Galatians 1 7

Galatians 1:7 kjv

Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 1:7 nkjv

which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 1:7 niv

which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 1:7 esv

not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 1:7 nlt

but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

Galatians 1 verses

Galatians 1 7 Meaning

This verse clarifies that the "another gospel" Paul mentioned earlier (Gal 1:6) is not a genuine alternative to the true gospel of Christ. Instead, it is a distortion propagated by certain individuals who are troubling the Galatian believers by attempting to fundamentally corrupt and invalidate the one, true good news of Jesus Christ. It underscores the singularity and unchangeable nature of the gospel.

Galatians 1 7 Context

Paul opens his letter to the Galatian churches with an unprecedented abruptness, immediately launching into a sharp rebuke rather than his usual prayer or thanksgiving (cf. Gal 1:6). His astonishment is directed at their swift departure from the one who called them by grace. Galatians 1:7 functions as an immediate clarification for "another gospel" in the preceding verse. Paul is quick to state that what they have turned to is not merely an alternative path within the bounds of Christian truth but is, in fact, a complete distortion and negation of the true gospel.

Historically, after Paul's evangelization in Galatia, which led to numerous Gentile conversions, a group known as Judaizers infiltrated these communities. These were Jewish Christians who believed that for Gentile converts to be fully righteous and saved, they needed to observe key aspects of the Mosaic Law, most notably circumcision (Acts 15:1), in addition to believing in Christ. This teaching mixed human works with divine grace, directly undermining Paul's foundational gospel of salvation by grace through faith alone (Eph 2:8-9). This verse captures Paul's understanding of their severe error: not a slight misunderstanding, but an active "perversion" of the most crucial message.

Galatians 1 7 Word analysis

• "which is not another" (ho ouk estin allo ὃ οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλο):

  • "another": The Greek term allo (ἄλλο) signifies "another of the same kind." Paul's explicit denial means that the teaching the Galatians had turned to is not even a legitimate alternative "gospel." It is not another variant but fundamentally a different entity.
  • Significance: This is a categorical rejection. There is no legitimate "other gospel." Paul dismisses its very claim to be "good news."

• "but there be some" (ei mē tines εἰ μή τινες):

  • Significance: Paul identifies the agents responsible for this distortion. These are the specific false teachers, the Judaizers, who have infiltrated the Galatian churches. Paul names the problem, but also attributes it to active, identifiable human agents.

• "that trouble you" (hoi tarassontes hymas οἱ ταράσσοντες ὑμᾶς):

  • "trouble": The Greek tarassō (ταράσσω) means "to stir up, agitate, disturb, cause distress or confusion." It's not a mere theological debate but an active disruption of the peace, unity, and assurance of the believers.
  • Significance: This highlights the practical, pastoral impact of false teaching—it breeds anxiety, confusion, and division within the community and among individual believers, destabilizing their faith and peace.

• "and would pervert" (kai thelontes metastrepsai καὶ θέλοντες μεταστρέψαι):

  • "would pervert": The Greek metastrephō (μεταστρέφω) means "to turn over, transform, alter entirely, distort, corrupt." It implies a radical and malicious twisting of something's original nature, rendering it harmful or useless for its intended purpose.
  • Significance: This verb exposes the severe and intentional nature of the error. The false teachers are not just misinformed; they are fundamentally corrupting the very essence of the gospel, aiming to transform it into something antithetical to salvation.

• "the gospel of Christ" (to euangelion tou Christou τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ):

  • "gospel": euangelion (εὐαγγέλιον), meaning "good news." The definite article "the" emphasizes its uniqueness.
  • "of Christ": This phrase asserts that the good news is both about Christ (His person and work) and from Christ (its divine origin and authority). It defines the singular, true gospel's core.
  • Significance: The true saving message is singular, indivisible, and exclusively centered on Jesus Christ's redemptive work. Any alteration fundamentally attacks Christ's supremacy and the sufficiency of His grace.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "which is not another; but there be some": This quickly pivots from denying the legitimacy of the "other gospel" to identifying the human agents behind it, shifting blame from a doctrinal abstract to specific, dangerous individuals.
  • "that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ": This group powerfully describes the harmful actions and sinister intent of the false teachers: their immediate effect (troubling believers) and their ultimate goal (fundamentally corrupting the unique, Christ-centered good news).

Galatians 1 7 Bonus section

• Apostolic Vigor: Paul's choice of such strong language ("trouble," "pervert") reveals his intense passion and absolute conviction regarding the purity of the gospel. It highlights the gravity with which he viewed doctrinal deviations.
• Absolute Truth: The verse underscores a central tenet of Christianity: the gospel is an absolute, non-negotiable truth revealed by God, not a malleable human concept open to diverse interpretations regarding its saving content.
• Spiritual Warfare: The "troubling" and "perverting" hint at a spiritual dimension behind such false teachings, implying an opposition to God's truth, akin to the schemes of the adversary (2 Cor 11:14).

Galatians 1 7 Commentary

Galatians 1:7 is a profound declaration of the exclusive and unalterable nature of the gospel. Paul vehemently denies that the message propagated by the Judaizers is a valid "alternative gospel," clarifying it as an illegitimate deviation. He immediately shifts focus to the architects of this error, identifying them as those "troubling" the Galatians, not just in their minds but in their peace and assurance. The use of "pervert" signifies a radical, damaging transformation, indicating that the Judaizers were not simply adding a nuance, but completely altering the core message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. Any addition of human works, especially the Law, fundamentally strips the gospel of its power and efficacy, rendering Christ's sacrifice insufficient. The "gospel of Christ" emphasizes that the entire message finds its origin, content, and power in Jesus Christ; therefore, any teaching that draws from a source other than Christ or diverts from His complete sufficiency is a perversion, a distortion of the foundational truth of Christianity. Paul's direct and unwavering condemnation serves as an eternal warning against all forms of doctrinal corruption.