Bible / Galatians
Galatians 1
World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision, the traditional Catholic English Bible. About the translations
1 Paul, an apostle – not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead – CCC · Fathers
2 and all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father – CCC
5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6 I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”,
7 but there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.
8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.
9 As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.
10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.
11 But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.
12 For I didn’t receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it. CCC
14 I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace, CCC · Fathers
16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood, CCC · Fathers
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.
19 But of the other apostles I saw no one except James, the Lord’s brother. CCC
20 Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying. CCC
21 Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22 I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,
23 but they only heard, “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.”
24 So they glorified God in me.
1 Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead: CCC · Fathers
2 And all the brethren who are with me: to the churches of Galatia.
3 Grace be to you, and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present wicked world, according to the will of God and our Father: CCC
5 To whom is glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6 I wonder that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel.
7 Which is not another: only there are some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema.
9 As we said before, so now I say again: If any one preach to you a gospel, besides that which you have received, let him be anathema.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 For I give you to understand, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
12 For neither did I receive it of man: nor did I learn it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you 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. CCC
14 And I made progress in the Jews’ religion above many of my equals in my own nation, being more abundantly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased him who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, CCC · Fathers
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles: immediately I condescended not to flesh and blood. CCC · Fathers
17 Neither went I to Jerusalem, to the apostles who were before me: but I went into Arabia, and again I returned to Damascus.
18 Then, after three years, I went to Jerusalem to see Peter: and I tarried with him fifteen days.
19 But other of the apostles I saw none, saving James the brother of the Lord. CCC
20 Now the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I lie not. CCC
21 Afterwards, I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea, which were in Christ:
23 But they had heard only: He, who persecuted us in times past doth now preach the faith which once he impugned.
24 And they glorified God in me.
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 857 “The Church is apostolic because she is founded on the apostles, in three ways: - she was and remains built on "the…”
“… and purity; and may He bestow on you a lot and portion among His saints, and on us with you, and on all that are under heaven, who shall believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in His Father, who "raised Him from the dead.”
Quoted in Letter to the Philippians, St. Polycarp of Smyrna (early 2nd century), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“Just, then, as "Paul [was] an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2824 “In Christ, and through his human will, the will of the Father has been perfectly fulfilled once for all. Jesus said on…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 752 “In Christian usage, the word "church" designates the liturgical assembly, but also the local community 142 or the whole universal community of…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 442 “Such is not the case for Simon Peter when he confesses Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God", for…”
- CCC 153 “When St. Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus declared to him that this revelation…”
“… substance of flesh, he does himself declare in the Epistle to the Galatians: "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… before thou wentest forth from the belly, I sanctified thee, and appointed thee a prophet among the nations." And Paul, too, says in like manner, "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, that I might declare Him among the nations.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XV. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 442 “Such is not the case for Simon Peter when he confesses Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God", for…”
- CCC 659 “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right…”
“… substance of flesh, he does himself declare in the Epistle to the Galatians: "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 500 “Against this doctrine the objection is sometimes raised that the Bible mentions brothers and sisters of Jesus. The Church has always understood…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2154 “Following St. Paul, The tradition of the Church has understood Jesus' words as not excluding oaths made for grave and right reasons…”