Chapter 1 of Galatians, according to the Amplified Classic (AMPC) version, begins with Paul establishing his authority as an apostle sent not by men but by God and Jesus Christ. The salutation serves as a declaration of his independence from human authorities and direct connection with divine authority. This is found in Galatians 1:1, "Paul, an apostle—[special messenger appointed and commissioned and sent out] not from [any body of] men nor by or through any man, but by and through Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and God the Father, Who raised Him from among the dead—" Paul then moves into expressing his astonishment that the Galatians are deserting the Gospel of Christ and turning to a different Gospel. He emphasizes that there is no other Gospel except the one they received from him, implying that what they are turning to is a distortion of the Gospel. This concern is highlighted in Galatians 1:6-7, 6 - "I am surprised and astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade and deserting Him Who invited and called you by the grace (unmerited favor) of Christ (the Messiah) [and that you are transferring your allegiance] to a different [even an opposition] gospel. 7 - “Not that there is [or could be] any other [genuine Gospel], but there are [obviously] some who are troubling and disturbing and bewildering you [with a different kind of teaching which they offer as a gospel] and want to pervert and distort the Gospel of Christ (the

Messiah) [into something which it absolutely is not]." Paul further reasserts his authority by recounting his own conversion and early Christian experience. He describes how he persecuted the church violently and tried to destroy it, but was later called by God's grace to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. He makes it clear that this revelation and his understanding of the Gospel were not handed down by any man but came directly from Jesus Christ. These events are summarized in Galatians 1:11-12, "For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man’s gospel [a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard]. For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through a [direct] revelation [given] by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)." Chapter 1 serves as a strong defense of the Gospel of grace against the distortions brought by Judaizers (those who taught that Gentile Christians had to observe Jewish laws), setting the tone for the subsequent discussions in the letter. It emphasizes Paul's authority, the true Gospel, and the seriousness of distorting it.

An Overview of Galatians Chapter One

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Click on each Chapter for a full review.