02 - Galatians 1:6-10

Bible Study Time Galatians
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:open_book: Let’s read Galatians 1:6-10 (NLT)

There Is Only One Good News

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.

Verse 6

After that beautiful gospel presentation at the beginning of Paul’s letter, he gets right down to business. On his first missionary journey to their region, he’d taught them the simple truth that through faith in Christ would save them from their sin.

Scripture teaches that nothing else is required to assure a place in God’s family. Jesus paid in full with His life. So Paul not-so-subtly expresses his frustration and shock that they’re believing a “false gospel” and forgetting the simplicity of the true gospel.

Verse 7

With continued harsh admonishment, Paul reminds them that there’s NO other gospel other than what he taught them at the beginning. He calls them out, saying that they’ve been fooled by deliberately false teaching.

Verses 8 & 9

Now Paul calls a curse upon anyone (himself or angels included) who would teach a false gospel. This is an obvious expression of his anger at those who lead new believers away from the message of being saved by God’s grace.

Verse 10

Paul reminds them that he’s not doing all of this so that others will accept him or approve of him. The only opinion he cares about is God’s. Paul explains that if his goal was the approval of men, he wouldn’t truly be a servant of Christ.

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:red_question_mark: Questions: Galatians 1:6-10

  1. Why do you think Paul was so upset that these new believers had listened to these other teachers?
  2. Paul says that those who teach a false gospel should be cursed. What would be the repercussions for believing a false gospel?
  3. Why is it so dangerous to seek the approval of others over the approval of God?

:thinking: Things to Think About

How would you respond to being called out in this way by a spiritual leader? Do you think Paul was being too harsh with the Galatian believers?

Do you find yourself caring more about what others think of you than what God thinks? Why do we sometimes fall into people pleasing habits and tendencies?

:speech_balloon: Share your thoughts on any of the questions above or add your own insights!