Introduction

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

To (F)the churches of Galatia:

(G)Grace to you and peace from [a]God our Father and the 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.

Perversion 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 really not another; only 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 [d]contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be [e](P)accursed! As we (Q)have said before, so I say again now, (R)if any man is preaching to you a gospel [f]contrary to what you received, he is to be [g](S)accursed!

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

Paul Defends His Ministry

11 For (V)I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is (W)not according to man. 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 manner 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 [h]countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my (AE)ancestral traditions. 15 But when God, 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 (AN)Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except [k](AO)James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now in what I am writing to you, [l]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 [m]sight to (AT)the churches of Judea which were (AU)in Christ; 23 but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching (AV)the faith which he once (AW)tried to destroy.” 24 And they (AX)were glorifying God [n]because of me.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 1:3 Two early mss read God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ
  2. Galatians 1:4 Or world
  3. Galatians 1:6 Lit in
  4. Galatians 1:8 Or other than, more than
  5. Galatians 1:8 Gr anathema
  6. Galatians 1:9 Or other than, more than
  7. Galatians 1:9 Gr anathema
  8. Galatians 1:14 Lit race
  9. Galatians 1:16 I.e. human beings
  10. Galatians 1:18 Or visit Cephas
  11. Galatians 1:19 Or Jacob
  12. Galatians 1:20 Lit behold before God
  13. Galatians 1:22 Lit face
  14. Galatians 1:24 Lit in me