Galatians 1

1Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead),

1I, Paul, am an apostle—not sent by any group of people or through any human authority, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.

2and all the brethren that are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

2All the brothers who are with me join me in writing this to the churches in Galatia.

3Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,

3May you have grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:

4Jesus gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil world, just as our God and Father planned.

5to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

5To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

6I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel;

6I am shocked that you are so quickly turning away from the one who called you by the grace of Christ, and that you are following a different kind of gospel.

7which is not another gospel: only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

7It is not really another gospel; it is just that some people are confusing you and trying to distort the truth about Christ.

8But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.

8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach any other gospel to you than the one we already preached, let that person be cursed.

9As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema.

9As we said before, I now say again: If anyone preaches a gospel to you that is different from the one you accepted, let that person be cursed.

10For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

10Am I now trying to win human approval, or the approval of God? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

11For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man.

11I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not something humans made up.

12For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.

12I did not receive it from any human, nor was I taught it by anyone; instead, I received it through a revelation from Jesus Christ.

13For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:

13You have heard about my former way of life in the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.

14and I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

14I was advancing in the Jewish religion far beyond many people of my own age, and I was extremely devoted to the traditions of my ancestors.

15But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace,

15But or even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his grace. When it pleased him,

16to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:

16he revealed his Son to me so that I might preach about him to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not immediately consult with any human being.

17neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.

17I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me. Instead, I went away into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days.

18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and I stayed with him for fifteen days.

19But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.

19I did not see any of the other apostles except for James, the Lord’s brother.

20Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

20I promise you before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie.

21Then I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

21Afterward, I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

22And I was still unknown by face unto the churches of Judæa which were in Christ:

22At that time, the Christian churches in Judea still did not know me personally.

23but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc;

23They only heard people saying, 'The man who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.'

24and they glorified God in me.

24And they praised God because of what had happened to me.