Galatians 1
1 Paul, an apostle, (not from men, neither 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 brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia:
and from all the followers of the Lord here.
3 Grace [be] to you and peace from God the Father, and [from] 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 from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our 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 soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, to another 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; but 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 any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
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 said before, so I say now again, If any [man] preacheth any other gospel to you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
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 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.
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 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
I remind you, friends, that the good news which I told is no mere human invention.
12 For I neither received it from man, neither was I taught [it], but by the 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, that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted 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 profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of 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 pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called [me] by 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 heathen; immediately 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 did I go to Jerusalem to them who were apostles before me: but I went into Arabia, and returned again 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 Then after three years I went to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode 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 I saw no other of the apostles, save James the Lord's brother.
I did not, however, see any other apostle, except James, the Master’s brother.
20 Now the things which I write to 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 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
Afterward I went to the districts of Syria and Cilicia.
22 And was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ:
But I was still unknown even by sight to the Christian churches in Judea;
23 But they had heard only, That he who persecuted us in times past, now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
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.
