Year of the Bible
Galatians 1
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Commentary on the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians, Chapter 1:
Paul begins this letter written to the followers of Jesus in the province of Galatia (modern day Turkey) with a reminder that his call to ministry is from the Lord (vs. 1). Then, in verse 6, we quickly discover that this letter is starting off with a negative tone, that Paul is “astonished” in disappointment that the churches of the province of Galatia are starting to turn to a “different gospel.” Paul asserts that the Gospel, literally the good announcement, news, or proclamation is revealed through Jesus, the Messiah (vs. 11-12). Paul turns not to doctrine or apologetics to convince them, but shares the story of his own life. That he personally experienced being “called” through God’s grace to the revelation of who the Son of God truly is (vs. 15-16), and that after this, he sought communion with the early leaders of the Church in Jerusalem (vs. 18-24).
The Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians, Chapter 1:
Salutation
1 Paul an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—2 and all the brethren who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father; 5 to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Is No Other Gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel—7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.
10 Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.
Paul’s Vindication of His Apostleship
11 Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to destroy it; 14 and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still not known by sight to the churches of Christ in Judea; 23 they only heard it said, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God be cause of me.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
"Am I now seeking the favor of men or of God?" (Gal 1:10) In what ways do I seek the favor of men instead of God? Lord, send your Holy Spirit down upon me so that I can see where I need to seek your favor and not the favor of the world.
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, an adult faith formation apostolate. cbsmich.org/join
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
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Galatas 1
1 Pablo, apóstol –no de parte de los
hombres ni por medio de ningún hombre,
sino por obra de Jesucristo y de Dios
Padre, que le resucitó de entre los muertos–,
2 y todos los hermanos que están
conmigo, a las iglesias de Galacia: 3 gracia
y paz a vosotros de parte de Dios, nuestro
Padre, y del Señor Jesucristo, 4 que se
entregó a sí mismo por nuestros pecados,
para librarnos de este mundo perverso,
conforme a la voluntad de Dios y
Padre nuestro, 5 para quien es la gloria
por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.
6 Me sorprende que hayáis abandonado
tan pronto al que os llamó por la
gracia de Cristo para seguir otro evangelio;
7 aunque no es que haya otro, sino
que hay algunos que os inquietan y
quieren cambiar el Evangelio de Cristo.
8 Pero aunque nosotros mismos o
un ángel del cielo os anunciásemos un
evangelio diferente del que os hemos
predicado, ¡sea anatema! 9 Como os lo
acabamos de decir, ahora os lo repito:
si alguno os anuncia un evangelio diferente
del que habéis recibido, ¡sea anatema!
10 ¿Busco ahora la aprobación de
los hombres o la de Dios? ¿O es que pretendo
agradar a los hombres? Si todavía
pretendiera agradar a los hombres, no
sería siervo de Cristo.
11 Porque os hago saber, hermanos,
que el Evangelio que yo os he anunciado
no es algo humano; 12 pues yo no lo he
recibido ni aprendido de ningún hombre,
sino por revelación de Jesucristo.
13 Porque habéis oído de mi conducta
anterior en el judaísmo: cómo perseguía
con saña a la Iglesia de Dios y la
combatía, 14 y aventajaba en el judaísmo
a muchos contemporáneos de mi raza,
por ser extremadamente celoso de las
tradiciones de mis padres. 15 Pero cuando
Dios, que me eligió desde el vientre
de mi madre y me llamó por su gracia,
tuvo a bien 16 revelar en mí a su Hijo
para que le anunciara entre los gentiles,
enseguida, sin pedir consejo a la carne
ni a la sangre, 17 y sin subir a Jerusalén
a ver a los apóstoles, mis predecesores,
me retiré a Arabia, y de nuevo volví a
Damasco.
18 Luego, tres años después, subí a Jerusalén
para ver a Cefas, y permanecí a
su lado quince días; 19 pero no vi a ningún
otro de los apóstoles, excepto a Santiago,
el hermano del Señor. 20 De lo que
os escribo, Dios es testigo que no miento.
21 Después me fui a las regiones de Si-
ria y Cilicia. 22 Por eso no me conocían
personalmente las iglesias de Cristo
que había en Judea. 23 Solamente habían
oído decir: «El que antes nos perseguía,
predica ahora la fe que en otro tiempo
combatía», 24 y glorificaban a Dios por
mi causa.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
"¿Busco ahora el favor de los hombres o el de Dios?" (Gálatas 1:10) ¿De qué manera busco el favor de los hombres en lugar del de Dios? Señor, envía tu Espíritu Santo sobre mí para que pueda ver dónde necesito buscar tu favor y no el favor del mundo.
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).