Galatians 1:6

The subject and occasion of the Epistle

6. I marvel … gospel The contrast between the form of address here adopted and that of other letters of St Paul is (as already noted) remarkable. In writing to the Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians, his opening words are expressive of thankfulness for the constancy of their faith and the fervour of their love. Even for the Corinthians, notwithstanding the party spirit which prevailed among them and the grievous sin which called for sharp rebuke, he has words of affection and even thankfulness. But the case of the Galatians was different. They had departed from the faith. Their error was fundamental, and if persisted in, fatal.

so soon removed rather, so quickly passing over, transferring your allegiance.

-So quickly" is generally explained as, so soon after your conversion, or, after my recent visit. Commentators see an illustration of this expression in the ficklenessof the national character, mentioned by Cæsar and Tacitus, and the intellectual restlessness noticed by Themistius, a writer of the 4th century a.d. But perhaps it only means -so readily", with so little compunction, or resistance to the false teachers. Comp. 2 Thessalonians 2:2.

from him that called you … Christ Luther renders, "From Christ who called you in grace." If the word Christ(omitted by some authorities) is to be retained, this is the best rendering of the passage for the reasons which he assigns. "It liketh me, that even as Paul a little before made Christ the Redeemer, who by His death delivereth us from this present evil world; also the giver of grace and peace equally with God the Father; so he should here make Him equally the caller in grace; for Paul's special purpose is to beat into our minds the benefit of Christ, by whom we come unto the Father."

Our calling is in grace, i.e. in His free and unmerited favour and goodness; as opposed to all notion of salvation by moral or ceremonial righteousness. "If it be by grace, then it is no more of works, otherwise grace ceases to be grace any longer." Romans 11:6.

unto another gospel rather, -a different" or -strange gospel", a perverted gospel. I do not call it -another gospel", for that would be to admit that there could be more than one.

This strange gospel appealed for authority to the other Apostles rather than to St Paul; and it insisted on the observance of the Jewish ceremonial law as a condition of salvation, ch. Galatians 4:10-11, &c.