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]."
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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