Galatians 1 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Greeting

Gal 1:1Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—

Gal 1:2

Gal 1:2and all the brothers[fn] who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

Gal 1:3

Gal 1:3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

Gal 1:4

Gal 1:4who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Gal 1:5

Gal 1:5to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel

Gal 1:6

Gal 1:6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

Gal 1:7

Gal 1:7not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Gal 1:8

Gal 1:8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:9

Gal 1:9As 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 accursed.

Gal 1:10

Gal 1:10For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant[fn] of Christ.

Paul Called by God

(cf. Act 9:1–25 )

Gal 1:11

Gal 1:11For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.[fn]

Gal 1:12

Gal 1:12For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Gal 1:13

Gal 1:13For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.

Gal 1:14

Gal 1:14And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.

Gal 1:15

Gal 1:15But when he who had set me apart before I was born,[fn] and who called me by his grace,

Gal 1:16

Gal 1:16was pleased to reveal his Son to[fn] me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;[fn]

Gal 1:17

Gal 1:17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

(cf. Act 9:26–31 )

Gal 1:18

Gal 1:18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.

Gal 1:19

Gal 1:19But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.

Gal 1:20

Gal 1:20(In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!)

Gal 1:21

Gal 1:21Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

Gal 1:22

Gal 1:22And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.

Gal 1:23

Gal 1:23They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”

Gal 1:24

Gal 1:24And they glorified God because of me.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(1:2)

Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verse 11

(1:10)

For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

(1:11)

Greek not according to man

(1:15)

Greek set me apart from my mother’s womb

(1:16)

Greek in

(1:16)

Greek with flesh and blood

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

Galatians Chapter 1 — Additional Translations: