As part of Paul’s argument that his gospel has a divine origin (Galatians 1:12), he has mentioned the supernatural transformation that took place in his life (Galatians 1:13–17) as well as the fact that he started proclaiming the gospel without first being taught by another apostle (Galatians 1:18–24). He will not continue to give further autobiographical details.1 He does not share everything that happened with him since his conversion, only those details that support his argument regarding the divine origin of his gospel message.2 In Galatians 2:1–10, he confirms that the gospel he preached is the same as the gospel that was proclaimed by the apostles in Jerusalem, and that they also (just like Paul) did not require circumcision from Gentile converts.
Galatians 1:1 – 2:21 can be further subdivided as follows:3
Greeting: Paul’s apostolic authority (Galatians 1:1–5)
Problem explained: desertion from the gospel (Galatians 1:6–10)
Paul’s gospel derived from God, not from people (Galatians 1:11 – 2:21)
1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.