Greetings
Galatians 1Paul, an apostle—not from humans, nor by humans, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the siblings who are with me, to the churches of Galatia: Grace and peace to y’all from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins so that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Distorting the Gospel
I marvel that y’all are so quickly deserting the one who called you* in the grace of Christ to a different gospel, but there isn’t another gospel. Only there are some who trouble y’all and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven ever preach to y’all any gospel other than that which we preached to y’all, let them be cursed. As we have said before, so I now say again: if anyone preaches to y’all any gospel other than that which y’all received, let them be cursed.
For am I now seeking the favor of humans or of God? Or am I striving to please humans? For if I were still pleasing humans, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.
Paul’s Calling from God
I want y’all to know, siblings, that the gospel which was preached by me is not from humans. For I didn’t receive it from any human, nor was I taught it, but it came through revelation of Jesus Christ. For y’all have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jewish religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I advanced in the Jewish religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from mother’s womb and called me through ʜɪꜱ grace, was pleased to reveal ʜɪꜱ Son in me, that I might preach him among the ethnic groups, I didn’t immediately consult with any flesh and blood people, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me. Instead I departed to Arabia, and then returned to Damascus.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. Now about the things which I write to y’all, I assure y’all before God that I’m not lying. Then I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was still unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ, but they only heard, “He who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith that he once tried to destroy.” So they glorified God in me.