Paul swears an oath in order to underlie the importance of what he says (Romans 1:9; Romans 9:1; 2 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 11:10; 1 Timothy 2:7) when he thinks it will be disputed.1 Though the immediate focus of the oath is the details he shared about his visit to Jerusalem (Galatians 1:18–19) it applies to all the autobiographical information (Galatians 1:13 – 2:21).2 It is possible that the Judaizers were sharing a different account of his visit to Jerusalem that misrepresented the nature of his visit.3
20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!)