Greeting
1 From Paul, an apostle— not from people nor through people, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead— 2 and the brothers and sisters with me, to all the Congregations in Galatia: 3 Favor and peace to you from God our Father and Master Jesus Christ! 4 He gave himself on account of our sins so that he could lift us up out of this evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. 5 Honor to him forever, absolutely!
The one and only good news
6 I am astounded that you are being moved from your calling by the favor of Christ into a different ‘good news’— 7 which really isn’t another ‘good news’ at all. Someone is confounding you and trying to distort the genuine good news of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should bring you a ‘good news’ that isn’t the one we brought you before, let them be cursed! 9 I repeat: even if we or an angel from heaven should bring you a ‘good news’ that isn’t the one we brought you before, let them be cursed!
Paul’s radical change
10 Do you think I’m trying to impress people or God? Am I after people’s approval? If I were still trying to please people I would not be a slave of Christ. 11 I’m telling you right now, sisters and brothers, that the good news I brought you was not from people. 12 No, I didn’t learn it from people; it came by means of revelation from Jesus Christ.
13 You know very well how I once behaved in Judaism. I severely persecuted God’s Congregation and tried to wipe it out. 14 I excelled in Judaism beyond many of my peers and was very loyal to the traditions of my ancestors. 15 And yet it seemed good to God, who set me apart from birth and called me by means of his favor, 16 to reveal his Son in me, so that I could bring the good news to the other nations.
I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me, but instead I went off to Arabia and then returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went to Jerusalem to interview Cephas (Peter) and stayed with him for fifteen days. 19 I did not see any of the other apostles except for James, the brother of the Master. 20 These things I am writing to you are the honest truth before God. 21 Then I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, 22 and I was still unknown to the Congregations of Christ in Judea. 23 They only knew that “the one who persecuted us is now bringing the good news of the faith he once tried to destroy!” 24 And they honored God because of me.