The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 I, Paul, and my companions in faith here, send greetings to the Galatian churches. My authority for writing to you does not come from any popular vote of the people, nor does it come through the appointment of some human higher-up. It comes directly from Jesus the Messiah and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. I'm God-commissioned.
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Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
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And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
3 So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace!
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Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we're in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God's plan is that we all experience that rescue.
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Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
5 Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!
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To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6 I can't believe your fickleness - how easily you have turned traitor to him who called you by the grace of Christ by embracing a variant message!
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I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 It is not a minor variation, you know; it is completely other, an alien message, a no-message, a lie about God. Those who are provoking this agitation among you are turning the Message of Christ on its head.
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Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 Let me be blunt: If one of us - even if an angel from heaven! - were to preach something other than what we preached originally, let him be cursed.
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But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 I said it once; I'll say it again: If anyone, regardless of reputation or credentials, preaches something other than what you received originally, let him be cursed.
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As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 Do you think I speak this strongly in order to manipulate crowds? Or curry favor with God? Or get popular applause? If my goal was popularity, I wouldn't bother being Christ's slave.
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For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 Know this - I am most emphatic here, friends - this great Message I delivered to you is not mere human optimism.
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But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 I didn't receive it through the traditions, and I wasn't taught it in some school. I got it straight from God, received the Message directly from Jesus Christ.
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For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 I'm sure that you've heard the story of my earlier life when I lived in the Jewish way. In those days I went all out in persecuting God's church. I was systematically destroying it.
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For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 I was so enthusiastic about the traditions of my ancestors that I advanced head and shoulders above my peers in my career.
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And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15 Even then God had designs on me. Why, when I was still in my mother's womb he chose and called me out of sheer generosity!
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But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
16 Now he has intervened and revealed his Son to me so that I might joyfully tell non-Jews about him.
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To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 and without going up to Jerusalem to confer with those who were apostles long before I was - I got away to Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus,
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Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18 but it was three years before I went up to Jerusalem to compare stories with Peter. I was there only fifteen days - but what days they were!
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Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19 Except for our Master's brother James, I saw no other apostles.
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But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
20 (I'm telling you the absolute truth in this.)
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Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
21 Then I began my ministry in the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
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Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
22 After all that time and activity I was still unknown by face among the Christian churches in Judea.
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And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
23 There was only this report: "That man who once persecuted us is now preaching the very message he used to try to destroy."
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But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
24 Their response was to recognize and worship God because of me!
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And they glorified God in me.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.