The Bible — World English Bible

Galatians 1

In brief

Galatians 1 is the opening of a letter written in a firm tone. Paul greets the churches of Galatia, then goes straight to the point: he is astonished that they are turning so quickly to another gospel, when there is only one. To defend his message, he tells how he received it: not from a man, but by a revelation of Jesus Christ. He recalls his past as a persecutor, his encounter with Christ, his years in Arabia and his first contacts with the apostles in Jerusalem.

The chapter in 4 parts

  1. v. 1-5Greeting: Paul's apostleship and the work of Christ
  2. v. 6-10One gospel only, and a curse on anyone who preaches another
  3. v. 11-17Paul's gospel, received by revelation
  4. v. 18-24First contacts with Jerusalem and Judea

1Paul, an apostle—not 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 assemblies of Galatia:

3Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

4who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father—

5to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

6I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”,

7but there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.

8But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.

9As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.

10For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.

11But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.

12For I didn’t receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.

13For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it.

14I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

15But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace

16to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood,

17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.

18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.

19But of the other apostles I saw no one except James, the Lord’s brother.

20Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying.

21Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

22I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,

23but they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.”

24So they glorified God in me.

Key verses

Verse 4
who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father—

In one sentence, Paul sums up the work of Christ: he gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age. Everything starts from this gift.

Verse 6-7
I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”, but there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.

Paul is astonished that people abandon grace so quickly. He does not say there are several gospels, but that some want to overturn the gospel of Christ.

Verse 8-9
But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.

Paul places the gospel above every authority, even that of an angel. The word “accursed” points to a severe exclusion of those who falsify the message of salvation.

Verse 10
For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.

Pleasing God and pleasing people do not always go together. Paul presents himself as a servant of Christ, not as someone seeking the approval of crowds.

Verse 15-16
But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood,

Paul says he was set apart from his mother's womb and called by grace. God chose to reveal his Son in him so that he would proclaim him among the Gentiles.

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What the sermons say

Freedom in Christ: The Letter to the GalatiansIn Tokyo, the sermon opens a series on Galatians and cites verses 6 and 7 against legalism, then verses 13 and 14: Paul does not forget where he comes from and knows how empty a life of rules is.Read the summary →Grace Received Transforms How You LiveBill Cameron links verse 6 to Titus 3: adding anything to the gospel of grace turns it into something else.Read the summary →Love the Truth: The Belt That Holds You Steady Against DeceptionSamuel Mazza relies on verses 8 and 9: no compromise with false doctrine, even if it is preached with power or by a recognized apostle.Read the summary →Pride: The Sin That Separates Us From God and From OthersJudit cites verse 10 among the concrete faces of pride: trying to please people and living under their gaze rather than under God's.Read the summary →Outside the Village: When Jesus Takes the Blind Man by the HandPastor Maréchal takes Paul as a witness in verse 23: the one who wanted to destroy the faith now preaches it, which shows how far Jesus leads a budding faith.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Galatians 1

What does another gospel mean in Galatians 1:6-9?

Paul means any teaching that adds something to the work of Christ in order to be saved, such as the obligation to submit to the Law. He affirms that there is only one gospel, the gospel of grace. Even an angel who announced another should be rejected. These words show how serious the stakes are: salvation rests on Christ alone.

What is the main message of Galatians 1?

The chapter defends the one gospel of grace and the authority of Paul, who received it directly from Jesus Christ and not from a man. It also shows that a persecutor of the church can become an apostle by God's grace alone. The message is clear: the gospel can neither be changed nor received from a man.

Why did Paul go to Arabia in Galatians 1:17?

After his encounter with Christ, Paul explains that he did not go up to Jerusalem to consult the apostles, but went away into Arabia before returning to Damascus. He wants to show that his message does not come from people. The text does not say what he did there, and interpreters suggest a time of withdrawal, reflection and proclamation.

Articles quoting Galatians 1

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World English Bible translation — public domain.