TRV
Galatians 1:8
Bible Versions
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.
But even if we — or, for that matter, an angel from heaven! — were to announce to you some so-called “Good News” contrary to the Good News we did announce to you, let him be under a curse forever!
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!
But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.
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2 Corinthians 11:13
For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. -
2 Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. -
Galatians 1:9
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. -
Revelation 22:18
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: -
Revelation 22:19
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book. -
1 Corinthians 16:22
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. -
Romans 9:3
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Galatians 1:8 is a powerful and stern warning from the Apostle Paul regarding the purity and authority of the gospel message. It comes early in his letter to the churches in Galatia, who were being influenced by teachers (often called Judaizers) who were adding requirements of the Mosaic Law, such as circumcision, to the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul emphatically states that any deviation from the true gospel he preached is to be rejected, regardless of the source.
Context
Paul begins his letter without his usual lengthy thanksgiving, immediately addressing the serious issue facing the Galatians: they were "so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel" (Galatians 1:6). The "other gospel" (Galatians 1:7) was not merely a variation, but a perversion of the true message, leading people away from salvation by grace alone. This verse serves as the absolute standard and severe judgment against such distortion.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "any other gospel" translates the Greek ἕτερον εὐαγγέλιον (heteron euangelion). Heteron implies something of a *different kind* altogether, not just a variation. This emphasizes that the false teaching was not a slightly different perspective but a fundamentally different message.
The word "accursed" is from the Greek ἀνάθεμα (anathema). In this context, it means devoted to destruction, cut off from God, or under divine curse. It is a very strong term indicating complete separation and condemnation.
Reflection and Application
This verse is a timeless warning for believers today. We must constantly test teachings against the standard of the biblical gospel: salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (see Ephesians 2:8-9). Any message that adds requirements (like specific rituals, human merit, or adherence to extra-biblical rules) for obtaining or maintaining salvation should be viewed with extreme caution. The source of the teaching, whether a charismatic leader, a popular trend, or even something claiming supernatural origin, does not validate it if it contradicts the established truth of God's Word. Paul repeats this strong warning in the very next verse, underscoring its critical importance.