not immediately consult with [i](AI)flesh and blood, 17 (AJ)nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to (AK)Damascus.

18 Then (AL)three years later I went up (AM)to Jerusalem to [j]become acquainted with [k](AN)Cephas, and stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 But I did not see another one of the apostles except [l](AO)James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now in what I am writing to you, [m]I assure you (AP)before God that I am not lying.) 21 Then (AQ)I went into the regions of (AR)Syria and (AS)Cilicia. 22 I was still unknown by [n]sight to (AT)the churches of Judea which are (AU)in Christ; 23 but they only kept hearing, “The man who once persecuted us is now preaching (AV)the faith which he once (AW)tried to destroy.” 24 And they (AX)were glorifying God [o]because of me.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 1:3 One early ms God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ
  2. Galatians 1:4 Or world
  3. Galatians 1:6 Lit in
  4. Galatians 1:8 Gr anathema
  5. Galatians 1:9 Gr anathema
  6. Galatians 1:11 Lit according to man
  7. Galatians 1:14 Lit race
  8. Galatians 1:15 One early ms God who
  9. Galatians 1:16 I.e., people
  10. Galatians 1:18 Or visit
  11. Galatians 1:18 I.e., Peter
  12. Galatians 1:19 Or Jacob
  13. Galatians 1:20 Lit behold before God
  14. Galatians 1:22 Lit face
  15. Galatians 1:24 Lit in 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.