Galatians 1
Big idea: Every other letter Paul writes opens by thanking God for its readers. This one goes from the greeting to 'I MARVEL' in five verses, and the omission is the first thing a first-century reader would have noticed. What follows is a curse pronounced on any other gospel — stated twice, with himself and an angel from heaven as the examples, so that nobody can read it as a swipe at rivals. Then the autobiography starts, and its job is to establish one point: he did not get this from anyone.
Chapter 1 establishes that the gospel came by revelation. Chapter 2 shows what happened when it met the Jerusalem leadership, and then Peter, in person.
1:1–10 — A different “good news”, which is not another one
The greeting is already arguing. 'NOT FROM MEN, NOR THROUGH MAN' is not a formality but the letter's first claim, and the customary thanksgiving is simply missing — replaced by astonishment at how fast they moved. Then the curse, and Paul is careful to make it structural rather than personal: he aims it at himself and at an angel before he aims it at anyone in Galatia.
1 Paul, an apostle—not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies 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 age, according to the will of our God and Father— 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 6 I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”, 7 but there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ. 8 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. 9 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. 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.
1:11–24 — I didn’t receive it from man
The autobiography begins, and it is argument rather than reminiscence. The claim is that the gospel arrived by revelation, not by transmission, and every detail is chosen to support it: he did not consult anyone, did not go to Jerusalem, went to Arabia instead, and when he finally did visit Peter it was three years later and for fifteen days. The one Judean verdict he quotes is not about his credentials but about the change.
11 But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man. 12 For I didn’t receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For 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. 14 I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my 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 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, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But of the other apostles I saw no one except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying. 21 Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ, 23 but they only heard, “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.” 24 So they glorified God in me.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).