The verb translated surprised includes an element of intense unbelief. I am surprised at you is therefore very close to the English expression “I can’t believe this of you at all!” In some languages it is difficult to express mere surprise about a person. The more usual equivalent would be “surprise about what a person has done.” Therefore, I am surprised at you may be rendered as “I am surprised at what you have done.” In other languages “what you have done” constitutes the cause for surprise, and therefore the first sentence of this verse may be rendered as “What you have done causes me to be surprised,” “… astonishes me,” or “… makes me wonder so that I can scarcely believe it.”
Paul’s surprise stems from the fact that in no time at all the Galatians are deserting the one who called them. In no time at all translates an expression which may refer to (1) the pace of their desertion after it has begun; (2) the short time between their conversion and their desertion, or (3) the short time between Paul’s last visit to them and the writing of this letter. While all three interpretations are possible grammatically, most commentators favor the second of these alternatives.
In no time at all may be rendered in a number of languages as “in such a short time” or “so soon now.” In some languages, however, it is almost necessary to indicate more precisely the length of time involved, presumably the time between the conversion of the Galatian believers and the desertion of their faith in the grace of Christ. If one must choose between expressions which would involve a few days, a few weeks, a few months, or a few years, it is probably best to employ the one which would mean “within a few months you are deserting.”
The word deserting carries with it the idea of changing one’s mind, of a willful forsaking of one’s former loyalty and adoption of another. Paul’s use of the present tense suggests that the process of desertion is still going on, and that it is not yet complete, and therefore it is still possible to check it. In some languages the term deserting may be rendered as “abandoning,” “leaving to the side,” or even “going off and forgetting.”
The object of the desertion is not some doctrine or teaching, but the one who called you, referring not to Paul but to God himself (compare Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch “God has called you”). Because it is so easy to understand the phrase the one who called you as a reference to Paul, it may be essential in some languages to say “you are deserting God, who called you.”
As the footnote indicates, there is a textual problem involving the phrase by the grace of Christ. In the Greek text there are actually four possible readings: (1) “by grace,” (2) “by the grace of Christ,” (3) “by the grace of Jesus Christ,” and (4) “by the grace of God.” The first of these alternatives is probably the original reading of the phrase, and at least one modern translation (New English Bible) follows it, but most translations follow the second alternative. They follow it, however, primarily for translational reasons, so as to indicate clearly that in this context grace is a reference to God’s grace, which comes by means of Jesus Christ.
The expression “by grace” could itself refer either to the purpose of the calling (for example, “who called you to be in a state of grace”) or to the instrument through which the calling was accomplished, that is “by grace.” While both interpretations are possible, most commentators and translators prefer the second. The whole emphasis of the letter is that the Good News is made possible by the free gift of God through Jesus Christ (which is what grace really is) in contrast with obedience to the Jewish Law. The phrase by the grace of Christ expresses the means by which God had called the believers. This may be expressed in some languages as “by means of Christ being so good to you,” “by means of Christ showing you such favor,” or “by means of Christ’s great kindness to you.” If, however, one follows the fourth alternative form of the text, then “God” becomes the active agent of the grace.
The desertion is further explained in the conclusion of the verse: the Galatians are accepting another gospel. The word gospel is the term used to describe the Good News of what God has done in Jesus Christ on behalf of all men. When Paul talks of another gospel, however, he is not talking of this Good News; he is talking about a different message which claims to be the Good News, but really is not (compare Jerusalem Bible “a different version of the Good News” seems to capture accurately Paul’s intention). It may be extremely difficult in some languages to speak of another gospel particularly if the term gospel is rendered as “good news.” Under such circumstances it would seem to mean something like “more good news,” which obviously is not what is intended in this verse. The closest equivalent may be “another message which is said to be good news,” “… claims to be good news,” or “… is spoken of as good news.”
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .