1:20

In this verse, Paul wrote an oath. He used this oath to emphasize that what he had written about his visit to Jerusalem was true. He wanted to convince the Galatians that although he saw Peter and James, they did not teach him the gospel.

I assure you before God: The phrase before God is a natural way in some languages to emphasize that what was said is the truth. In other languages, it may be more understandable to translate this phrase as:

I declare before God (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
God is my witness (God’s Word)
-or-
And in the presence of God I swear (Contemporary English Version)

is no lie: This clause also emphasizes that what Paul wrote concerning his visit to Jerusalem was true.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

these things I write are not lies (New Century Version)
-or-
what I am writing to you is true
-or-
I am telling the truth (Contemporary English Version)

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