Greetings and Grace

1Paul, an apostle—not sent from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead— 2and all the brothers who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

3Grace to you and peace from [†]God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil [†]age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Distorting the Gospel

6I marvel that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you [†]by the grace of Christ for a different gospel, 7which is really not another, only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should proclaim to you a gospel [†]contrary to the gospel we have proclaimed to you, let him be [†]accursed! 9As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is proclaiming to you a gospel [†]contrary to what you received, let him be [†]accursed!

10For am I now seeking the favor 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 slave of Christ.

Paul Called by God

11For I make known to you, brothers, that the gospel which I am proclaiming as good news is not according to man. 12For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

13For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being far more zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when God, who had set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16to reveal His Son in me so that I might proclaim Him as good news among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with [†]flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

18Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to [†]become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19But I did not see any other of the apostles except [†]James, the Lord’s brother. 20(Now in what I am writing to you, [†]I assure you before God that I am not lying!) 21Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22And I was still unknown by [†]sight to the churches of Judea which are in Christ; 23but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the good news of the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24And they were glorifying God [†]because of me.