Galatians 1:6

I marvel. This is the only instance in all of his letters to churches where Paul does not express thankfulness and joy. Instead there is an expression of profound astonishment. How could the Galatians so quickly forget the truths of the gospel and all the evidences of God’s call, which once meant so much to them, in favor of the false teachers, who contradicted all that Paul had taught them? Not long before this they had gladly accepted Christ as their substitute and were rejoicing in freedom from sin, through faith. Now they are attempting to atone for their sins through the works of the law. They are, in fact, denying the validity of their own former experience.

So soon. Probably, “so soon” after conversion, but possibly after they had heard “another gospel.”

Removed. Gr. metatithemi, “to transfer,” “to desert.” The verb here is in the present tense, indicating that the apostasy was still in process of development as Paul wrote. This departure from the faith has come suddenly and is progressing rapidly. The form of the verb also implies that they were responsible for deserting Paul. Others had influenced them, but they had willingly responded to that influence. This, of course, does not absolve the false teachers themselves from guilt.

Him that called. Commentators differ as to whether this refers to God, to Christ, or to Paul. However, Paul always designates God the Father as the one issuing the gospel call (see Rom. 8:30; 9:11; 1 Cor. 1:9; etc.). Nevertheless it was through Paul that God had made His gracious call to the Galatians (cf. 2 Cor. 5:18-20).

Another gospel. That is, another (heteros) of a different kind (see on 2 Cor. 11:4).

The “gospel” of the false teachers was not a variation of Paul’s gospel, but something altogether different. In fact, it was not a gospel at all (see Gal. 1:7). There is no other good news than that of salvation through Jesus Christ (see Acts 4:12). Paul was preaching that men are saved by faith, apart from the works of the law. Any attempt to superimpose works on faith as a means of salvation is a perversion of the gospel, because it denies both the necessity and the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice. For comment on the word “gospel” see on Mark 1:1. For comment on attempts to blend Judaism and Christianity see pp. 53, 54.