Galatians 1
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead),
To the churches in Galatia, from Paul, an apostle whose commission is not from any human authority and is given, not by human beings, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead;
2 and all the brethren that are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
and from all the followers of the Lord here.
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,
May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, bless you and give you peace.
4 who 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: (aiōn g165)
For Christ, to rescue us from this present wicked age, gave himself for our sins, in accordance with the will of our God and Father, (aiōn g165)
to whom be ascribed all glory for ever and ever. Amen. (aiōn g165)
6 I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel;
I am astonished at your so soon deserting him, who called you through the love of Christ, for a different ‘good news,’
7 which is not another [gospel]: only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
which is really no good news at all. But then, I know that there are people who are harassing you, and who want to pervert the good news of the Christ.
8 But 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.
Yet even if we – or if an angel from heaven were to tell you any other ‘good news’ than that which we told you, may he be accursed!
9 As 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.
We have said it before, and I repeat it now – If anyone tells you a ‘good news’ other than that which you received, may he be accursed!
10 For 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.
Is this, I ask, trying to conciliate people, or God? Am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I should not be a servant of Christ.
11 For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man.
I remind you, friends, that the good news which I told is no mere human invention.
12 For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through revelation of Jesus Christ.
I, at least, did not receive it from any human being, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through a revelation made by Jesus Christ.
13 For 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:
You heard, no doubt, of my conduct when I was devoted to Judaism – how I persecuted the church of God to an extent beyond belief, and tried to destroy it,
14 and 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.
and how, in my devotion to Judaism, I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my own people in my intense earnestness in upholding the traditions of my ancestors.
15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, [even] from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace,
But when God, who had set me apart even before my birth, and who called me by his love,
16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:
saw fit to reveal his Son in me, so that I might tell the good news of him among the Gentiles, then at once, instead of consulting any human being,
17 neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.
or even going up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me, I went to Arabia, and came back again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days.
Three years afterward I went up to Jerusalem to make the acquaintance of Peter, and I stayed a fortnight with him.
19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.
I did not, however, see any other apostle, except James, the Master’s brother.
20 Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
(As to what I am now writing to you, I call God to witness that I am speaking the truth).
21 Then I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
Afterward I went to the districts of Syria and Cilicia.
22 And I was still unknown by face unto the churches of Judæa which were in Christ:
But I was still unknown even by sight to the Christian churches in Judea;
23 but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc;
all that they had heard was – ‘The man who once persecuted us is now telling the good news of the faith of which he once tried to destroy.’
24 and they glorified God in me.
And they praised God for my sake.
