Bullet Point Bible - Galatians 1

Apostolic Greeting and Divine Authority

¹ From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead)² and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia.³ Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,⁴ who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father,⁵ to whom be glory forever and ever! Amen.

Paul immediately asserts his apostolic authority comes directly from God and Jesus Christ, not human appointment, countering potential challenges (Galatians 1:1).
This divine commission is central to the authority of the gospel message he preaches.
The inclusion of "all the brothers with me" indicates shared concern and support for Paul's message (Galatians 1:2).
The standard greeting "Grace and peace" encapsulates the core benefits of the gospel (Galatians 1:3).
Paul grounds the gospel in the substitutionary atonement of Christ: "who gave himself for our sins" (Galatians 1:4).
Christ's death achieved deliverance "from the present evil age," highlighting the eschatological dimension of salvation (Galatians 1:4).
This act was entirely "according to the will of our God and Father," emphasizing divine sovereignty in salvation (Galatians 1:4).
The opening concludes with a doxology, directing ultimate glory to God (Galatians 1:5).
The term "apostle" (apostolos) signifies one sent with the authority of the sender.

Rebuke for Deserting the True Gospel

⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel-⁷ not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ.⁸ But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell!⁹ As we have said before, and now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell!¹⁰ Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!

Paul expresses shock ("I am astonished") at the Galatians' rapid shift away from the true gospel (Galatians 1:6).
Deserting the gospel means deserting God himself, "the one who called you by the grace of Christ" (Galatians 1:6).
Paul clarifies that the "different gospel" is not a valid alternative but a perversion ("distort") of the true gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:7).
The troublemakers ("some who are disturbing you") are likely Judaizers insisting on adherence to the Mosaic Law for salvation.
Paul issues a strong curse (anathema, "let him be condemned to hell") against anyone preaching a false gospel, even himself or an angel (Galatians 1:8).
The repetition of the curse emphasizes its seriousness and Paul's unwavering conviction (Galatians 1:9).
This highlights the exclusivity of the gospel message Paul delivered.
Paul defends his motives, contrasting seeking God's approval with seeking human approval (Galatians 1:10).
His uncompromising stance proves he serves Christ, not human opinion; pleasing people would compromise his identity as a "slave of Christ" (Galatians 1:10).

The Gospel Received by Revelation

¹¹ Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.¹² For I did not receive it or learn it from any human source; instead I received it by a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul explicitly states the divine origin of his message to underscore its authority (Galatians 1:11).
"Not of human origin" (ouk estin kata anthrōpon) directly refutes any claim that his gospel was a human invention or tradition.
He denies receiving the gospel through normal human means: "did not receive it... from any human source" (Galatians 1:12).
The source was direct divine disclosure: "a revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:12).
This "revelation" likely refers to his conversion experience on the Damascus road and subsequent divine instruction (Acts 9).
This claim establishes the independence and divine authority of Paul's gospel, equal to that preached by the Jerusalem apostles.
It sets the stage for his autobiographical defense in the following verses.

Paul's Former Life in Judaism

¹³ For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I was savagely persecuting the church of God and trying to destroy it.¹⁴ I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my nation, and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.

Paul reminds the Galatians of his past, which was likely well-known (Galatians 1:13).
His pre-Christian life was characterized by violent opposition to Christianity: "savagely persecuting the church of God" (Galatians 1:13).
His goal was the eradication of the church: "trying to destroy it" (Galatians 1:13).
This background demonstrates that his conversion and gospel were not a natural progression but a radical reversal.
He highlights his exceptional progress and standing within Judaism (Galatians 1:14).
His "extreme" zeal was focused on "the traditions of my ancestors," possibly referring to both written Law and oral traditions (Pharisaic interpretations).
This zeal, now seen as misguided, ironically led him to persecute the very faith he now proclaimed.
His credentials as a formerly zealous Jew counter any suggestion he didn't understand or value Jewish heritage.

Paul's Conversion and Divine Calling

¹⁵ But when the one who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace was pleased¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from any human being,¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me, but right away I departed to Arabia, and then returned to Damascus.

Paul attributes his conversion entirely to God's sovereign initiative and grace (Galatians 1:15).
God's plan for Paul existed even before his birth ("set me apart before I was born"), emphasizing predestination and divine purpose.
The calling was solely "by his grace," not based on Paul's merit (especially given his persecuting past).
God's purpose was twofold: internal revelation ("reveal his Son in me") and external mission ("preach him among the Gentiles") (Galatians 1:16).
The revelation was not just *to* Paul, but *in* him, suggesting a deep, transformative experience.
Immediately following this divine commission, Paul acted independently of human authority ("did not immediately consult with flesh and blood") (Galatians 1:16).
He specifically notes he did not seek validation from the established apostles in Jerusalem (Galatians 1:17).
Instead, he went to "Arabia" (likely the Nabatean kingdom south/east of Damascus) for a period, possibly for reflection and divine instruction, before returning to Damascus (Galatians 1:17).
This independence underscores the divine, not human, origin of his apostleship and message.

Early Ministry and First Jerusalem Visit

¹⁸ Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and get information from him, and I stayed with him fifteen days.¹⁹ But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.²⁰ I assure you that, before God, I am not lying about what I am writing to you!²¹ Afterward I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.²² But I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.²³ They were only hearing, "The one who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the good news of the faith he once tried to destroy."²⁴ So they glorified God because of me.

Paul provides a specific timeline: "after three years" (likely from his conversion) he visited Jerusalem (Galatians 1:18).
The purpose was to "visit Cephas" (Peter's Aramaic name), using a Greek word (*historeō*) suggesting inquiry or getting acquainted, not seeking approval or instruction (Galatians 1:18).
The visit was brief ("fifteen days"), limiting the possibility of extensive instruction from Peter (Galatians 1:18).
He emphasizes the limited contact with other Jerusalem leaders: "saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother" (Galatians 1:19). James, though not one of the Twelve, was a key leader in the Jerusalem church.
Paul makes a solemn oath ("I declare before God, I am not lying!") to verify the accuracy of his account, highlighting its importance for his argument (Galatians 1:20).
Following the Jerusalem visit, Paul ministered in regions far from Judea: "Syria and Cilicia" (his home region) (Galatians 1:21).
He remained unknown by face to the Judean churches, further demonstrating his ministry's independence from the Jerusalem center (Galatians 1:22).
The Judean believers knew him only by reputation: the dramatic transformation from persecutor to preacher (Galatians 1:23).
Their reaction was not suspicion but praise to God for Paul's conversion and ministry (Galatians 1:24), implicitly validating his work.

The Bullet Point Bible

Galatians 1