Dual Panel1PAUL, 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--
2And all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia:
3Grace {and} spiritual blessing be to you and [soul] peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah),
4Who gave (yielded) Himself up [to atone] for our sins [and to save and sanctify us], in order to rescue {and} deliver us from this present wicked age {and} world order, in accordance with the will {and} purpose {and} plan of our God and Father--
5To Him [be ascribed all] the glory through all the ages of the ages {and} the eternities of the eternities! Amen (so be it).
6I 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.
7Not 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].
8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to {and} different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)!
9As we said before, so I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from {or} contrary to that which you received [from us], let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)!
10Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).
11For 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].
12For 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).
13You have heard of my earlier career {and} former manner of life in the Jewish religion (Judaism), how I persecuted {and} abused the church of God furiously {and} extensively, and [with fanatical zeal did my best] to make havoc of it {and} destroy it.
14And [you have heard how] I outstripped many of the men of my own generation among the people of my race in [my advancement in study and observance of the laws of] Judaism, so extremely enthusiastic {and} zealous I was for the traditions of my ancestors.
15But when He, Who had chosen {and} set me apart [even] before I was born and had called me by His grace (His undeserved favor and blessing), saw fit {and} was pleased
16To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood [did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone].
17Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles (special messengers of Christ) before I was, but I went away {and} retired into Arabia, and afterward I came back again to Damascus.
18Then three years later, I did go up to Jerusalem to become [personally] acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and remained with him for fifteen days.
19But I did not see any of the other apostles (the special messengers of Christ) except James the brother of our Lord.
20Now [note carefully what I am telling you, for it is the truth], I write this as if I were standing before the bar of God; I do not lie.
21Then I went into the districts (countries, regions) of Syria and Cilicia.
22And so far I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Christ in Judea (the country surrounding Jerusalem).
23They were only hearing it said, He who used to persecute us is now proclaiming the very faith he once reviled {and} which he set out to ruin {and} tried with all his might to destroy.
24And they glorified God [as the Author and Source of what had taken place] in me.