(Verse 6) I marvel that you are so quickly removing from Him who has called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel,

1. I marvel (Gk thaumazo) –Lit. to wonder at; to be struck with surprise or astonishment

2. so quickly (Gk houto tacheos) hastily, suddenly, shortly, soon; with the added suggestion of inconsideration

3. removing (Gk metatithemi) transpose, in which one thing is put in place of the other; to fall away or desert from one person or thing to another, in other uses you can even classify one a “turncoat”

4. Him who has called you (Gk kaleo humas)–The Galatians were called by a person. They were removing from Him back to a thing (Judaism), which was part of the present evil age (v 5). Human history is a tragic repeating story of man again and again removing from God, more specifically, His presence and His person. As one brother once illustrated in his sharing, “we are experts at missing the mark”, when it comes to God and His purpose to have a loving relationship with man. In Genesis 3, man in his will chose the wrong tree, the tree of knowledge of good and evil and thereafter fell again and again out from God’s presence. (Gen. 3:7-8, hiding from God’s presence; v24 driving man out; 4:14, 16 Cain being driven out; v16-24 culture produced devoid of God)

Even the law, which was a picture of God and even from God, was distracting the Galatians from their present relationship with Him in Christ’s grace. They would rather treasure the picture, even though they had the person. No wonder the Apostle Paul marveled.

5. in the grace of Christ (Gk. en charis Christos) The grace of Christ was free to the Galatians. No repayment was required. Yet the Judaizers were bringing them back into the slavery of the law.

to a different gospel (Gk. eis heteros euaggelion) The Greek here implies the “gospel” that the Galatians were removing to was one not of the same nature, form, class or kind. It was inferior in every way. The gospel Paul announced to the Galatians was simple; an organic inner matter of revelation, faith, the Spirit and sonship. (Gal 1:16 “reveal His Son in me”; 2:16, 20 “justified out of faith in Christ”; 3:2-3, 5 “receive the Spirit, begun by the Spriit, supplies to you the Spirit”; 3:25; 4:5 “you are all sons of God through faith, we might receive the sonship”)

(Verse 7) Which is not another gospel, only there are some who trouble you and desire to pervert the gospel of Christ.

1. trouble (Gk. tarraso) Lit. to agitate (moving parts to and fro), to cause inward commotion, to take away calmness of mind, disquiet, make restless; to strike one’s spirit with fear or dread; to perplex the mind of one by suggesting scruples or doubts.

2. pervert (Gk. metastrepho) Lit. to turn around, to turn one thing into another. Ref. Acts 2:20.

(Verse 8) But if even we or an angel out of heaven should a

nounce to you a gospel beyond that which we have announced to

you, let him be accursed.

1. Here Paul was emphatic and quite clear. He was certain the gospel, which he received by revelation and announced to the Galatians, was enough (Gal 2:2,6). The gospel preached through Paul was all the Galatian believers needed. Even if an angel (Satan could transfigure himself into an angel of light) or Paul himself were to speak something beyond (Rev. 22:18-19) which he announced previously they were to be accursed.

2. accursed (Gk. anathema), a person or thing doomed to destruction (Josh. 6:17;7:12), a man devoted to the direst woes, a thing devoted without hope of being redeemed

(Verse 9) As we have said before, now also I say again, If anyone announces to you a gospel beyond that which you have received, let him be accursed.

1. Again Paul reiterates his strong point, now saying anyone who announces a gospel beyond that which the Galatians had received let him be accursed. Paul was quite confident in what the Lord revealed to him and what he imparted into the Galatians. While he reiterates his strong warning in this verse, he also points out to the Galatians that they at one point had received this gospel. He feared that what he had labored to impart to them might have been in vain (Gal. 4:11,19).

Greek References: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

This week:

Memorize Galatians 1:6-9

Study reference verses from this message