Galatians 1

Paul, an apostle (not commissioned and sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ—the Messiah—and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),

Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

and all the brothers who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

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

who gave Himself [as a sacrifice to atone] for our sins [to save and sanctify us] so that He might rescue us from this present evil ^[a]age, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father—

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:

to Him be [ascribed all] the glory through the ages of the ages. Amen.

Perversion of the Gospel

To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I am astonished and extremely irritated that you are so quickly shifting your allegiance and deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different [even contrary] gospel;

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

which is really not another [gospel]; but there are [obviously] ^[b]some [people masquerading as teachers] who are disturbing and confusing you [with a misleading, counterfeit teaching] and want to distort the gospel of Christ [twisting it into something which it absolutely is not].

Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we [originally] preached to you, let him be condemned to destruction!

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

As we have said before, so I now say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from that which you received [from us], let him be condemned to destruction!

As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Am I now ^[c]trying to win the favor and approval of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

Paul Defends His Ministry

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.

For I want you to know, ^[d]believers, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel [it is not a human invention, patterned after any human concept].

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a [direct] revelation of Jesus Christ.

For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

You have heard of my career and former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to hunt down and persecute the church of God extensively and [with fanatical zeal] tried [my best] to destroy it.

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

And [you have heard how] I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my countrymen in [my advanced study of the laws of] Judaism, as I was extremely loyal to the traditions of my ancestors.

And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

But when God, who had chosen me and set me apart before I was born, and called me through His grace, was pleased

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles [as the good news—the way of salvation], I did not immediately consult with ^[e]anyone [for guidance regarding God’s call and His revelation to me].

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and stayed awhile, and afterward returned once more to Damascus.

Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Then three years later I did go up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and I stayed with him fifteen days.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

But I did not see any other apostle except James, the [half] brother of the Lord.

But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

(Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you as if I were standing before God that I am not lying.)

Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

And I was still unknown by sight to the churches which were in Christ in Judea (Jerusalem and the surrounding region);

And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

they only kept hearing, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the [good news of the] faith which he once was trying to destroy.”

But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

And they were glorifying God [as the Author and Source of what had taken place and all that had been accomplished] in me.

And they glorified God in me.