This week we are reading 2 Corinthians chapter nine through Galatians chapter one. You may notice in finishing up 2 Corinthians and beginning the book of Galatians that they have some things in common. Both in Paul’s correspondence to the church at Corinth and his letter to the Galatian churches Paul will have to defend his apostleship and his ministry (2 Cor. 10-12; Gal. 1-2). You’ll also notice Paul has a real concern that the church in Corinth when confronted by teachers that proclaim a different gospel will put up with it as did the churches of Galatia (2 Cor. 11:4; Gal. 1:6-7). The KJV translated the Greek text of Gal. 1:6-7;
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. [Bold added]
The CSB translated the same Greek text;
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.1 [Bold added]
There are two different Greek words that are mostly synonymous that are behind the bold text above. The first in verse 6 is the Greek term heteros and in some usage implies ‘another of a different kind.’ The Greek term in verse 7 is allos and in some usage implies ‘another of the same kind.’ Commentators generally agree that Paul is making a distinction between the meanings of these words here in Galatians chapter 1. So what Paul is saying is that the Galatians are turning to a gospel that is so different that it’s not really a gospel at all. Remember the word gospel means good news. What they are turning to is not good news at all. Next week we’ll explore this a little further.
2 Cor. 11:4 reads;
4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!2 [Bold added]
The first bold word ‘another’ translates the Greek word allos, the next two bold words ‘different’ translate the Greek word heteros. Do you think Paul is using these words here in 2 Corinthians with the same connotations that he does in Galatians 1:6-7?
Recall Paul wrote this letter to the church at Corinth on his third missionary journey from Macedonia. One of the purposes of the trip was to pick up the collection the churches had made to help the impoverished church at Jerusalem (2 Cor. 8-9). Interestingly this collection is not mentioned in Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia although 1 Cor. 16:1 does say he had instructed the Galatian churches about it. Would that help us date the letter of Galatians? Recall also that Paul desired this collection to be brought to Jerusalem by representatives of the church making the contribution and they could travel with his group (1 Cor. 15:3-4), providing safety in numbers. Everything was to be above board. Acts 20:4 lists the fellow travelers with Paul? What churches don’t have a representative in the party? Did they not make a contribution?
1Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
2Ibid.
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. [Bold added]
The CSB translated the same Greek text;
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.1 [Bold added]
There are two different Greek words that are mostly synonymous that are behind the bold text above. The first in verse 6 is the Greek term heteros and in some usage implies ‘another of a different kind.’ The Greek term in verse 7 is allos and in some usage implies ‘another of the same kind.’ Commentators generally agree that Paul is making a distinction between the meanings of these words here in Galatians chapter 1. So what Paul is saying is that the Galatians are turning to a gospel that is so different that it’s not really a gospel at all. Remember the word gospel means good news. What they are turning to is not good news at all. Next week we’ll explore this a little further.
2 Cor. 11:4 reads;
4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!2 [Bold added]
The first bold word ‘another’ translates the Greek word allos, the next two bold words ‘different’ translate the Greek word heteros. Do you think Paul is using these words here in 2 Corinthians with the same connotations that he does in Galatians 1:6-7?
Recall Paul wrote this letter to the church at Corinth on his third missionary journey from Macedonia. One of the purposes of the trip was to pick up the collection the churches had made to help the impoverished church at Jerusalem (2 Cor. 8-9). Interestingly this collection is not mentioned in Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia although 1 Cor. 16:1 does say he had instructed the Galatian churches about it. Would that help us date the letter of Galatians? Recall also that Paul desired this collection to be brought to Jerusalem by representatives of the church making the contribution and they could travel with his group (1 Cor. 15:3-4), providing safety in numbers. Everything was to be above board. Acts 20:4 lists the fellow travelers with Paul? What churches don’t have a representative in the party? Did they not make a contribution?
1Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
2Ibid.
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