Galatians 1

1 Paul [a Roman apostle, originally named Saul], an apostle [a delegate or messenger of Jesus Christ]—sent not from men [human beings, mortal authorities] nor by man [a human, any individual], but by Jesus Christ [the Messiah, God’s anointed] and God [the supreme deity] the Father [the male parent, the originator], who raised Him [from a state of death] from the dead [a state of lifelessness, spiritual or physical]— word study 2 and all [every single one] the brothers [fellow believers, brethren] with [in close association, together] me, To [unto, sent to] the churches [assemblies, congregations] of [in the region of] Galatia [a province in Asia]: word study 3 Grace [unmerited favor, divine kindness] and peace [harmony, inner tranquility] to you [as individuals, as believers] from God [the Father, our Creator] our Father [the ultimate paternal figure, source of love] and the Lord [Master, Sovereign] Jesus Christ [the Anointed One, our Savior], word study 4 who gave Himself [as a sacrifice, for our redemption] for our sins [transgressions, missing the mark] to rescue us [deliver, set free] from the present [current, at hand] evil age [world, era of wickedness], according to the will [desire, intention] of our God [the Father, Creator] and Father [the one who loves and cares for us], word study 5 to whom [the Father, the supreme Being] be glory [honor, praise] forever [for all eternity, throughout the ages] and ever [perpetually, without end]. Amen [so be it, may it be confirmed]. word study 6 I am amazed [utterly astonished, marveling] how quickly [soon, rapidly] you are deserting [turning away from, abandoning] the One [Him] who called [invited, summoned] you by the grace [unmerited favor, loving-kindness] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] and are turning [transferring, removing] to a different [another, alternate] gospel [good news, message of salvation]— word study 7 which [is not another, but a distortion] is not even a gospel [good news, message of salvation]. Evidently [it is clear, obviously] some people [certain individuals, troublemakers] are troubling [disturbing, stirring up] you and trying [desiring, intending] to distort [pervert, corrupt] the gospel [message of Christ, good news] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah]. word study 8 But even if we [or an apostle] or an angel [a heavenly messenger] from heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s dwelling place] should preach [proclaim, announce] a gospel [good news, message of salvation] contrary [different, opposing] to the one we preached [proclaimed, announced] to you, let him be [exist as, be considered] under a curse [anathema, devoted to destruction]! word study 9 As we have said before [previously, at an earlier time], so now I say again [repeat, emphasize once more]: If anyone [a person, someone] is preaching [proclaiming, announcing] to you a gospel [good news, message of salvation] contrary [opposite, different] to the one [which, that specific message] you received [accepted, took in], let him be under a curse [anathema, devoted to destruction]! word study 10 Am I now [at this moment, currently] seeking the approval [favor, validation] of men [human beings, people], or of God [the one true deity]? Or am I striving [trying, attempting] to please [be agreeable to, gain approval from] men [people, humans]? If I were still [continuing, ongoing] trying to please [gain approval from, be pleasing to] men, I would not be a servant [slave, bondservant] of Christ [the Messiah, the Anointed One]. word study 11 For I certify [make known, inform] to you, brothers [fellow believers, brethren], that the gospel [good news, message of salvation] I preached [proclaimed, announced] was not devised [created, thought up] by man [a human, according to human nature]. word study 12 I did not receive it [from any human source] from any man [a human being], nor was I taught [instructed or guided] it; rather, I received it [through spiritual insight] by revelation [a divine disclosure or unveiling] from Jesus [Joshua, the Savior] Christ [the Anointed One, the Messiah]. word study 13 For you have heard of my former [past, previous] way of life [behaviour, manner of living] in Judaism [the Jewish faith, Jewish religion], how severely [beyond measure, exceedingly] I persecuted [pursued, harassed] the church [assembly, community] of God [the one true deity] and tried to destroy [lay waste, ravage] it. word study 14 I was advancing [making progress, growing] in Judaism [the Jewish faith and its practices] beyond many of my contemporaries [peers, equals in age] and was extremely [exceedingly, beyond measure] zealous [enthusiastic, dedicated] for the traditions [teachings, customs] of my fathers [ancestors, paternal heritage]. word study 15 But when [at a specific point in time] God [the supreme Deity], who set me apart [separated, called to a special purpose] from my mother’s womb [from birth, in the belly] and called me by [through, because of] His grace [unmerited favor, divine influence], was pleased [delighted, thought well of it] word study 16 to reveal [make known, disclose] His Son [the Messiah, Jesus Christ] in me [within my heart, to my understanding] so that I might preach [proclaim, announce good news] Him among the Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations], I did not rush [immediately, without delay] to consult [confer, discuss] with flesh and blood [human beings, mortal men], word study 17 nor did I go up [to ascend, to a higher place] to Jerusalem [the city of God] to the apostles [messengers, delegates of Jesus Christ] who came before [prior to, preceding] me, but I went into Arabia [a desert region, a place of solitude] and later [afterward, subsequently] returned [to turn back, to come back] to Damascus [a city in Syria, a place of ministry]. word study 18 Only after [three years later, then] three years did I go up [ascend, to a higher place] to Jerusalem [the capital of Palestine] to confer [get acquainted, to visit] with Cephas [Peter, a rock or stone], and I stayed [remained, kept on] with him [together, in his company] fifteen [a specific number of] days. word study 19 But I saw [did not perceive or encounter] none of the other [different, distinct] apostles [messengers, delegates of Jesus Christ] except [save, with the exception of] James [the brother of Jesus], the Lord’s [Master, God’s] brother [fellow believer, sibling]. word study 20 I assure you [before God as my witness] before God [the supreme Deity, Creator of all] that what I am writing [recording, setting forth] to you [directly, personally] is no [absolutely not, none] lie [falsehood, deception]. word study 21 Later [afterwards, then] I went [came, traveled] to the regions [areas, territories] of Syria [a region in Asia] and [also] Cilicia [a region in Asia Minor]. word study 22 I was personally unknown [unknown by face, unrecognizable], however, to the churches [assemblies, gatherings of believers] of Judea [a region in southern Palestine] that are [existing, dwelling] in Christ [the Anointed One, the Messiah]. word study 23 They only [merely, alone] heard the account: “The man who formerly [in times past, previously] persecuted [pursued, harassed] us is now [at this present time] preaching [spreading, proclaiming] the faith [trust, confidence in God] he once [formerly, in the past] tried to destroy [lay waste, ravage].” word study 24 And [also, in addition] they glorified [praised, honored, gave glory to] God [the one true deity, Creator] because of [on account of, in me, through my experience] me [my person, my testimony]. word study