Side by side
Galatians 1
Our plain-language guide next to the Bible text. Each row lines up one section with the verses it explains.
Section 1: No Other GospelVerses 1 to 12
Paul begins by saying Jesus "gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age" (1:4).
Then, no thank-you. Just alarm.
"I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel" (1:6).
It isn't even a gospel. Someone is twisting the good news.
Paul says that even if an angel preached a different gospel, don't listen.
He isn't trying to please people. He got this message from Jesus himself.
1Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead— 2and all the brothers with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 6I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse! 10Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Section 2: From Persecutor to PreacherVerses 13 to 24
Paul reminds them who he used to be. He attacked the church and tried to destroy it.
"But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles" (1:15-16).
He went to Arabia, then Damascus, and only after three years did he meet Peter in Jerusalem.
People said, "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they praised God (1:23-24).
13For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased 16to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. 18Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie. 21Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24And they glorified God because of me.
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