God bless you and greetings in the name of Jesus Christ who was valiant for the truth with the scribes and Pharisees (John 8).
Previously, I already handled Galatians 4:16-20, where Paul asked them if he had become their enemy because he spoke the truth to them. However, he wasted no time getting right to the point regarding their perversion of the gospel in chapter one.
Galatians 1:6-7:
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another [heteros] gospel [enemy #5 on the list]:. 7 Which is not another [allos]; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Paul was filled with wonder by the Galatians’ behavior. He was surprised, amazed and perhaps befuddled by how they turned from what he taught them to another gospel. It blew Paul’s mind just how quickly they exchanged the truth for lies.
God has Paul use the figure of speech epanorthosis, correction, to arrest their attention and impress upon them the danger of what they were doing. First, he states the truth. You turned to another, heteros, gospel. Heteros is the Greek word that is used when there are only two alternatives or the other is of a different kind. There are only two choices. There is the truth, the true gospel, and there is its misrepresentation, every other thing that purports to be the true gospel and is not.
Although what they turned to appeared to be a gospel and was presented as the gospel, it was not. Paul’s correction makes it clear, “Which is not another.” This word for “another,” allos, is used when there are many alternatives or when the choices are of the same kind. There are not allos gospels. There are not other acceptable gospels of the same kind. That is what the enemies of the truth want you to believe. They are all really the same. Although they may claim, “Paul is not the only one with the truth; you will find our gospel works better. After all, it is really just like it. They are all the same.” They are not right; they are not same.
Paul’s correction is to re-state the truth in a way that will make a greater impression upon them. The simple truth he initially stated was that this other, heteros, gospel was of a different kind. His correction was to assure them that they were not the same. It is not the same gospel with just a little different take on it, just a little different spin. Paul is clarifying what the enemies of truth do. They were the “some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”
They were changing the true gospel of Christ into a perversion. They were using this perverted gospel in an attempt to turn the Galatians away from the truth. The word “troubled” in this verse is the Greek word tarassō. It means “to agitate, to take away one’s calmness of mind, to disturb one’s equanimity.” It stirs one up; it makes one disquieted and restless. They may use the same words, but their intent was not the same as Paul’s. Neither was their message, despite what they may have claimed.
Galatians 1:8-9:
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel [enemy #5 on the list] unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel [enemy #5 on the list] unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Whoa! That is heavy! This is quite a departure from how Paul normally addressed issues. Paul was the apostle of grace, was he not? Yet he says that these enemies of the truth, who preach another gospel, are to be accursed. He does not just say it once; he repeats it for emphasis. There is something most dramatic in his opposition to those who would pervert the gospel of Christ. Can you sense how adamant Paul was? These figures of speech sure bring the point home.
It was important to Paul to identify these enemies of truth. Their perversion of the gospel caused confusion and substituted lies for the truth. Men and women who function like this must not be allowed to continue to function within the church. Paul adamantly opposed them, and so should we.
In the next chapter, Paul shares an incident that took place when he and Barnabas went to Jerusalem. They shared the gospel with the most reputable believers. Even there, false brethren tried to bring them under the bondage of the law.
Galatians 2:1-5:
Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4 And that because of false brethren [enemy #2 on the list] unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Paul, Barnabas and Titus did not give place or yield to the pressure of the false brethren. It says, “Not for an hour.” We would say, “Not for a minute.” Note the reason they refused to draw back or give place: “that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” That is being valiant for the truth.
Tomorrow we will see Paul valiant for the truth with the Corinthians, where he, as a protective father of the bride, adamantly assaults those who oppose the truth.