Galatians 1:12
What does Galatians 1:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 1:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 1:12 means
Paul sharpens the claim: he did not receive the Gospel from any man, nor was he taught it in the ordinary way; it came “through revelation of Jesus Christ.” Christ himself disclosed it to Paul. This points back to his encounter with the risen Lord and to subsequent instruction from Christ. The Gospel’s content is divinely revealed, not a human consensus or tradition. This matters because the Galatians are being swayed by teachers appealing to ancestral customs. Paul insists that the good news of grace through Christ stands on higher authority. If Christ revealed it, then to alter it is to resist Christ himself.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For I did not get it from man, and I was not given teaching in it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for neither did I from man receive it, nor was I taught <FI>it<Fi> , but through a revelation of Jesus Christ,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For neither did I receive it of man: nor did I learn it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For neither did I receive them from man, neither was I taught [them], but by revelation of Jesus Christ.
Context
Having stated the divine origin of his message, Paul moves to corroborate it with his life story. The next verses recount his extreme persecution of the church (verse 13) and his advancement in Judaism (verse 14), making it implausible that he would invent or adopt a grace-centered Gospel. Then he will show how God intervened to call him and send him to the Gentiles without consulting human authorities (verses 15–17), strengthening the claim that his commission and message are from Christ.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 1:16
to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:
- 1 Corinthians 11:23
For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread;
- 1 Corinthians 2:10
But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
- Galatians 1:1
Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead),
- 2 Corinthians 12:1
I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
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