I am going to use two different Bible versions, one being a thought for thought and the other a word for word. I deliberately did not use the KJV, not that I think it is wrong, but because many of us were led to believe it was the only version which should be used. It may be less triggering to some to use different versions.
NLT: “This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead. 2 All the brothers and sisters here join me in sending this letter to the churches of Galatia.
“3 May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 4 Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. 5 All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
“6 I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News 7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.
“8 Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. 9 I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.
“10 Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”
NASB: “1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me,”To the churches of Galatia:
“3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.
“6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
“10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”
We are quick to learn the reason for Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia as there is an urgency in his writing. It appears that not long after the gospel was shared with them, some people threw them into confusion by bringing a different “gospel,” though there is only one good news. It is important for us to know the gospel so that we are not pulled into a “different gospel” as they were. People attempting to distort the good news is nothing new.
Paul was so disturbed that he twice repeated a curse upon those who would spread a different gospel other than what had already been given to the people of Galatia. The situation was that serious. Some in Galatia were changing their focus. It was once on God through Jesus but something happened. Later in chapter three Paul compares what happened to being bewitched. He isn’t mincing words as the faith of many is at stake.
What was being taught to them by others was changing them in a very detrimental manner. They were turning from grace and faith to works and law. They were turning from the gospel of Jesus to what they could do themselves. In the process they were losing their joy. These things will sound familiar to those of us who have been involved in unhealthy churches.
It is interesting how adamant Paul is about someone preaching another gospel. If I am not mistaken, it’s the only instance in his letters where he repeats himself like this (writes the same thing twice, right after one another). So it is safe to say that Paul was pretty upset about what was happening to some of the believers in Galatia. You will note his letter wasn’t written to just one of the churches. It was a widespread problem.
This isn’t the only time that people had attempted to distort the gospel. It would be good to read Acts 15 at this juncture in our study. At some point after Paul and Barnabas returned from their first missionary journey, some people came from Judea to Antioch (Syria) teaching that the believers had to be circumcised in order to be saved.
This brought about a sharp dispute, with Paul and Barnabas standing against this teaching. The church at Antioch appointed Paul, Barnabas and some others to make the trip to Jerusalem to discuss the matter with the apostles and other elders of the church there.
After much discussion, Peter stood and reminded them that God had chosen him to deliver the gospel to the Gentiles. He stated God purified their hearts through faith and that it is through grace that everyone is saved.
They sent a delegation and letter to believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia that said they should “lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: 29 You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well.” (NLT)
The people rejoiced at this news.
Acts 15 isn’t the only other place where we find this problem. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (NLT): “3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.”
(NASB) “3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.”
The believers at Corinth were not only being presented with a different gospel, but also another Jesus and a different spirit. If it could happen then, it can happen today.
Paul also warned the Romans in chapter 16:17-18 (NASB): “17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.”
(NLT) “17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.”
Paul also personally warns Timothy about false teachers of the law in his letter to him. 1 Timothy 1:3-7 (NLT) “3 When I left for Macedonia, I urged you to stay there in Ephesus and stop those whose teaching is contrary to the truth. 4 Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God.
“5 The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. 6 But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. 7 They want to be known as teachers of the law of Moses, but they don’t know what they are talking about, even though they speak so confidently.”
(NASB) “3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. 5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.”
As we can see, people attempting to distort the gospel is nothing new. It goes back to the very early days of the church. There will always be people who wish to draw others to themselves and who may speak confidently. They may flatter people with their words, but the gospel they bring is distorted. It does not give life, but will drain a believer of their joy and their faith.
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