Galatians Chapter 1: Stand Firm in the True Gospel
For Parents and Children
In the first chapter of Galatians, Paul comes in hot. He skips the usual long greetings and jumps straight into something urgent: the people are turning away from the true message of Jesus. He’s shocked. Confused. Even a little heartbroken. Why? Because they’re starting to believe that they need to add extra rules to be saved. But Paul makes one thing clear—there is only one Gospel, and it’s all about Jesus plus nothing.
As parents, we can feel that same pressure the Galatians did. Pressure to “get it all right,” to earn God’s approval by how well we parent, how clean our house is, or how “good” our kids are. But Paul reminds us that trying to earn what Jesus already gave is a trap. We were never meant to be perfect—we were meant to be free in His grace.
And for our kids? Galatians 1 is the start of something powerful: learning early that God’s love isn’t something they have to work for. They don’t have to “deserve” it. It’s theirs because of Jesus.
Paul also says something bold in verse 10: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?” That’s a message for all of us in a world full of likes, grades, and expectations—God’s approval is the only one that really matters.
Try This Together:
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Talk about grace: Ask your kids what they think it means to be loved no matter what. Share a time you needed that reminder too.
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Memory verse: Galatians 1:10 – “I’m not trying to please people. I want to please God.”
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Prayer prompt: “God, help us to know Your love isn’t something we earn. Thank You that we are already accepted because of Jesus.”
Galatians 1:1
This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.
Explanation:
Paul is saying, “I’m an apostle, not because people picked me, but because Jesus and God did.”
Galatians 1:2
All the brothers and sisters here join me in sending this letter to the churches of Galatia.
Explanation:
Paul says, “Everyone here with me says hi! We’re writing this letter to the churches in Galatia.”
Galatians 1:3
May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Explanation:
He’s praying that God and Jesus will give them kindness and peace.
Galatians 1:4
Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.
Explanation:
Jesus died to take away our sins and save us, just like God had planned.
Galatians 1:5
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
Explanation:
Paul says, “Let’s give God praise forever!”
Galatians 1:6
I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News
Explanation:
Paul is surprised and sad that they’re already starting to believe something that’s not really the Good News about Jesus.
Galatians 1:7
but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.
Explanation:
He tells them, “That message you’re hearing is fake—it’s not the truth about Jesus.”
Galatians 1:8
Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.
Explanation:
If anyone teaches a different message—even an angel—they’re in big trouble.
Galatians 1:9
I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.
Explanation:
Paul repeats it: don’t believe any other message that isn’t the one he first gave them.
Galatians 1:10
Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
Explanation:
Paul says, “I don’t care what people think—I care what God thinks. That’s what makes me a true servant of Jesus.”
Galatians 1:11
Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning.
Explanation:
Paul wants them to know: “This message didn’t come from people. It came from God.”
Galatians 1:12
I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
Explanation:
He says, “No person taught me this—I learned it straight from Jesus.”
Galatians 1:13
You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it.
Explanation:
Paul reminds them, “I used to hurt Christians and tried to stop the church.”
Galatians 1:14
I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.
Explanation:
He was really serious about following Jewish rules and was one of the top students.
Galatians 1:15
But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him
Explanation:
God had a plan for Paul even before he was born.
Galatians 1:16
to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being.
Explanation:
God showed Paul who Jesus really was so he could tell non-Jewish people (Gentiles) about Him.
Galatians 1:17
Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.
Explanation:
Paul didn’t go learn from the other apostles right away. He went to a different place for a while.
Galatians 1:18
Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days.
Explanation:
Three years later, he finally met Peter and stayed with him for about two weeks.
Galatians 1:19
The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother.
Explanation:
He also met James, Jesus’ brother.
Galatians 1:20
I declare before God that what I am writing to you is not a lie.
Explanation:
Paul promises he’s telling the truth.
Galatians 1:21
After that visit I went north into the provinces of Syria and Cilicia.
Explanation:
After Jerusalem, Paul traveled north to other places.
Galatians 1:22
And still the churches in Christ that are in Judea didn’t know me personally.
Explanation:
The churches in Judea didn’t really know Paul yet.
Galatians 1:23
All they knew was that people were saying, “The one who used to persecute us is now preaching the very faith he tried to destroy!”
Explanation:
They heard stories like, “That guy who tried to stop us is now preaching for us!”
Galatians 1:24
And they praised God because of me.
Explanation:
And when they heard it, they gave thanks to God.