Galatians 1
1-5 I, Paul, and my companions in faith here, send greetings to the Galatian churches. My authority for writing to you does not come from any popular vote of the people, nor does it come through the appointment of some human higher-up. It comes directly from Jesus the Messiah and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. I'm God-commissioned. So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace! We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we're in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God's plan is that we all experience that rescue. Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!
The Message
6-9 I can't believe your fickleness—how easily you have turned traitor to him who called you by the grace of Christ by embracing a variant message! It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message, a no-message, a lie about God. Those who are provoking this agitation among you are turning the Message of Christ on its head. Let me be blunt: If one of us—even if an angel from heaven!—were to preach something other than what we preached originally, let him be cursed. I said it once; I'll say it again: If anyone, regardless of reputation or credentials, preaches something other than what you received originally, let him be cursed.
10-12 Do you think I speak this strongly in order to manipulate crowds? Or curry favor with God? Or get popular applause? If my goal was popularity, I wouldn't bother being Christ's slave. Know this—I am most emphatic here, friends—this great Message I delivered to you is not mere human optimism. I didn't receive it through the traditions, and I wasn't taught it in some school. I got it straight from God, received the Message directly from Jesus Christ.
13-16 I'm sure that you've heard the story of my earlier life when I lived in the Jewish way. In those days I went all out in persecuting God's church. I was systematically destroying it. I was so enthusiastic about the traditions of my ancestors that I advanced head and shoulders above my peers in my career. Even then God had designs on me. Why, when I was still in my mother's womb he chose and called me out of sheer generosity! Now he has intervened and revealed his Son to me so that I might joyfully tell non-Jews about him.
17-20 Immediately after my calling—without consulting anyone around me and without going up to Jerusalem to confer with those who were apostles long before I was—I got away to Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus, but it was three years before I went up to Jerusalem to compare stories with Peter. I was there only fifteen days—but what days they were! Except for our Master's brother James, I saw no other apostles. (I'm telling you the absolute truth in this.)
21-24 Then I began my ministry in the regions of Syria and Cilicia. After all that time and activity I was still unknown by face among the Christian churches in Judea. There was only this report: "That man who once persecuted us is now preaching the very message he used to try to destroy." Their response was to recognize and worship God because of me!
Galatians 1
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead),2 and all the brethren that are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,4 who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:5 to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.6 I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel;7 which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.9 As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema.10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.11 For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man.12 For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.13 For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:14 and I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace,16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:17 neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days.19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.20 Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.21 Then I came unto the regions of Syria and Cilicia.22 And I was still unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:23 but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc;24 and they glorified God in me.