Galatians 1

Paul, an apostle—not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—

and all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia:

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

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—

to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”,

but there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.

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.

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.

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.

But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.

For I didn’t receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.

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.

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.

But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace,

to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood,

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.

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

But of the other apostles I saw no one except James, the Lord’s brother.

Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying.

Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,

but they only heard, “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.”

So they glorified God in me.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter establishes Paul’s apostolic authority and the divine origin of the gospel he proclaims, setting the foundation for his defense against false teaching in Galatia. He insists that his message came not from human sources but through direct revelation from Jesus Christ, underscoring the urgency of rejecting any rival gospel.

Flow.

Paul opens with a strong affirmation of his apostleship, rooted not in human commission but in Christ and God the Father (vv. 1–2).
He declares the true gospel: Christ gave Himself to rescue us from this present evil age according to God’s will (vv. 3–5).
He expresses astonishment that the Galatians are turning to a distorted gospel, warning that anyone preaching a contrary message is under divine curse (vv. 6–9).
Paul defends the divine origin of his gospel by recounting his past zeal for Jewish tradition, his call by God’s grace, and his independence from human apostles, demonstrated by his time in Arabia and delayed visit to Jerusalem (vv. 10–24).

Connections. Following the salutation and gospel summary in chapter 1, which confronts a present departure from apostolic truth, chapter 2 continues the defense of Paul’s apostolic authority and the unity of the gospel across Jew and Gentile. The personal narrative in chapter 1 sets the stage for the historical account in chapter 2 of Paul’s interaction with the other apostles, reinforcing that his gospel is not a human invention but one affirmed by those in Jerusalem. The concern over false teaching introduced here in chapter 1—distorting the grace of Christ—is precisely what chapter 2 takes up by showing the early church’s united stance on justification by faith alone.

What it teaches. The gospel is a divine revelation, not a human construct (WCF 1.1, 5.6), delivered by Christ Himself to break the power of sin and free believers from this present evil age (HC LD 1). Paul’s apostleship, derived directly from Christ’s call and revelation, carries divine authority equal to that of the original Twelve (WCF 1.4, 20.1). The curse pronounced on gospel distorters underscores the exclusivity and sufficiency of Christ’s work (BC Art. 21; Canons of Dort I.6). Human traditions, even religiously earnest ones, cannot save (HC LD 33), and true faith arises from God’s sovereign grace in calling sinners to Himself (WCF 3.5, 5.3).

Apply. Paul’s unwavering commitment to the gospel once received shows that faithfulness to Christ’s revelation does not depend on human approval or tradition but on the God who calls by grace.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.