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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—
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and all the brothers and sisters with me, To the churches in Galatia:
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Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
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who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
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to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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No Other Gospel
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—
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which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
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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!
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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!
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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.
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Paul Called by God
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.
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I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
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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.
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I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
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But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased
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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.
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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.
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Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days.
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I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.
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I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
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Then I went to Syria and Cilicia.
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I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
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And they praised God because of me.
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Paul Accepted by the Apostles
Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.
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I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.