As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!
Parallel translations
- WEB As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
- NASB As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
- NLT I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul repeats his warning: anyone preaching a gospel other than what the Galatians received is to be accursed. The repetition underscores how serious the matter is.
Overview
By restating the curse, Paul makes clear the first statement was no rhetorical excess. The standard is the gospel 'which you received,' the apostolic message already accepted by the Galatians. This fixed deposit of truth, not novelty, is the test of all preaching.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Rom 16:17Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.
- Prov 30:6Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.
- Deut 4:2You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.
- Rev 22:18–19I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
- Deut 12:32See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.
- 2 Cor 1:17When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” when I really mean “No, no”?
- Phil 3:1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
- 2 Cor 13:1–2This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
- Phil 4:4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law's curse, that we might receive the Spirit and be sons — justified by faith in him, not by works.
How Galatians 1:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.