Galatians 1

Galatians 1 focuses on Paul defending his authority as an apostle and defending the true gospel. Paul makes it clear that his message did not come from human teachers, traditions, or church leaders, but directly from Jesus Christ by revelation (Galatians 1:11–12). He is deeply troubled that the Galatians are turning away so quickly from the grace of Christ to a distorted gospel (Galatians 1:6–7). This false teaching was connected with the idea that people could be made righteous by works of the law, such as circumcision and other ceremonial observances. Paul strongly teaches that there is no other true gospel. Salvation comes only by grace through faith in Christ, not by adding human effort or law-keeping as a requirement for justification. To add works of the law to the gospel is to weaken the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice and turn the gospel into something false. Paul warns that even if he, another apostle, or an angel from heaven preached a different gospel, that messenger would be under God’s curse (Galatians 1:8–9). He also makes it clear that he is not trying to please men, but God (Galatians 1:10). This chapter sets the foundation for the whole letter: the believer must stand in the freedom of Christ and not return to spiritual bondage through legalism.

Galatians 1:1–5 (NKJV)
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),
2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul begins by affirming that he is an apostle, not appointed by men or through human authority, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead (Galatians 1:1). This shows that Paul’s calling came from heaven, not from any human organization. He greets the churches of Galatia with grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:2–3). Paul then immediately points to the heart of the gospel: Jesus gave Himself for our sins so that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of God the Father (Galatians 1:4). This shows that salvation begins with the Father’s will and is accomplished through the sacrifice of His Son. Paul gives glory to God forever, showing that redemption is God’s work and that all praise belongs to Him (Galatians 1:5). In this greeting, Paul mentions the Father and the Son as the source of grace and peace, while the Holy Spirit is not presented here as a third separate being in the greeting. This supports the understanding that the Spirit is the personal presence and power of God and Christ working in believers.

Galatians 1:6–10 (NKJV)
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul is amazed that the Galatians are turning away so quickly from the One who called them in the grace of Christ to a different gospel (Galatians 1:6). But he explains that this “different gospel” is not truly another gospel at all; it is a perversion of the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:7). The true gospel teaches that Christ’s sacrifice is fully sufficient for salvation, and that we receive salvation by faith—a complete trust, surrender, and dependence on Him. Any message that adds human works, circumcision, or law-keeping as a requirement for justification changes the gospel into a false message. Paul gives a very serious warning: even if he himself, another preacher, or an angel from heaven preached a different gospel, that person would be accursed (Galatians 1:8–9). This shows how important it is to protect the purity of the gospel. Paul then explains that he is not trying to win human approval, but to please God. If he were still trying to please men, he would not be a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10). True faithfulness to Christ means standing for the gospel, even when it brings opposition.

Galatians 1:11–12 (NKJV)
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul clearly states that the gospel he preached was not according to man (Galatians 1:11). He did not receive it from a human teacher, nor was he taught it through human tradition or religious training. Instead, it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:12). This is important because Paul’s opponents were likely questioning his authority and message. Paul answers by showing that his gospel did not come second-hand from the apostles in Jerusalem or from any human source. It came directly from Christ Himself. Therefore, his message had divine authority. This also separates the true gospel from human traditions, religious systems, and man-made requirements. Paul’s gospel was not built on human ideas, but on the revelation of Christ and the saving work Christ accomplished.

Galatians 1:13–17 (NKJV)
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,
16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

Paul reminds the Galatians of his former life in Judaism, when he persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it (Galatians 1:13). He was very zealous for the traditions of his fathers and had advanced in Judaism beyond many of his own people (Galatians 1:14). This shows that Paul once deeply trusted in the Jewish religious system and its traditions. But God had chosen him from his mother’s womb and called him by grace (Galatians 1:15). When it pleased God to reveal His Son in Paul, God gave him the mission to preach Christ among the Gentiles (Galatians 1:16). Paul did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did he go to Jerusalem to receive instruction from the apostles before him (Galatians 1:16–17). Instead, he went to Arabia and later returned to Damascus. This shows that Paul’s conversion, calling, and gospel mission were the direct work of God. The man who once fought against Christ was transformed by grace into a preacher of Christ.

Galatians 1:18–24 (NKJV)
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)
21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.
23 But they had heard only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”
24 And they glorified God in me.

Paul continues to show that his gospel and apostleship came from God, not from human instruction. After his conversion, he did not immediately go to Jerusalem to be taught by the apostles. Only after three years did he go to Jerusalem to see Peter, and he stayed with him for only fifteen days (Galatians 1:18). He saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother (Galatians 1:19). Paul even says before God that he is not lying, showing how serious and truthful his testimony is (Galatians 1:20). After this, he went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia (Galatians 1:21). The churches of Judea did not know him personally, but they had heard the report: the man who once persecuted them was now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy (Galatians 1:22–23). Because of this great change, they glorified God in Paul (Galatians 1:24). His transformed life became evidence that God had truly called him, that his message was from Christ, and that the grace of God can change even a persecutor into a faithful servant of the gospel.