Galatians 1:10
What does Galatians 1:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 1:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 1:10 means
Paul poses searching questions: Is he trying to win human approval, or God’s? Is he aiming to please people? His curse against false gospels shows he is not trimming truth to fit expectations. If he were still a man-pleaser, he “should not be a servant of Christ.” Servanthood to Christ demands fidelity to Christ’s message, even when it offends. This verse counters any slander that Paul preached freedom from the law to gain Gentile followers. His loyalty is to Christ’s lordship, not to popularity. The Gospel’s unpopularity with some is no reason to dilute it; faithfulness, not applause, marks Christ’s servants.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Am I now using arguments to men, or God? or is it my desire to give men pleasure? if I was still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for now men do I persuade, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if yet men I did please--Christ's servant I should not be.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For do I now seek to satisfy men orGod? or do I seek to please men? If I were yet pleasing men, I were not Christ's bondman.
Context
Following the twin anathemas, Paul turns to motives. Accused of shaping his message to suit audiences, he denies it and anchors his ministry in allegiance to Christ alone. This sets up the next section (verses 11–12), where he argues that his Gospel is of divine origin, not a human construct. The narrative that follows (verses 13–24) will illustrate this by recounting his conversion, calling, and limited contact with Jerusalem, underscoring that neither approval-seeking nor human tutelage produced his message.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ephesians 6:6
not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
- Colossians 3:22
Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:
- Matthew 22:16
And they send to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one: for thou regardest not the person of men.
- Acts 4:19
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye:
- 1 John 3:9
Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is begotten of God.
- Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, calledto bean apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
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