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Pauline Letters · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Galatians 1

Paul defends justification by faith and freedom that bears the Spirit's fruit.

New Testament

Galatians 1

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 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.

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 among 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 among 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.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Paul defends justification by faith and freedom that bears the Spirit's fruit. Read Galatians 1 within the complete Galatians overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Galatians 1

Galatians 1 contains 24 verses and about 461 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Paul, an apostle—not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 24 closes: “So they glorified God in me.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include christ, good, news, father, grace, brothers. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Galatians 1

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Galatians 1:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer