THE TRUE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Passage: Galatians 1:1-10

Key verse: 3-4

NIV

1 Paul, an apostle(A)—sent not from men nor by a man,(B) but by Jesus Christ(C) and God the Father,(D) who raised him from the dead(E)— 2 and all the brothers and sisters[a] with me,(F)

To the churches in Galatia:(G)

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,(H) 4 who gave himself for our sins(I) to rescue us from the present evil age,(J) according to the will of our God and Father,(K) 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(L)

No Other Gospel

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called(M) you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel(N)— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion(O) and are trying to pervert(P) the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,(Q) let them be under God’s curse!(R) 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted,(S) let them be under God’s curse!

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

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Footnotes
  1. Galatians 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15; 4:12, 28, 31; 5:11, 13; 6:1, 18.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Greeting

1 Paul, an (A)apostle—(B)not from men nor through man, but (C)through Jesus Christ and God the Father, (D)who raised him from the dead— 2 and all (E)the brothers[a] who are with me,

To (F)the churches of Galatia:

3 (G)Grace to you and peace (H)from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 (I)who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present (J)evil age, according to the will of (K)our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel

6 I am astonished that you are (L)so quickly deserting (M)him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to (N)a different gospel— 7 (O)not that there is another one, but (P)there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or (Q)an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, (R)let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, (S)let him be accursed.

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying (T)to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a (U)servant[b] of Christ.

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Footnotes
  1. Galatians 1:2 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verse 11
  2. Galatians 1:10 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

In the opening verses of Galatians, Paul immediately addresses the two main concerns of this epistle: 1) Paul’s apostleship and 2) what the gospel really is. First, Paul’s apostleship and ministry did not have its origin in people but in Jesus Christ and God the Father (1). Second, peace and grace from God are available to all who have faith in Jesus. This is possible because Jesus gave himself for our sins. Jesus rescued us from this present evil age through his death and resurrection (4). God’s will is to save us through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This is the gospel Paul believed and proclaimed. Let’s newly believe and praise God for this gospel!

Many Galatian Christians were turning away from the gospel of Jesus to a different gospel, which was a perversion of the original. Whoever preached this other gospel, even if it was an angel, did not matter. Paul emphasized twice that such people were under God’s curse! Jesus’ death and resurrection may have offended some people, but Paul was not trying to please people. He was faithful to the only gospel that rescues us from sin and death.

Prayer: Father, thank you for our Lord Jesus Christ, who rescues us from this present evil age. Thank you for the grace and peace we have in Jesus. Help me to hold onto this gospel and preach it.

One Word: Jesus rescues us