GAL 1:10 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Am I trying to please and persuade people or God? If I was still trying to please people, I wouldn’t be worthy to be one of the messiah’s slaves.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For am I now trying to persuade men, or God? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

UST I said that because I do not desire that people approve me, contrary to what some people have said about me. It is God whom I desire to approve me. Specifically, I do not say and do things just to please people. If it were still people whom I was trying to please, then I would not be one who willingly and completely serves the Messiah.

BSB {Am I} now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

MSB {Am I} now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For[fn] if I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

BLB For presently do I seek approval of men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

AICNT For am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? [[For]][fn] if I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

1:10, For: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

OEB ¶ Is this, I ask, trying to conciliate people, or God? Am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I should not be a servant of Christ.

WEBBE For am I now seeking the favour of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.

WMBB For am I now seeking the favour of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Messiah.

NET Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!

LSV 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 Christ’s servant.

FBV Whose approval do you think I want—that of people, or of God? Do you think I'm trying to please people? If I wanted to please people I wouldn't be a servant of Christ!

TCNT Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

T4T I said that because [RHQ] I do not desire that people approve me, contrary to what some have said about me. It is God whom I desire to approve me. Specifically, I do not say and do [RHQ] things just to please people. If it were still people whom I was trying to please, then I would not be one who willingly and completely serves Christ.

LEB For am I now making an appeal to people or to God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

BBE Am I now using arguments to men, or God? or is it my desire to give men pleasure? if I was still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Moff Now is that "appealing to the interests of men" or of God? Trying to "satisfy men"? Why, if I still tried to give satisfaction to human masters, I would be no servant of Christ.

Wymth For is it man's favour or God's that I aspire to? Or am I seeking to please men? If I were still a man-pleaser, I should not be Christ's bondservant.

ASV For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

DRA For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

YLT for now men do I persuade, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if yet men I did please — Christ's servant I should not be.

Drby For do I now seek to satisfy men or [fn]God? or do I seek to please men? If I were yet pleasing men, I were not Christ's bondman.

1.10 Elohim

RV For am I now persuading men, or God? or am I seeking to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

SLT For now do I persuade men, or God? or seek I to please men? for if I had yet pleased men, I should not have been the servant of Christ.

Wbstr 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.

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 For doe I now perswade men, or God? or doe I seeke to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not bee the seruant of Christ.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps Do I nowe perswade men, or God? Other do I seke to please men? For yf I shoulde yet please men, I were not the seruaunt of Christe.
(Do I now persuade men, or God? Other do I seek to please men? For if I should yet please men, I were not the servant of Christ.)

Gnva For nowe preach I mans doctrine, or Gods? or go I about to please men? for if I should yet please men, I were not the seruant of Christ.
(For now preach I mans doctrine, or Gods? or go I about to please men? for if I should yet please men, I were not the servant of Christ. )

Cvdl Preach I men now or God? Or go I aboute to please men? Yf I shulde yet please men, I were not the seruaunt of Christ.
(Preach I men now or God? Or go I about to please men? If I should yet please men, I were not the servant of Christ.)

TNT Preache I mannes doctrine or Godes? Ether go I about to please men? If I stodyed to please men I were not the servaunt of Christ.
(Preache I mannes doctrine or Godes? Ether go I about to please men? If I stodyed to please men I were not the servant of Christ. )

Wycl For now whether counsele Y men, or God? or whether Y seche to plese men? If Y pleside yit men, Y were not Cristis seruaunt.
(For now whether counsele I men, or God? or whether I seche to please men? If I pleased yet men, I were not Christis servant.)

Luth Predige ich denn jetzt Menschen oder GOtt zu Dienst? Oder gedenke ich, Menschen gefällig zu sein? Wenn ich den Menschen noch gefällig wäre, so wäre ich Christi Knecht nicht.
(Predige I because/than now/currently people or God to/for service(n)? Or remember I, people please(v) to/for be? When I the people still please(v) were, so were I Christi servant/farmhand not.)

