After Paul calls out the Galatians for being so fickle, he gets straight to the point and begins defending his reasons for preaching what he preached and why the Galatians should accept it as truth.
He begins by stating simply that the gospel was not an idea thought up by humans. As the Message puts it, "—this great Message I delivered to you is not mere human optimism." The gospel is not some fairy tale a random guy thought up to make people feel good and give them false hope. It is 100% true.
Pay attention to the way Paul begins this sentence:
"I want you to know, brothers—" (NIV)
"For I would have you know, brother—" (ESV)
"Know this—I am most emphatic here, friends—" (MSG)
In all of these translations, Paul uses the word "know." He wants the Galatians to have confidence in what they have heard from the apostles, to be certain that their testimony is true. He does not say, "I want you to believe with all your heart—" The term "belief" implies a possibility of falsehood. I could believe wholeheartedly that I have 20/20 vision, but that wouldn't help me read my professor's notes on the whiteboard at the front of the room without my glasses. Paul seeks to eliminate any and all uncertainty that what he originally preached to the Galatians was the truth. He wants them to have no doubt in their hearts and minds about the sufficiency of Christ alone.
"For I would have you know, brother—" (ESV)
"Know this—I am most emphatic here, friends—" (MSG)
In all of these translations, Paul uses the word "know." He wants the Galatians to have confidence in what they have heard from the apostles, to be certain that their testimony is true. He does not say, "I want you to believe with all your heart—" The term "belief" implies a possibility of falsehood. I could believe wholeheartedly that I have 20/20 vision, but that wouldn't help me read my professor's notes on the whiteboard at the front of the room without my glasses. Paul seeks to eliminate any and all uncertainty that what he originally preached to the Galatians was the truth. He wants them to have no doubt in their hearts and minds about the sufficiency of Christ alone.
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