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Summary

Galatians 1:1–5 – Greeting and Gospel Grace

What happens: Paul, an apostle through Jesus Christ and God the Father, greets the churches of Galatia. He wishes them grace and peace and states that Jesus gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of God. He ends with glory to God forever.

What it means: The letter starts with God’s initiative and Christ’s rescue, showing grace at the center of the Christian life. God’s will and Christ’s sacrifice set the tone of deliverance and worship. God is merciful and sovereign, and the church lives by His grace.

Galatians 1:6–10 – No Other Gospel

What happens: Paul marvels that the Galatians are so quickly turning to a different gospel. He says any message that changes the gospel of Christ is no gospel at all. Even if an angel preaches another gospel, let him be accursed. Paul seeks to please God, not people.

What it means: Truth matters because God is holy and faithful to His promise in Christ. The gospel is fixed, not open to edits or human approval. Disciples live before God’s face and reject people-pleasing that twists the message.

Galatians 1:11–17 – Gospel by Revelation, Not from Man

What happens: Paul says the gospel he preaches is not from man but through revelation of Jesus Christ. He recalls his former life in Judaism and his zeal in persecuting the church. God set him apart from birth and called him by grace, revealing His Son to him. He does not consult humans immediately but goes to Arabia and then returns to Damascus.

What it means: Salvation and calling are acts of God’s grace, not human effort. God turns enemies into servants and shows His mercy and power. The message’s source is God, so it carries divine authority.

Galatians 1:18–24 – Early Visits and God’s Glory

What happens: After three years Paul visits Peter and stays fifteen days, seeing only James besides him. Churches in Judea do not know him by face but hear that the former persecutor now preaches the faith. They glorify God because of him.

What it means: Changed lives confirm the gospel’s truth. The church exists to give glory to God for His saving work. God’s grace creates unity and trust over time.

Application

  • Hold to the unedited gospel of Jesus Christ.
  • Seek God’s approval over human praise.
  • Tell your story to magnify God’s grace and build up the church.
  • Worship God for rescuing you from the present evil age.

Bible

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.

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