This book of Galatians is, for me, one of the most important books in the Bible, as it explains the way of salvation through the righteousness of Jesus. Unless we understand and receive this message as a genuine experience, we are not truly converted. As Ellen G. White says, conversion is a rare experience — few Christians are truly converted. I’ve come to realize that one of the biggest problems in the world is legalism and pride.
This Galatians chapter 1 commentary gives us the solution to this profound problem that even today, few are speaking about or know how to solve. Not only is much of the Christian and religious world caught up in pride and legalism, but many non-believers also stand only on rules, without any real change occurring in the heart. What we will ultimately take with us to heaven is who we are, not merely what we do. Once God changes who we are, our actions naturally follow.
When someone strives, through their own effort, to change their behavior without first allowing their heart to be transformed, the Christian life becomes a nightmare — a heavy, exhausting burden. This Galatians chapter 1 commentary points us toward the way out of this religious nightmare we call legalism.
GA 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),
This is a very important verse. I remember evangelizing once in the south of France, in a region where many Protestants lived during the Middle Ages — dusty, rugged towns. It’s fascinating that, in a country so deeply Catholic, there existed a region called the Cévennes that remained largely Protestant, fiercely resisting the persecution of the papacy. There, a man once asked me a pointed question:
“Who sent you to preach?” Or, put another way: “Can you prove to me that you’re not simply speaking your own opinions, but that God Himself has sent you?”
Today, most people place their trust in human reasoning and personal conviction. The Bible teaches the opposite — that all truth comes from God, that God Himself is truth.
God chooses specific people to share the love of Jesus with others, and the words spoken by those He calls do not originate from human minds, but from God Himself.
Today’s Christianity often places its trust in human authority instead. Many Christians assume that a preacher’s words originate from the preacher himself. Let’s return to Scripture and recognize that when someone is truly sent by God, what they speak is inspired by God. This Galatians chapter 1 commentary reminds us that we cannot simply follow modern movements that elevate human reasoning and human opinion above divine truth.
If a preacher’s message originated purely from himself, there would be no need for the Holy Spirit, no need for Scripture, since human thought alone would be sufficient to proclaim truth. God would never have needed to establish churches, give us the Bible, or send prophets if human reasoning alone were enough. Paul affirms that he was sent directly by God, and that the words he spoke came from God.
GA 1:2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
Paul was sent specifically to the pagans. Today, most Christians tend to gather where other Christians already are — it’s simply easier and more comfortable. Yet the truth of the Bible is not reaching the ends of the earth as God intends.
This Galatians chapter 1 commentary points out that modern Christianity is largely failing to fulfill its mission of preaching to the world. It is, in a sense, a form of selfishness to be blessed with so much truth and yet allow others to perish without ever hearing the incredible truth that Jesus loves us deeply, and that He died so we could be freed from destruction and enjoy heaven forever.
GA 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
What we need most in these end times is grace and peace. So much turmoil fills the world today that genuine peace feels rare. Yet when we understand Scripture, we can experience peace, knowing that this ongoing battle between good and evil will one day come to an end. We need grace because only God can give us the wisdom to share His love with others.
GA 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
This present age is indeed evil. If you read more on the topic of pride, it explains clearly what evil truly looks like — in fact, the words “evil” and “proud” are often used interchangeably throughout Scripture. Many sins are rarely, if ever, mentioned in churches today, and most Christians don’t fully understand what sin truly is. This Galatians chapter 1 commentary reminds us that what God desires most is for us to love one another and love Him above all else. Many people assume sin is limited to outward actions alone.
Many follow countless rules and traditions, forgetting that who we are is ultimately what we carry into heaven. This troubled world often fails to recognize that many sins deeply offensive to God are rarely addressed in churches — sins like pride, arrogance, selfishness, an unloving spirit, unkindness, apathy, and dishonesty. Through the death of Jesus, we have the hope that one day we will leave this broken world behind for a place where everyone will be loving, kind, honest, and gentle.
GA 1:5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
This stands in direct contrast to today’s self-focused world — giving God glory in all things. The root of sin is pride, or self-worship. We either give God the glory, or we take for ourselves the glory that rightfully belongs to Him. There is no middle ground. No one will enter heaven having claimed glory for themselves.
In heaven, only those who genuinely love and serve others will be present. This Galatians chapter 1 commentary teaches us that this transformation can only happen through the righteousness of Jesus, since our own works hold no saving value on their own. The only true value of our works lies in doing them out of love for God and others, and out of gratitude toward Him. Our works have nothing to do with earning acceptance with God or earning a place in heaven.
