Grace and Peace to Galatia
Paul’s fierce defense of the gospel of grace against those who would add law-keeping to faith. Freedom in Christ is its theme.
1 1Paul, an apostle—not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and our Father, who raised him from the dead, 2and all the brothers and sisters who are with me, to the churches of Galatia: 3Grace and peace to you from our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins, to rescue us from this present evil age, by our Father's will, 5to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
No Other Gospel
6I'm amazed you're so quickly turning from the one who called you by Christ's grace to a different gospel. 7Not that another gospel exists — but some are unsettling you, wanting to twist the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel other than what we preached to you, let him be cursed. 9As we said before, I now repeat: if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than what you received, let that person be cursed.
10Am I seeking people's approval now, or our Father's? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ's servant.
The Father Called Paul Directly
11For, brothers and sisters, I want you to know: the gospel I preached is not human in origin. 12I received it from no man, and was not taught it, but through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13You've heard of my past in Judaism—how fiercely I persecuted our Father's church, trying to destroy it. 14I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, far more passionate for my ancestors' traditions. 15But when our Father, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased, 16to reveal his Son in me, so I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult anyone, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem, to those apostles before me, but went to Arabia, then returned to Damascus.
18Then, three years later, I went up to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, staying with him fifteen days. 19But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. 20In what I am writing to you, I assure you before our Father, I am not lying. 21Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22I was still personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard: "The one who once persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy." 24And they glorified our Father because of me.
