Galatians 1:7-12
 
Gal 1:7 (KJB)
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
 
Another - Additional
Trouble - Stir up or agitate
Pervert - Turn about or change
 
Paul continues his discourse from verse 6. He states that the Gospel they were bringing was a gospel which contained additions. The true gospel is of grace alone and the addition the false teachers were bringing was that these Christians were required to keep the law and then they could attain salvation. Apparently there were some in the church at Galatia who understood that this was a perversion of the truth, so it caused a stir. Paul is giving them a warning here that there will be those who will attempt to trouble the church and when they do, that creates a perfect opportunity for false gospels to make an entrance. The ship of false gospels always floats in on raging waves. The gospel they were bringing was the type that would change the meaning of the truth. In this case, they were attempting to get these Christians to follow the law in addition to grace. This would be a great perversion of the true gospel.
 
Gal 1:8 (KJB)
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
 
Accursed - The sentence of God on those who bring another gospel
 
God does not take lightly anyone who perverts the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It does not matter whether an angel from heaven or anybody else comes with a false gospel, they will be cursed. If they do not become saved in their life time, they will be sentenced to an eternal hell. The essence of the true gospel is by grace alone without any works of man involved. The works of man would only taint the true gospel plus it would be saying that the sacrifice of Christ was not sufficient enough to save a person. These false teachers attempted to add to the gospel because they did not know who it was that died on the cross. If they would have known that the second person of the Godhead died on that cross, they would realize that nothing man could add to the gospel can ever increase its effectiveness. This is also why it is dangerous for a new Christian to teach, since they are not grounded, they may inadvertently bring a false teaching.
 
Gal 1:9 (KJB)
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
 
Received - Take or received by hearing
 
The Gospel that the Galatian church received was the true gospel and now these false teachers were coming into the church and trying to superimpose their false teachings in an attempt to amalgamate their additions with the true gospel. Paul once again reiterates the seriousness of bringing a false gospel. If one attempts to pervert the true gospel, then they can expect to be judged and cast into hell. Now many reading this commentary have received the true gospel and we have all heard false teachers trying to bring their own renditions of the gospel. Whenever we hear the false gospel being proclaimed, we reject it and continue to believe the true gospel. This is how we maintain stability in our Christian lives. If we allow ourselves to be tossed by everything we hear, then we will never be grounded in the truth. (Eph 4:14 KJV) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Ephesus faced the same problems with the incursion of false gospels coming into the church. The better we discern between the false gospel and the true, the more stable we become in our Christian walk.
 
Gal 1:10 (KJB)
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
 
Persuade - Convince, conciliate, or appease
Please - Accommodate or seek to please
 
Paul is now asking the question, does he appease men or does he appease God? This is referring to the two lives in view. His old life when he was a persecutor of the church or his new life whereby he pleases God. He poses a question to the church asking if he seeks to please men? Then comes the great dichotomy, that if one is pleasing men then he cannot be a servant of Christ, simply because you cannot serve the world and Christ. A Christian must be fully dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ. If we, as Christians, please men, that would mean we are agreeing with the ways of the world and may be a good indicator that we were never saved or it could mean that the gospel we follow is a very watered down gospel, which, unfortunately, is taught in many churches today. Paul was stating to this church that he does not please men and this is made evident by the fact that he has been persecuted for being a Christian. It is the great question of all time, do I please God or do I please men?
 
Gal 1:11 (KJB)
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
 
Certify - Make known or declare
After - According to
 
Paul is declaring to the Galatians that the gospel which was preached by him was not a man made gospel. The man made gospel was the false teachers trying to make these Christians keep the law for salvation. The Gospel which Paul was preaching was of the Lord and not of earthly origin. This can be traced back to the time when Paul was on the road to Damascus and received his call directly from the Lord. (Acts 9) If the gospel that Paul preached was of men, then he would have found much favor with the unsaved and they never would have persecuted him.
 
Gal 1:12 (KJB)
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
 
Acts 9:3-9 would be the setting for this verse as Paul states that he did not receive the gospel from man neither he was he taught by man but he received the gospel by direct revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why the gospel that Paul preached was pure and did not contain any gospel additions by man. Normally when we are taught the gospel today there is normally some bias toward man’s teachings and this is why everything we hear must be checked out in the Bible and properly harmonized, comparing Scripture with Scripture, not commentary with commentary. Paul’s adversaries probably accused him of receiving the gospel by other men since he was not of the original twelve disciples and that is why he made the declaration in verse 11 & 12. Since he received it by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Galatians can be sure that what Paul was teaching them was the absolute, unmixed truth.

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