SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:6

Section 1:6–10

Paul rebuked the Galatians for turning away from the true gospel

In this section, Paul began his plea with the Galatians to turn back to the true gospel. He did this in several ways:

(a) He rebuked them for turning away from the true gospel.

(b) He condemned anyone who proclaimed any other gospel.

At this point in most of Paul’s other letters, he thanked God for his readers. The fact that he does not do that in Galatians shows how concerned and upset he was.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Do not follow false teaching
-or-
Do not turn away from the true gospel
-or-
Follow the Good News We Gave You (God’s Word)
-or-
There Is No Other Gospel (New Revised Standard Version)

Paragraph 1:6–9

1:6a–c

In some languages, it will be more natural to put parts of 1:6a and 1:6c together. In order to do this, the order of some of the clauses in 1:6 will have to be changed. For example:

a I am very surprised at you. b God called you to live in the grace of Christ. a ?But? you quickly started to desert him c and started to follow another gospel.

1:6a–b

the One who: The words the One who refer to God the Father. Paul claimed that the Galatians were not only deserting the true gospel. They were deserting God himself.

Some other ways to translate these words are:

him who
-or-
God who
-or-
God. He

1:6a

I am amazed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as amazed means “astonished” or “surprised.” The context determines whether the reaction is favorable or unfavorable. In this context it is unfavorable.

Paul had expected the Galatian believers to remain faithful to the true gospel. It was hard for him to believe that they were deserting the gospel. Translate this verb in a way that expresses a bad surprise. For example:

I am dismayed/disappointed
-or-
I am shocked (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I am very surprised

how quickly you are deserting: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as deserting here refers to switching from one side/team to another. Here it refers to a change of religious belief and practice. It indicates that the Galatians had started “turning away from” or “abandoning” the true gospel. The Greek tense of this verb indicates that the “turning away” was not yet complete.

The phrase how quickly indicates that the Galatians started to turn away from the gospel soon after Paul had taught it to them.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

that you are turning away so soon (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
that you are so soon turning your backs on
-or-
that you are so quickly changing your minds and abandoning/leaving

1:6b

who called you by the grace of Christ:
There are at least two ways to interpret the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by the grace of Christ.

(1) It refers to the purpose for which God called us. God called us so that we should live in the grace of Christ. In other words, God called the Galatians to experience Christ’s kindness. For example:

called you to live in the grace of Christ (New International Version (2011))

(New International Version (2011), King James Version)

(2) It refers to the means by which God called us. God called us through/by the grace of Christ. For example:

called you by the grace of Christ (New International Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Interpretation (1) has more commentary support than interpretation (2). Many English versions literally translate this phrase as “in the grace of Christ.” So they may also be following interpretation (1), but that is not certain.

When you translate 1:6b, you may want to use the New International Version (2011) as your source text. It says:

called you to live in the grace of Christ (New International Version (2011))

Here the word “live” is used in a figurative sense. Some languages can translate this figurative sense as something like “experience the grace of Christ.” In other languages, this idea is expressed by one of the verbs related to the senses. For example: see, hear, touch, smell, taste/drink, or know the grace of Christ.

Some other ways to translate 1:6b are:

called you to ?live/experience/know? the kindness of Christ
-or-
called you to ?experience/feel/taste? the good that Christ does for us
-or-
invited you to know that Christ helps us
-or-
invited you to ?receive? Christ’s kindness/help

called you: Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

invited you
-or-
summoned you

the grace of Christ: The phrase grace of Christ means “Christ’s kindness, generosity, or favor.” Christ shows his kindness to people who do not deserve it.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

Christ’s kindness
-or-
the kind/good things that Christ does for you

See also grace, Meaning 2 in the Glossary.

1:6c

and are turning to a different gospel: This phrase further explains what the Galatians were doing when they started to desert God. They started turning to a different gospel. This means that they started to believe, accept, and follow a message that was different from the true gospel.

The Berean Standard Bible uses two verbs, “deserting” (in 1:6a) and turning (here), to translate one Greek verb. Most English versions also use two verbs.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and are accepting another gospel (Good News Translation)
-or-
and are following a different gospel (NET Bible)
-or-
You have believed another message (Contemporary English Version)

a different gospel: This phrase refers to a false gospel or false message. It contrasts with the true good news that Paul taught.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

a different kind of good news (God’s Word)
-or-
a different way that pretends to be the Good News (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
a different ?teaching that you think is? good news

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