Galatians — Chapter 1
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1Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
2And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
3Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
5To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.
20Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
21Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
22And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
23But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
24And they glorified God in me.
1Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead),
2and all the brethren that are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
3Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,
4who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:
5to whom [be] the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel;
7which is not another [gospel] only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.
9As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema.
10For 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 servant of Christ.
11For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man.
12For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through revelation of Jesus Christ.
13For 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:
14and I advanced in the Jews` religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, [even] from my mother`s womb, and called me through his grace,
16to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.
18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days.
19But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord`s brother.
20Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
21Then I came unto the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22And I was still unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
23but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc;
24and they glorified God in me.
1From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead)
2and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia.
3Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father,
5to whom be glory forever and ever! Amen.
6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel—
7not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ.
8But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell!
9As we have said before, and now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell!
10Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!
11Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.
12For I did not receive it or learn it from any human source; instead I received it by a revelation of Jesus Christ.
13For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I was savagely persecuting the church of God and trying to destroy it.
14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my nation, and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.
15But when the one who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace was pleased
16to reveal his Son in me so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from any human being,
17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me, but right away I departed to Arabia, and then returned to Damascus.
18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and get information from him, and I stayed with him fifteen days.
19But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.
20I assure you that, before God, I am not lying about what I am writing to you!
21Afterward I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22But I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
23They were only hearing, “The one who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the good news of the faith he once tried to destroy.”
24So they glorified God because of me.
1Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead),
2and all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia:
3Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,
4who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father—
5to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”;
7and there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.
8But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.
9As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.
10For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.
11But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.
12For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.
13For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it.
14I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace,
16to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.
18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.
19But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord’s brother.
20Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying.
21Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,
23but they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.”
24And they glorified God in me.
Summary
Paul defends his apostleship and gospel as received directly from Christ (not from man), pronounces a double curse on anyone who preaches a different gospel, and recounts his conversion and early years — emphasizing his independence from the Jerusalem apostles.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the absent thanksgiving, the double curse, Paul's independence from human authority, and his divine calling.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "Another Gospel" on vv.6-9 (MTP Vol. 10, No. 672) "Let him be accursed — Paul says it twice. Not once — twice. Any gospel that adds to faith in Christ — whether circumcision, baptism, works, or anything else — is not the Gospel. It is a perversion. And those who preach it are under God's curse. Paul doesn't mince words because the Gospel is too important to be polite about." Sermon: "Separated from the Womb" on v.15 (MTP Vol. 22, No. 1400) "God separated me from my mother's womb — before Paul chose God, God chose Paul. Before he was born, he was set apart. That is sovereign grace — God's choice preceding human response."
Videos
The Bible Project — Galatians Overview
Animated overview of the book's literary structure, themes, and theological message. Excellent visual introduction. (Approx. 8 minutes)
Reflection
- 1. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed" (v.6). The Galatians quickly abandoned grace for legalism. How easily do you drift from grace back to performance-based religion? What pulls you toward earning God's favor rather than receiving it?
- 2. "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel... let him be accursed" (v.8). The Gospel is non-negotiable. No one — no matter how impressive — has the right to change it. How do you evaluate teaching? Do you test everything against the Gospel of grace?
- 3. "If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (v.10). You cannot serve Christ and seek human approval simultaneously. Where is people-pleasing compromising your faithfulness to Christ?
- 4. "When it pleased God... to reveal his Son in me" (vv.15-16). Your calling is God's initiative — sovereign, gracious, and purposeful. How does knowing that God chose you before birth affect your sense of identity and purpose?
- 5. Paul skips his usual thanksgiving — he's too upset. The Gospel was at stake. What would make you this urgent? Is there anything you care about enough to fight for with this intensity?
- 6. The Judaizers added circumcision to faith. What do people add to the Gospel today? Church membership? Baptism? Moral performance? Political alignment? How do you keep the Gospel pure — grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone?
- 7. Paul received his Gospel "by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (v.12) — not from human teachers. How does this establish the Gospel's authority? Why does it matter that Paul's message came directly from Christ?
- 8. Paul's past (persecutor) became his testimony (vv.13,23). "He which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith." How has God transformed your past into a testimony?
- 9. "They glorified God in me" (v.24). Paul's transformation caused others to praise God. Does your life cause people to glorify God? What would need to change for that to be more true?