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.

Chapter 1.

Paul, an apostle—not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and our Father, who raised him from the dead, and all the brothers and sisters who are with me, to the churches of Galatia: Grace and peace to you from our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, to rescue us from this present evil age, by our Father's will, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel

I'm amazed you're so quickly turning from the one who called you by Christ's grace to a different gospel. Not that another gospel exists—but some are unsettling you, wanting to twist the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel other than what we preached to you, let him be cursed. As we said before, I now repeat: if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than what you received, let that person be cursed.

Am 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

For, brothers and sisters, I want you to know: the gospel I preached is not human in origin. I received it from no man, and was not taught it, but through a revelation of Jesus Christ. You've heard of my past in Judaism—how fiercely I persecuted our Father's church, trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, far more passionate for my ancestors' traditions. But when our Father, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace, was pleased, to reveal his Son in me, so I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult anyone, nor did I go up to Jerusalem, to those apostles before me, but went to Arabia, then returned to Damascus.

Then, three years later, I went up to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, staying with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. In what I am writing to you, I assure you before our Father, I am not lying. Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was still personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard: "The one who once persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy." And they glorified our Father because of me.