Introduction
Galatia was a region in the central part of modern Turkey. Paul is encouraging the believers there to hold to the true Good News.
Verses
1Paul, an apostle—not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
2and all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia:
3Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
4who 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—
5to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”,
7but there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.
8But 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.
9As 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.
10For am I now seeking the favour 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.
11But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.
12For I didn’t receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.
13For 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.
14I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age amongst my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace
16to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him amongst the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.
18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.
19But of the other apostles I saw no one except James, the Lord’s brother.
20Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying.
21Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,
23but they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.”
24So they glorified God in me.
Questions
1. What does Paul say Jesus Christ has done for us?
v 3 and 4 ... 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
2. What made Paul marvel?
v 6 I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”,
3. Where does Paul say his message came from?
v 12 For I didn’t receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.
Summary Points
- v 1 to 5 Paul reminds believers in Galatia that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead to deliver us from this evil world
- v 6 to 10 There are other preachers travelling around preaching something different and trying to undermine Paul’s authority
- v 11 to 24 Paul reminds them that he was once a persecutor of believers, but Jesus himself called him to preach, and taught him the true gospel
Audio