1Paul, an apostle (sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead), 2and all the brethren who are with me, to the Churches of Galatia: 3Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins, so that he might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father—5to whom be the glory unto ages of ages! Amen.
A different “Good News”
6I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ in order to embrace a different “Good News”—7and there is no other “Good News!” Yet, there are some who disturb you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ. 8Now even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “Good News” that is not what we preached to you, let such a one be accursed!1889 9We have said it before and now I say it again: if anyone preaches to you any other “Good News” than what you received, let such a one be accursed! 10Am I now seeking to please God or people? Am I striving to please human beings? But if I were still trying to please men, then I would not be a bondservant of Christ!
Paul’s account
11[Regarding] the Good News which I preached, I proclaimed this to you, brethren, that it is not of human origin. 12I did not receive it from man and I was not taught [this Good News] by man, but it came to me through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13You have heard about how I used to live in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure, and how I ravaged it. 14I advanced in the Jewish religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, as I was more extremely zealous for the traditions of my forefathers. 15But when it was the good pleasure of God (who had set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace, 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles), I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood: 17I did not go up to Jerusalem to visit those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Later on, I returned to Damascus. 18Then, after three years, I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. 19However, I did not see any of the other apostles,1890 except James, ‘the Lord’s brother.’1891 20Now regarding the things which I write to you, you can see that I am not lying before God. 21After that, I visited the districts of Syria and Cilicia. 22My face was still unknown to the Churches of Judea which were in Christ; 23they only heard, “The one who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith that he once tried to destroy!” 24And they glorified God in me.
- Greek anathema
- It is unclear if ‘apostles’ is a reference to the Twelve, or to the Seventy, or to an even wider group. Here, James is included among the apostles and may be either James of Alphaeus (of the Twelve) or James of Jerusalem (if they are to be distinguished according to Orthodox tradition).
- See Appendix E
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
