Of course when a Bible HEADING for Galatians 1:6 suggests, “Perversion of the Gospel” our twenty-first century first thought is sexual perversion, but this all-inclusive description of unnamed teachers in Galatia encompasses much more.
Perversion of the One Gospel
Perversion of the Gospel
Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians 1:6-7a NASB1995
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another..Although the HEADING of our opening HOT topic is written to church members in Galatia it addresses perversion (which I found above my online KJV) contemporary to our 21st century churches.
Other English editors of the New Testament identify other helpful descriptions of this problem NOT related to this noun but pointedly to the object of Paul’s complaint – the GOSPEL.
NASB ‘Distortion of the Gospel;’ ESV ‘No Other Gospel;’ Lexham English Bible ‘A Different Gospel;‘ NKJV ‘Only one Gospel’
KJV Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
We find a specific reason for the Apostle beginning his letter with an exhortation. Look at the end of his opening salvo of Galatians 1: verses 6 and 7.
“.. but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”
My dear fellow follower of Christ, Could it be less so in these last days of either the KJB (17th century) or now in this year of our Lord 2023?
μεταστρέφω – Pervert –
†μεταστρέφω metastréphō, met-as-tref’-o; from G3326 and G4762; to turn across, i.e. transmute or (figuratively) corrupt:—pervert, turn.
Think about it:
Perversion – (It’s more prevalent than we think it is.)
Let's get a little more literal from the Greek:
1:7 ὃ οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλο εἰ μή τινές εἰσιν οἱ ταράσσοντες ὑμᾶς καὶ θέλοντες μεταστρέψαι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ
Paul’s preaches his HOT Topic to churches where the Apostle had brought the GOSPEL of the RESURRECTED CHRIST JESUS before. The Apostle once more preaches the same TRUE GOSPEL with urgency in the opening of his epistle to the Galatians.
ARE YOU CORRUPTED by some now preaching another gospel?
Galatians 1:
Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me,..
9 As we have said before, so now I say again:
If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?
Or am I trying to please man?
If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Beloved believers, Are YOU now trying to please men and women? Does an easier gospel of some other preacher appeal to you? HAVE YOU so soon turned from serving Jesus Christ as your Lord?
Paul’s HOT topic to the 1st century Galatians is not to far removed from the contemporary saints of our 21st century churches.
The Gospel
IS OURS A TRUE GOSPEL OF CHRIST?
From the Apostle’s brief introduction:
the Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age…
Certainly this should be GOOD NEWS to those who have not turned from JESUS our One True Savior.
PAUL HAS PREACHED THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST!
Does the shepherd of your church preach the GOSPEL OF CHRIST? (euangelion christos, from the original Greek of New Testament Scripture)
O, you foolish Galatians! Does your church embrace some other gospel than what the APOSTLES preached of CHRIST?
Servants of Sin or Faith?
(a choice between culture and Christ)
YES, Jesus' Disciples, his half-brothers James and Jude, and many other Christians did NOT always get it even AFTER the Lord's resurrection.
WE too may miss the Gospel of Christ when everyday culture confronts our everyday faith.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com
Galatians 2:
9b ..we [Paul and Barnabas] should go to the Gentiles and they [the Twelve and James] to the circumcised.
This refers back to the Letter they brought to the Gentiles earlier from the Council in Jerusalem. BUT NOW, the clashes of culture slip back into the religion of religious leaders.
Paul Opposes Peter
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all,
“If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
That's the real cultural issue isn't it?
YOU can’t force YOUR RELIGION on anyone.
WE cannot serve Christ by denying Jesus as our Lord so that WE may fit into a culture turned away from grace and the Good News of God. THAT would be apostasy!
To be continued…
NEXT: HOT topic #2 from the Apostle's epistle to the Galatians - Apostasy
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