The Epistles · Chapter 1 of 6
Galatians 1
Paul opens with an unusually sharp defense of his apostleship, received not from men but directly from Jesus Christ, and of the one true gospel of grace. Astonished that the Galatians have so quickly turned to a different gospel, he pronounces a curse on anyone, even an angel, who preaches another. He then recounts his violent past, his direct call from God, and his independence from the Jerusalem apostles.
What happens in Galatians 1
Paul introduces himself as an apostle sent not by men but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead, and greets the Galatians with grace and peace from the Lord Jesus, who gave himself for their sins to deliver them from this present evil age. Skipping his usual thanksgiving, he expresses amazement that they are so quickly deserting the God who called them by grace for a different gospel, which is no gospel but a perversion. Twice he declares that anyone, even himself or an angel from heaven, who preaches a contrary gospel should be accursed.
Insisting a man-pleaser could not be Christ's servant, he certifies that his gospel came not from man but by revelation of Jesus Christ. He recalls violently persecuting the church, until God, who set him apart from birth, was pleased to reveal his Son in him so he might preach among the Gentiles. Rather than confer with anyone, Paul went to Arabia, and only after three years visited Peter, seeing no other apostle except James the Lord's brother. The Judean churches, hearing their former persecutor now preached the faith, glorified God.
Galatians 1 in context
Galatians is Paul's most heated letter, written to churches he founded that were being pressured by teachers insisting Gentile believers keep the Jewish law, especially circumcision, to be truly saved.
Chapter one establishes Paul's core defense: his gospel and his authority came directly from the risen Christ, not from human sources, so no rival version of the good news can override it.
Main themes of Galatians 1
Galatians 1 (KJV)
1Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 2And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 3Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 5To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. 20Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 21Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; 22And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 23But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24And they glorified God in me.
Verses to carry from Galatians 1
“Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”Galatians 1:4
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”Galatians 1:8
“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,”Galatians 1:15
Thematic connection
How Galatians 1 points to Jesus
Christ dominates this opening chapter from the first verse. Paul's apostleship comes through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead, anchoring everything in the resurrection. The gospel he defends is defined by Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from this present evil world according to God's will. The false teaching is dangerous precisely because it perverts the gospel of Christ and abandons the grace of Christ into which the Galatians were called.
Paul's whole ministry rests on the revelation of Jesus Christ, given not by men but by the risen Lord who was pleased to reveal his Son in Paul so he could preach him among the nations. Christ is thus the source of Paul's calling, the content of his message, and the grace from which the Galatians are being tempted to fall away.
Questions about Galatians 1
Why does Paul pronounce a curse on those preaching another gospel?
Because the gospel is not a human opinion to be revised but God's saving message in Christ, and to distort it is to endanger souls. The Galatians were being taught that grace was not enough, that law-keeping must be added. Paul regards this as a fundamental betrayal of the good news. His double curse, extending even to himself or an angel, shows that faithfulness to the true gospel outranks every human authority and personal loyalty.
Why does Paul stress that his gospel came by revelation, not from men?
The rival teachers likely undermined Paul by claiming his authority was secondhand and inferior to the Jerusalem apostles. Paul answers that he received his gospel directly from Jesus Christ by revelation, not from any human source, and did not consult the other apostles until years later. His point is not to disparage them but to establish that his message carries the authority of Christ himself and cannot be overruled by those adding law to grace.
Reflection
It is easy to let something be quietly added to grace: a rule, a performance, a proof that we belong. Paul was scandalized by exactly that drift. Ask where you may be trying to earn what Christ has already given. The gospel that saved a violent persecutor by sheer grace is strong enough to hold you too.
A prayer from Galatians 1
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