Galatians 1:6
What does Galatians 1:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Galatians 1:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Galatians 1:6 means
Paul is shocked that the Galatians are “so quickly” deserting not merely a doctrine but the God “who called you in the grace of Christ.” To turn to a “different gospel” is to move away from the divine Caller. The true call is marked by grace—God’s initiative and Christ’s merit. A supposedly improved gospel that adds requirements for acceptance with God actually abandons grace. Paul’s amazement exposes the spiritual gravity and the haste of their shift. It reminds believers that the Gospel is personal: it binds us to the One who calls, so altering it fractures communion with him, not just with a preacher or a church.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel;
KJV
King James Version · 1611I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I am surprised that you are being so quickly turned away from him whose word came to you in the grace of Christ, to good news of a different sort;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862I wonder that ye are so quickly removed from Him who did call you in the grace of Christ to another good news;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I wonder that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I wonder that ye thus quickly change, from him that called you in Christ's grace, to a different gospel,
Context
With the greeting complete, Paul pivots to a strong rebuke. He names the crisis: desertion to a different gospel. The next verse clarifies that this so-called alternative is no gospel at all, but a perversion stirred by troublemakers. This framing is crucial for the warnings that follow (verses 8–9), where Paul pronounces a curse on anyone who preaches another message. The reader must feel the urgency: shifting from grace to another plan is a departure from God himself.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 11:4
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him.
- Psalms 106:13
They soon forgat his works; They waited not for his counsel,
- Galatians 5:7
Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?
- Revelation 22:21
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with the saints. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 1:14
and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 10:3
For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
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