Galatians 1
1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by 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 brothers with me, To the churches of Galatia:
and from all the followers of the Lord here.
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the 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 to rescue us from the present evil age, 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 am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to 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 even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort 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 even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!
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 now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!
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 Am I now seeking the approval 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 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 certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man.
I remind you, friends, that the good news which I told is no mere human invention.
12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from 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 you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy 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 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely 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 God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased
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 so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult 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 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to 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 Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days.
Three years afterwards I went up to Jerusalem to make the acquaintance of Peter, and I stayed a fortnight with him.
19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
I did not, however, see any other apostle, except James, the Master’s brother.
20 I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.
(As to what I am now writing to you, I call God to witness that I am speaking the truth).
21 Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
Afterwards I went to the districts of Syria and Cilicia.
22 I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
But I was still unknown even by sight to the Christian churches in Judea;
23 They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
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 because of me.
And they praised God for my sake.