ClVg Modo enim hominibus suadeo, an Deo? an quæro hominibus placere? si adhuc hominibus placerem, Christi servus non essem.[fn]
(Modo because to_humans suadeo, an to_God? an whichro to_humans please? when/but_if still to_humans pleasem, of_Christ servant not/no I_would_be. )

1.10 Modo. Dicit modo quia olim dum dixit hominem ex lege justificari, hominis gloriam inutilem, gratiam Dei prædicavit. Innuit hic etiam hoc facere illos seductores, ut laudarentur a Judæis, quos non timet offendere Paulus pro gloria Christi, qua veniente cessat lex. Si adhuc. Hinc quidam putant sufficere conscientiam, ut parum quid de eis existimet alius, curent; sed conscientia coram Deo est necessaria conversatio coram proximo; quæ si negligentius agitur, lædit exemplo. Unde alibi: Placete omnibus per omnia, sicut et ego omnibus placeo II Cor. 10.. Item: Sine offensione estote Judæis et Græcis Ecclesiæ Dei II Cor. 8.. Item: Providemus bona, non solum coram Deo, sed etiam coram hominibus Matth. 5.. Item: Luceant opera vestra coram hominibus, etc. Ergo contra temerarios judices, detractores, susurrones, murmuratores, quærentes suspicari quod non vident, quærentes etiam jactare quod non suspicantur, sufficit conscientia. Nec in aliis quibus placere volumus quæramus nostram gloriam, sed eorum salutem, ut non nos, sed Deum laudent, qui tales fecit; unde: Nolite facere justitiam vestram coram hominibus, ubi illos arguit qui ita ventilant opera sua, ut finem operum suorum laudem hominum ponant, eamdemque laudem quasi pro mercede operum suorum computent.

1.10 Modo. Sayit just/only because formerly/once while he/she_said man from lawfully justificari, of_man glory inutilem, grace of_God preached. Innuit this/here also this to_do those seductores, as they_would_praiseur from To_the_Jews, which not/no he_is_afraid offendere Paulus for glory Christi, which coming ceases the_law. When/But_if still. Hence some they_think sufficere conscience, as little what from/about to_them existimet another, curent; but conscience before to_God it_is necessary conversation before the_next; which when/but_if negligentius is_being_done, lædit example. From_where/who alibi: Placete to_all through everything, like and I to_all placeo II Cor. 10.. Item: Sine offensione be To_the_Jews and Græcis Assemblies/Churches of_God II Cor. 8.. Item: Providemus good(s), not/no only before to_God, but also before to_humans Matth. 5.. Item: Luceant works your before to_humans, etc. Therefore on_the_contrary temerarios judges, detractores, susurrones, murmuratores, seeking suspicari that not/no they_see, seeking also yactare that not/no they_suspect, enough conscience. Neither in/into/on to_others to_whom please we_want let_us_seek ours glory, but their health, as not/no us, but God praisent, who/which tales he_did; from_where/who: Don't to_do justice your before to_humans, where those argues who/which so/thus ventilant works his_own, as the_end works of_his_own praise of_men put, the_sameque praise as_if for reward works of_his_own computent.

UGNT ἄρτι γὰρ ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἢ τὸν Θεόν? ἢ ζητῶ ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν? εἰ ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον, Χριστοῦ δοῦλος οὐκ ἂν ἤμην.
(arti gar anthrōpous peithō aʸ ton Theon? aʸ zaʸtō anthrōpois areskein? ei eti anthrōpois aʸreskon, Ⱪristou doulos ouk an aʸmaʸn.)

SBL-GNT Ἄρτι γὰρ ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἢ τὸν θεόν; ἢ ζητῶ ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν; ⸀εἰ ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον, Χριστοῦ δοῦλος οὐκ ἂν ἤμην.
(Arti gar anthrōpous peithō aʸ ton theon; aʸ zaʸtō anthrōpois areskein; ⸀ei eti anthrōpois aʸreskon, Ⱪristou doulos ouk an aʸmaʸn.)

