Salutation

Paul an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— ^2 and all the members of God’s family^a who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

^3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, ^4 who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ^5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

There Is No Other Gospel

^6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— ^7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. ^8 But even if we or an angel^b from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! ^9 As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!

^10 Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant^c of Christ.

Paul’s Vindication of His Apostleship

(Cp Acts 9)

^11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^d that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; ^12 for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

^13 You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. ^14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. ^15 But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased ^16 to reveal his Son to me,^e so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, ^17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.

^18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days; ^19 but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother. ^20 In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! ^21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, ^22 and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; ^23 they only heard it said, “The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.” ^24 And they glorified God because of me.