1-2 From the apostle Paul and from all the Lord's followers with me.
I was chosen to be an apostle by Jesus Christ and by God the Father, who raised him from death. No mere human chose or appointed me to this work.
To the churches in Galatia:
3 I pray that God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace! 4 Christ obeyed God our Father and gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins to rescue us from this evil world. 5 God will be given glory forever and ever. Amen.
The Only True Message
6 I am shocked that you have so quickly turned from God, who chose you with his gift of undeserved grace. You have believed another message, 7 when there is really only one true message. But some people are causing you trouble and want to make you turn away from the good news about Christ. 8 I pray that God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from our message to you! It doesn't matter if that person is one of us or an angel from heaven. 9 I have said it before, and I will say it again. I hope God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from what you have already believed.
10 I am not trying to please people. I want to please God. Do you think I am trying to please people? If I were doing that, I would not be a servant of Christ.
How Paul Became an Apostle
11 My friends, I want you to know that no one made up the message I preach. 12 It wasn't given or taught to me by some mere human. My message came directly from Jesus Christ when he appeared to me.
13 You know how I used to live as a Jew. I was cruel to God's church and even tried to destroy it. 14 I was a much better Jew than anyone else my own age, and I obeyed every law our ancestors had given us. 15 But even before I was born, God had chosen me by his gift of undeserved grace and had decided 16 to show me his Son, so I would announce his message to the Gentiles. I didn't talk this over with anyone. 17 I didn't say a word, not even to the men in Jerusalem who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went at once to Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.
18 Three years later I went to visit Peter in Jerusalem and stayed with him for 15 days. 19 The only other apostle I saw was James, the Lord's brother. 20 And in the presence of God I swear I am telling the truth.
21 Later, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 But no one who belonged to Christ's churches in Judea had ever seen me in person. 23 They had only heard that the one who had been cruel to them was now preaching the message that he had once tried to destroy. 24 And because of me, they praised God.
1 Pavl an Apostle (not of men, neither by man, but by Iesus Christ, and God the Father which hath raised him from the dead) 2 And all the brethren which are with me, vnto the Churches of Galatia: 3 Grace be with you, and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Iesus Christ, 4 Which gaue himself for our sinnes, that he might deliuer vs from this present euill world according to the will of God euen our Father, 5 To whom be glory for euer and euer, Amen. 6 I marueile that ye are so soone remoued away vnto another Gospel, from him that had called you in the grace of Christ, 7 Which is not another Gospel, saue that there be some which trouble you, and intend to peruert the Gospel of Christ. 8 But though that we, or an Angel from heauen preach vnto you otherwise, then that which we haue preached vnto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we sayd before, so say I now againe, If any man preach vnto you otherwise, then that ye haue receiued, let him be accursed. 10 For nowe preach I mans doctrine, or Gods? or go I about to please men? for if I should yet please men, I were not the seruant of Christ. 11 Now I certifie you, brethren, that ye Gospel which was preached of me, was not after man. 12 For neither receiued I it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the reuelation of Iesus Christ. 13 For ye haue heard of my conuersation in time past, in the Iewish religion, how that I persecuted the Church of God extremely, and wasted it, 14 And profited in the Iewish religion aboue many of my companions of mine owne nation, and was much more zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God (which had separated me from my mothers wombe, and called me by his grace) 16 To reueile his Sonne in me, that I should preach him among the Gentiles, immediatly I communicated not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither came I againe to Hierusalem to them which were Apostles before me, but I went into Arabia, and turned againe vnto Damascus. 18 Then after three yeeres I came againe to Hierusalem to visite Peter, and abode with him fifteene dayes. 19 And none other of the Apostles sawe I, saue Iames the Lords brother. 20 Nowe the things which I write vnto you, beholde, I witnes before God, that I lie not. 21 After that, I went into the coastes of Syria and Cilicia: for I was vnknowen by face vnto the Churches of Iudea, which were in Christ. 22 But they had heard onely some say, Hee which persecuted vs in time past, nowe preacheth the faith which before he destroyed. 23 And they glorified God for me.