Letters to the Churches

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

and all the brothers with me, To the churches of Galatia:

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

who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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—

which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.

But 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!

As 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!

Am 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.

For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man.

I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.

I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

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, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days.

But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.

Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.

They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”

And they glorified God because of me.

Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas. I took Titus along also.