GA 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
This verse connects closely with the earlier point about human opinion and reasoning. Here, Scripture again affirms that there is an absolute truth. Today there are countless denominations and churches — yet how can that be, when there is only one Bible and one truth? It happens because false teachers exist. Reading the Bible carefully, in context, and examining all the relevant verses on a topic is far safer than jumping quickly to conclusions and ending up believing something false.
GA 1:7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
Paul warns that those who teach false doctrines trouble believers and distort the true gospel of Jesus. Here, Paul is specifically addressing those who wanted other Christians to be saved through works — requiring practices that were no longer necessary now that Jesus had died on the cross. We are now saved by grace. This Galatians chapter 1 commentary reminds us that humanity possesses no righteousness of its own; only God is righteous.
When we continue to cling to the belief that our works carry saving value, or that there is inherent goodness within us, we remain unconverted, and we risk misleading others as well. No one is saved through the works of the law. Scripture also tells us that if we are saved by works, then grace ceases to be grace. We are saved either by grace or by works — never both. A light cannot be both green and red at the same time.
GA 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Here Paul makes clear that we should not follow whatever happens to be popular at the time, nor should we shape truth according to what people wish were true. Truth is found in Scripture, regardless of whether people choose to follow it. Even if the entire world were to teach that human reasoning alone determines truth, or that salvation comes through works, we should not follow that teaching.
GA 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Let us follow only what Scripture teaches, not teachers who introduce doctrines with no true foundation in the Word of God. This Galatians chapter 1 commentary points us toward righteousness by faith — asking God daily to give us His righteousness is the only way to accomplish His will through His strength.
GA 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Scripture also tells us that if we conform to the standards of this world, we cannot please God. We must choose the way of Jesus instead. Being rude, proud, arrogant, or unkind is often accepted, even celebrated, by society. Seeking the highest position, being apathetic and uncaring, is frequently admired in our culture. Yet Scripture tells us we cannot enter heaven carrying such character flaws. The good news, however, is that the righteousness of Jesus is entirely sufficient.
GA 1:11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
Once again, this is a rebuke of the modern tendency toward self-worship and reliance on human reasoning, rather than the plain truth of Scripture. The Bible, and the words spoken by God’s true messengers, originate from Him.
GA 1:12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The revelations given to God’s messengers come directly from Him — even when those words are spoken through a human voice, it is God and the Holy Spirit speaking through that person. This Galatians chapter 1 commentary teaches us that truth comes only from God.
GA 1:13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
Here we see that true conversion comes only from God. God can transform even a hardened legalist like Paul — someone who, by his own standards, was nearly perfect in keeping the law, yet remained blind to the corruption within his own heart. This is a common pattern among legalists: they believe themselves righteous, often because they focus primarily on the failings of others, remaining unaware of the true condition of their own hearts. They follow rules without understanding that legalism, pride, selfishness, and an unloving spirit can never gain entrance into heaven.
GA 1:14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Paul had been an exceptionally devoted Pharisee, persecuting those who accepted the truth of Jesus’ sacrificial love. He did so out of genuine ignorance, but Paul was ultimately transformed and received the righteousness of Jesus — the only true solution to the problem of sin.
GA 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,
Paul says that God had set him apart for this work from the very beginning. But was God responsible for Paul becoming a Pharisee? No — it was the teachings of the Pharisees themselves that shaped Paul into a legalist. How we read and understand Scripture can truly make the difference between life and death.
GA 1:16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
Paul was not taught by human teachers, but directly by God. I experienced something similar — one day in Spain, while I was completely atheist, I had a dream, and God came to me and said, “I am God. I love you.” This was a deeply personal calling, much like Paul’s direct calling from God. No human instructed Paul — God Himself did.
GA 1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Paul was sent to Arabia to learn the truth, following his calling from God on the road to Damascus.
GA 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days.
Paul also spent meaningful time with Peter, one of Jesus’ devoted apostles. Paul felt deeply grateful for the privilege of meeting one of Jesus’ own apostles and discussing Jesus with him directly.
GA 1:19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.
GA 1:20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)
Paul was not writing from his own authority — God only chooses individuals who are honest, humble, and sincere.
GA 1:21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
GA 1:22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.
Paul was a true Christian — someone who traveled extensively to tell others about Jesus’ love for humanity and His sacrificial death on the cross, so that whoever accepts that love can be forgiven and one day enter heaven, where there will be no more tears, no more death, no more sorrow, and no more pain.
GA 1:23 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”
GA 1:24 And they glorified God in me.
The apostles had initially feared meeting Paul, knowing his history of persecuting Christians. But afterward, they discovered that Paul’s conversion was genuine and real, and they rejoiced to see that God could bring about such remarkable transformation in someone’s heart.