Galatians 1:10 For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
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No False Gospel
Paul’s Apostolic Authority (Galatians 1:1-12):
Paul establishes his apostleship as directly from Jesus Christ, not from humans, to emphasize the divine origin of his message. He warns against any other gospel, stating that even if an angel from heaven preached a different gospel, they should be accursed.
The Gospel Paul Preached (Galatians 1:11-24):
Paul recounts his conversion and early ministry to prove that his gospel was not received from human sources but through revelation from Jesus Christ. He highlights his independence from the Jerusalem church leaders, underscoring that his message was divinely inspired, not a product of human manipulation or approval.
Rejection of Human Approval (Galatians 1:10):
This verse is pivotal as Paul clarifies his motivation isn’t to please people but to serve Christ, setting the stage for the rest of the letter where he will defend the gospel against those who would distort it for human acceptance.
The central theme of Galatians 1 is the defense of the true gospel. Paul is combating a false teaching that has infiltrated the Galatian churches, which suggests that adherence to Jewish law is necessary for salvation alongside faith in Christ. He establishes his authority, the divine origin of his message, and his commitment to serving Christ over pleasing people. The chapter sets a tone of urgency and clarity, focusing on the purity of the gospel message, the importance of divine revelation over human tradition, and the call to live and preach according to God’s approval rather than societal or cultural acceptance.
