Galatians 1:20 is Paul’s sworn statement that what he has just written about his early history with the apostles is true, and that he is not lying. He calls God as his witness, which signals that he expects his readers may doubt his account. He wrote this to the churches of Galatia, who were being pressured to accept a different gospel and to question Paul’s apostolic authority.
Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying.
Galatians 1:20 (WEB)
What Galatians 1:20 Means
The verse opens with “Now about the things which I write to you,” which points back to the preceding paragraph, where Paul describes how little contact he had with Jerusalem’s leaders after his conversion. He is marking off a section of his letter as especially important to get right. The word “behold” draws the reader’s attention, and “before God” means he is making his statement in God’s presence, as if God were the judge of whether he speaks honestly.
The final phrase, “I am not lying,” is a formal assurance, the kind of statement a person makes when a claim could be questioned or misunderstood. Paul is not promising that his readers will agree with every interpretation, nor is he offering a general guarantee about his life. He is making one specific claim about the facts he has just recounted, and asking his readers to trust him on that point.
The Context of Galatians 1:20
Galatians was written by Paul, who identifies himself at the start of the letter as an apostle. He wrote to a group of churches in the Roman province of Galatia, probably in the late 40s or 50s of the first century. His readers had been influenced by teachers who insisted that Gentile believers must adopt certain Jewish practices, and those teachers appear to have questioned whether Paul had the same authority as the original apostles in Jerusalem.
The verses just before and after set up the oath. Paul explains that after his conversion he did not go up to Jerusalem to consult the apostles who came before him, but went to Arabia and then Damascus. He describes only a brief visit to Peter and James years later. Verses 22 and 23 add that the churches of Judea knew him only by reputation. Seen this way, the oath in verse 20 guards a claim that would have looked suspicious to Paul’s opponents: that his gospel came from Christ and not from Jerusalem.
Key Phrases in Galatians 1:20
2 Corinthians 1:12
For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
(WEB)
Paul again appeals to his conscience and to God’s grace as the basis of his conduct. Reading it alongside Galatians 1:20 shows that his concern for transparency was not limited to one letter but ran through his ministry, especially where his motives were questioned.
Ephesians 4:25
Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another.
(WEB)
This verse turns the principle of truthfulness into a command for everyday life. It helps readers see that Paul’s solemn assurance in Galatians was an example of a broader commitment that belongs to every believer, not only to apostles defending their authority.
A Short Prayer From Galatians 1:20
Lord, you see everything I say and do, and nothing is hidden from you. Make my words true and my heart honest, so that when I speak about myself I do not shade the facts to look better or to escape criticism. When others doubt me, help me answer with patience and clarity rather than defensiveness. Let my life be a witness to the truth you have given me. Amen.
