6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting — from the one who called you in the grace of Christ — to a different gospel, [1:7] which is not another; but there are some who are troubling you and wanting to pervert the gospel of Christ. [1:8] But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let him be accursed. [1:9] As we have said before, and now I say again: if anyone is proclaiming to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be accursed.
GAL 1:6-9
No Other Gospel
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, loyalty and fidelity were foundational to social and religious relationships. Patronage systems, civic oaths, and religious devotion all hinged on unwavering allegiance. For the Galatians, who were likely Gentile converts, the gospel of Christ represented a radical shift from their former pagan practices and allegiances. The term ('you are deserting') would have evoked the serious breach of loyalty implied in abandoning a patron or deity. The 'different gospel' being promoted was not merely an alternative but a fundamentally incompatible message, likely tied to Judaizing influences that insisted on circumcision and Torah observance as necessary for salvation. The use of ('accursed') underscores the gravity of this betrayal, as it invoked the idea of being 'devoted to destruction,' a term used in Jewish contexts for things utterly rejected by God. The speaker’s vehement language reflects the high stakes of maintaining the purity of the gospel message in a context where competing claims threatened to undermine the Galatians’ newfound faith.
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How other translations render this
GAL 1:6
- KJV
- I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
- BSB
- I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
- Koinōnos
- I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting — from the one who called you in the grace of Christ — to a different gospel,
GAL 1:7
- KJV
- Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
- BSB
- which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
- Koinōnos
- which is not another; but there are some who are troubling you and wanting to pervert the gospel of Christ.
GAL 1:8
- KJV
- But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
- BSB
- But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!
- Koinōnos
- But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let him be accursed.
GAL 1:9
- KJV
- As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
- BSB
- As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!
- Koinōnos
- As we have said before, and now I say again: if anyone is proclaiming to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be accursed.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
GAL 1:6
- you are deserting:The word translated 'you are deserting' implies a deliberate change of allegiance or a transfer of loyalty, suggesting a conscious shift away from a previous commitment.
- a different:The term translated 'a different' here refers to something of a completely different kind or nature, not just another one of the same kind.
GAL 1:7
- to pervert:The word translated 'to pervert' means to turn something completely around or inside out, fundamentally altering its original nature or purpose.
GAL 1:8
- accursed:The word translated 'accursed' refers to something or someone set apart for destruction or devoted to divine wrath, often with the sense of being utterly separated from God's favor.