Galatians1
New Living Translation
1This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.
2All the brothers and sisters here join me in sending this letter to the churches of Galatia.
3May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
4Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.
5All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
6I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News
7but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.
8Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.
9I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.
10Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
11Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning.
12I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
13You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it.
14I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.
15But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him
16to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being.
17Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.
18Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days.
19The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother.
20I declare before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie.
21After that visit I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia.
22And still the churches in Christ that are in Judea didn’t know me personally.
23All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!”
24And they praised God because of me.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Galatians 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The apostle Paul asserts his apostolic character against such as lessened it. (1–5). He reproves the Galatians for revolting from the gospel of Christ under the influence of evil teachers. (6–9). He proves the Divine authority of his doctrine and mission; and declares what he was before his conversion and calling. (10–14). And how he proceeded after it. (15–24).
vv1-5
St. Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ; he was expressly appointed by him, consequently by God the Father, who is one with him in respect of his Divine nature, and who appointed Christ as Mediator. Grace, includes God's good-will towards us, and his good work upon us; and peace, all that inward comfort, or outward prosperity, which is really needful for us. They come from God the Father, as the Fountain, through Jesus Christ. But observe, first grace, and then peace; there can be no true peace without grace. Christ gave himself for our sins, to make atonement for us: this the justice of God required, and to this he freely submitted. Here is to be observed the infinite greatness of the price bestowed, and then it will appear plainly, that the power of sin is so great, that it could by no means be put away except the Son of God be given for it. He that considers these things well, understands that sin is a thing the most horrible that can be expressed; which ought to move us, and make us afraid indeed. Especially mark well the words, “for our sins.” For here our weak nature starts back, and would first be made worthy by her own works. It would bring him that is whole, and not him that has need of a physician. Not only to redeem us from the wrath of God, and the curse of the law; but also to recover us from wicked practices and customs, to which we are naturally enslaved. But it is in vain for those who are not delivered from this present evil world by the sanctification of the Spirit, to expect that they are freed from its condemnation by the blood of Jesus.
vv6-9
Those who would establish any other way to heaven than what the gospel of Christ reveals, will find themselves wretchedly mistaken. The apostle presses upon the Galatians a due sense of their guilt in forsaking the gospel way of justification; yet he reproves with tenderness, and represents them as drawn into it by the arts of some that troubled them. In reproving others, we should be faithful, and yet endeavour to restore them in the spirit of meekness. Some would set up the works of the law in the place of Christ's righteousness, and thus they corrupted Christianity. The apostle solemnly denounces, as accursed, every one who attempts to lay so false a foundation. All other gospels than that of the grace of Christ, whether more flattering to self-righteous pride, or more favourable to worldly lusts, are devices of Satan. And while we declare that to reject the moral law as a rule of life, tends to dishonour Christ, and destroy true religion, we must also declare, that all dependence for justification on good works, whether real or supposed, is as fatal to those who persist in it. While we are zealous for good works, let us be careful not to put them in the place of Christ's righteousness, and not to advance any thing which may betray others into so dreadful a delusion.
vv10-14
In preaching the gospel, the apostle sought to bring persons to the obedience, not of men, but of God. But Paul would not attempt to alter the doctrine of Christ, either to gain their favour, or to avoid their fury. In so important a matter we must not fear the frowns of men, nor seek their favour, by using words of men's wisdom. Concerning the manner wherein he received the gospel, he had it by revelation from Heaven. He was not led to Christianity, as many are, merely by education.
Key Words
Παῦλος (Paûlos): (little; but remotely from a derivative of G3973 (παύω), meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle
ἀπόστολος (apóstolos): a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers)
οὐ (ou): the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb; no or not
ἀπό (apó): "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos): from G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι)); man-faced, i.e. a human being
οὐδέ (oudé): not however, i.e. neither, nor, not even
διά (diá): through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
ἀλλά (allá): properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
Cross References
Galatians 1Christ giving Himself for our sins parallels Paul's subsequent self-giving declaration in Galatians 2:20.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Paul's direct commission by the resurrected Jesus, independent of human agency or appointment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Reinforces that Paul's authority came not from men but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Paul received the gospel mystery by direct divine revelation, not from human instruction.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Paul's own description of his intense zeal and violent persecution of the church before conversion.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Paul reflects on his past as a persecutor and blasphemer, saved by sovereign grace.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The Lord's declaration of Paul as a chosen vessel to bear His name among the Gentiles.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Echoes the prophetic calling and separation from the womb, matching Jeremiah's divine appointment.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Reproves those who readily tolerate or receive 'another Jesus' or a 'different gospel'.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Identifies the false brethren who secretly came in to spy out liberty and trouble the church.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Speaking to please God, who tests hearts, rather than seeking to please human audiences.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Paul confesses that he is the least of the apostles because he persecuted the church of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
True spiritual revelation comes from the Father, not through the consultation of flesh and blood.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Paul's initial attempt to join the disciples in Jerusalem three years after his conversion.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Paul introduces himself as a servant and called apostle, set apart for God's gospel.
Supported by John Calvin
Paul denounces those who trouble the Galatians and throw them into confusion.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical context of Paul's return to Jerusalem and his vision in the temple.
Supported by JFB
Identifies James, the Lord's brother, who held a prominent role in the Jerusalem church.
Supported by JFB
Paul's solemn oath and appeal to God as his witness that he is not lying.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The brethren sent Paul away to Tarsus, placing him in the regions of Cilicia.
Supported by JFB