RP-GNT Ἄρτι γὰρ ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἢ τὸν θεόν; Ἢ ζητῶ ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν; Εἰ γὰρ ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον, χριστοῦ δοῦλος οὐκ ἂν ἤμην.
(Arti gar anthrōpous peithō aʸ ton theon; Aʸ zaʸtō anthrōpois areskein; Ei gar eti anthrōpois aʸreskon, ⱪristou doulos ouk an aʸmaʸn.)

TC-GNT Ἄρτι γὰρ ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἢ τὸν Θεόν; Ἢ ζητῶ ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν; Εἰ [fn]γὰρ ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον, Χριστοῦ δοῦλος οὐκ ἂν ἤμην.
(Arti gar anthrōpous peithō aʸ ton Theon; Aʸ zaʸtō anthrōpois areskein; Ei gar eti anthrōpois aʸreskon, Ⱪristou doulos ouk an aʸmaʸn. )

1:10 γαρ ¦ — CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translation Notes:

Section 1:6–10: Paul rebuked the Galatians for turning away from the true gospel

In this section, Paul began his plea with the Galatians to turn back to the true gospel. He did this in several ways:

He rebuked them for turning away from the true gospel.
He condemned anyone who proclaimed any other gospel.

At this point in most of Paul’s other letters, he thanked God for his readers. The fact that he does not do that in Galatians shows how concerned and upset he was.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Do not follow false teaching

Do not turn away from the true gospel

Follow the Good News We Gave You (GW)

There Is No Other Gospel (NRSV)

1:10a

Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God?

¶ Am I saying this now because I am trying to win the approval of people or to win the approval of God?
¶ Does what I just said show that I am trying to please people? No, I am trying to please God.
¶ I am not trying to please people. I want to please God. (CEV)

In 1:10 Paul explained why he had the authority to speak so harshly in 1:6–9. He was Christ’s servant, and he was trying to please God, not men. He said this because he wanted the Galatians to have confidence that he taught the true gospel. Some English versions introduce this explanation by translating the Greek conjunction at the start of the verse. (See next note.) Some other ways to introduce it are:

I speak like this because

When I speak like this

Does what I just said show

This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “for.” Some English versions, such as the ESV, translate it that way. The BSB has not translated this conjunction, and some other versions, such as the NIV and NET, also do not translate it. Connect 1:10a to 1:9c in a way that is natural in your language.

Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this rhetorical question to emphasize that he was not trying to win the approval of people. He was seeking the approval of God.

Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

Use a rhetorical question or questions. For example:
Am I saying this now to win the approval of people or God? (GW)
Am I trying to please people? If not that, am I trying to please God?
Use a rhetorical question followed by a statement. For example:
Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God’s approval! (GNT)
Do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the One I am trying to please. (NCV)
As two statements. For example:
I am not trying to please people. I want to please God. (CEV)

Use the most natural form in your language to emphasize that Paul is not trying to win the approval of people.

now: This word shows that Paul was referring to what he had just said in 1:6–9.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Am I saying this now (GW)

Does what I just said show

When I speak like this

seeking the approval of: In this context, the Greek verb that the BSB translates as seeking the approval of also means “try to please.”Normally this word means “persuade” (as in the KJV). In this context, it is best to consider this word to be close in meaning to the next verb phrase, “seeking to please.”

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

trying to please (CEV)

seeking the favor of (NASB)

trying to make people accept me (NCV)

trying to make people praise me

men: The word men refers to people in general.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

man

people

human beings

1:10b

Or am I striving to please men?

Do you think I am trying to please people? (CEV)
I am not trying to please people,
I am not trying to get people to praise me,

Or am I striving to please men?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this rhetorical question to further emphasize that he did not try to please people. This question is similar to the first part of the rhetorical question in 1:10a.

Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

Use a question. For example:
Do you think I am trying to please people? (CEV)
Use a statement. For example:
I am most certainly not trying to please men.

Use a natural way in your language to emphasize that Paul did not try to please people.

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine this rhetorical question with the first part of the rhetorical question in 1:10a. For example, the NLT translates both 1:10a and 1:10b as:

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. (NLT)

Your solution to this issue depends on how your language uses repetition. If repetition adds emphasis, then you may keep both rhetorical questions. But if it is bad style or adds confusion, then it is enough to say this once and use other means to show the emphasis. Paul wanted to emphasize that it is God he wants to please rather than people.

Or: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Or here introduces a question that repeats the first part of the question in 1:10a. It does not indicate an alternative situation. Some English versions do not translate this word. For example:

Am I trying to please people? (GW)

men: As in 1:10a, the word men refers to people in general. Translate it in the same way.

1:10c

If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

If I were still trying/seeking to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
because if I were still doing that, but I’m not, then I would not be a servant of Christ.

If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ: This is a conditional sentence. (A conditional sentence is a sentence with an “if” clause.) Paul used this conditional sentence to state the opposite of what was true. He did this to emphasize the truth. The truth is that he was no longer trying to please people, because he had become a servant of Christ. Before Paul became a Christian, he did try to please people. But then he became a servant of Christ. So he was no longer trying to please people.

Some other ways to translate this sentence are:

If I were still trying to please people, though I’m not, I would not be Christ’s servant.

Suppose I were still trying to please people. Then I would not be a servant of Christ.

I am no longer trying to please people. If I were, I would not be the servant of Christ.

servant of Christ: The Greek word that the BSB translates as servant can also be translated as “slave.” In the same way that a slave serves and obeys his master, Paul served and obeyed Christ.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἄρτι Γάρ ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἤ τόν Θεόν Ἤ ζητῶ ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν Εἰ ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον Χριστοῦ δοῦλος οὐκ ἄν ἤμην)

Here, the word For is being used to introduce Paul’s argument against an implied assertion that he altered the content of his gospel message in order to make it more acceptable to people. If it would help your readers, you could express the implied assertion explicitly. Alternate translation: [Despite their charges,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

ἄρτι γὰρ ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἢ τὸν Θεόν? ἢ ζητῶ ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν

now (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἄρτι Γάρ ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἤ τόν Θεόν Ἤ ζητῶ ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν Εἰ ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον Χριστοῦ δοῦλος οὐκ ἄν ἤμην)

By using these two rhetorical questions, Paul is not asking the Galatians for information, but is using the question form for emphasis and to engage his readers' thinking. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [For I do not seek to persuade men, but instead I only seek the approval of God! I am not seeking to please men!] or [For I do not seek the approval of men, but instead I only seek the approval of God! I am not seeking to please men!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἄρτι & ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἢ τὸν Θεόν? ἢ ζητῶ ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν? εἰ ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον

now & people ˱I˲_˓am˒_persuading (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἄρτι Γάρ ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἤ τόν Θεόν Ἤ ζητῶ ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν Εἰ ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον Χριστοῦ δοῦλος οὐκ ἄν ἤμην)

Although the term men is masculine, Paul is using the word here in a generic sense that includes both men and women, and refers to “people” in general. Alternate translation: [do I now persuade people, or God? Or do I seek to please people? If I were still pleasing people]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

εἰ ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον, Χριστοῦ δοῦλος οὐκ ἂν ἤμην

The word If introduces a hypothetical condition. Paul is using a hypothetical situation to teach the Galatians. Use the natural form in your language for introducing a hypothetical situation, or if it would help your readers, you could state Paul’s meaning in plain language. Alternate translation: [I am not still pleasing men, because I am a servant of Christ] or [If I were still pleasing people, then I would not be serving Christ]

Parallel GAL 1:10

Section 1:6–10: Paul rebuked the Galatians for turning away from the true gospel

1:10a

1:10b

1:10c