GAL 1:8 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) Even if either we ourselves or even a messenger from heaven were to preach a different ‘good message’ which disagrees with the good message that we first preached to you, then they should be cursed.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
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 But even if we or an angel from heaven might proclaim to you a gospel other than the one we proclaimed to you, let him be cursed.

UST But even if we apostles or an angel from heaven would tell you a message that is different from the good news that we told you before, I appeal to God that he would punish such a person forever.

BSB 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!

MSB But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel[fn] contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse!

BLB But even if we or an angel out of heaven should preach a gospel to you contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let him be accursed!

AICNT But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach [to you][fn] a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let them be under a curse.

1:8, to you: NA28[] ‖ Absent from some manuscripts.

OEB Yet even if we – or if an angel from heaven were to tell you any other “good news” than that which we told you, may he be accursed!

WEBBE But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.

WMBB But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should proclaim to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.

NET But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell!

LSV but even if we or a messenger out of Heaven may proclaim good news to you different from what we proclaimed to you—let him be accursed!

FBV But if anyone, even we ourselves, or even an angel from heaven, should promote any other kind of good news[fn] than what we have already told you, let them be condemned!

1:8 Clearly Paul doesn't think this is good news at all, so maybe should be in ironic quotes: “good news.”

TCNT But even if we or an angel from heaven [fn]should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed!

1:8 should 48.5% • TH 1% • WH 0.8% ¦ — 𝔐^pt HF 39.7%

T4T But even if we (exc) apostles or an angel from heaven would tell you a message that is different from the good message that we told you before, I appeal to God that he punish such a person forever.

LEB But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim a gospel to you contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let him be accursed!

BBE But even if we, or an angel from heaven, were to be a preacher to you of good news other than that which we have given you, let there be a curse on him.

Moff Now even though it were myself or some angel from heaven, whoever preaches a gospel that contradicts the gospel I preached to you, God's curse be on him!

Wymth But if even we or an angel from Heaven should bring you a Good News different from that which we have already brought you, let him be accursed.

ASV 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.

DRA But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema.

YLT but even if we or a messenger out of heaven may proclaim good news to you different from what we did proclaim to you — anathema let him be!

Drby But if even we or an angel out of heaven announce as glad tidings to you [anything] besides what we have announced as glad tidings to you, let him be accursed.

RV 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.

SLT But also if we, or a messenger from heaven, announce good news to you, more than what: we have announced to you, let him be anathema.

Wbstr But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 But though we, or an Angel from heauen, preach any other Gospel vnto you, then that which wee haue preached vnto you, let him be accursed.
(But though we, or an Angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you, then that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.)

Bshps Neuerthelesse, though we, or an Angel from heauen, preache any other Gospel vnto you, then that which we haue preached vnto you, let hym be accursed.
(Nevertheless, though we, or an Angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you, then that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.)

Gnva But though that we, or an Angel from heauen preach vnto you otherwise, then that which we haue preached vnto you, let him be accursed.
(But though that we, or an Angel from heaven preach unto you otherwise, then that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. )

Cvdl Neuertheles though we oure selues, or an angell from heaue preach vnto you eny other Gospel, the yt which we haue preached vnto you, the same be acursed.
(Nevertheless though we ourselves, or an angel from heaven preach unto you any other Gospel, the it which we have preached unto you, the same be acursed.)

TNT Neverthelesse though we oure selves or an angell from heven preache eny other gospell vnto you the that which we have preached vnto you holde him as a cursed.
(Nevertheless though we our selves or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you the that which we have preached unto you hold him as a cursed. )

Wycl But thouy we, or an aungel of heuene, prechide to you, bisidis that that we han prechid to you, be he acursid.
(But though we, or an angel of heaven, preached to you, besides that that we have preached to you, be he acursid.)

Luth Aber so auch wir oder ein Engel vom Himmel euch würde Evangelium predigen anders, denn das wir euch geprediget haben, der sei verflucht!
(But so also we/us or a angel from_the heaven you would gospel preaching different, because/than the we/us you preached have, the/of_the be cursed!)

ClVg Sed licet nos aut angelus de cælo evangelizet vobis præterquam quod evangelizavimus vobis, anathema sit.[fn]
(But although us or messenger/angel from/about the_sky evangelizet to_you(pl) besidesquam that evangelizavimus to_you(pl), anathema let_it_be. )

1.8 Sed licet nos, etc. Bonus angelus potest intelligi, non quod hoc contingat, sed adeo certus est de veritate Evangelii sui, quod si etiam angelus aliud nuntiaret, non crederet, sed anathematizaret. Præterquam quod. AUG. Attende. Non ait: Plus quam accepistis. Nam si illud diceret, sibi ipsi præjudicaret, qui cupiebat venire ad quosdam, quibus ipse scribebat: sicut ad Thessalonicenses, ut suppleret quæ illorum fidei deerant. Sed qui supplet, quod minus erat addit; non quod inerat, tollit. Qui autem prætergreditur fidei regulam, non accedit in via, sed recedit a via. Anathema sit. Quare hoc? Quia aliud evangelizans, de privato vult fluere, non de medio. Et cum hoc homo carnali nebula præpeditus, et a fonte communi ad propriam suam falsitatem reductus possit facere, nunquid et angelus? Vere si angelus de proprio fluens in paradiso non esset auditus, non præcipitaremur in mortem. Media aqua posita erat omnibus præceptum Dei. Aqua quodammodo publica erat, et sine fraude, sine labe, sine cœno fluebat. Sed venit angelus de cœlo lapsus serpens factus, quia insidiose jam venenum spargere cupiebat, et emisit venenum. De proprio locutus est, de suo: Gustate, et eritis sicut dii Gen. 3.. Et illi appetentes quod non erant, amiserunt quod acceperunt. Anathema. Hoc verbum pro maledicto ponitur, et vulgo dicitur devotio. Nam devotare se quemque nemo fere dicit, nisi se maledicens. Unde illud: Et anathematizavit eum et civitates ejus, et vocatum est nomen loci illius Anathema Num. 21.. Hinc tractum est ut anathema detestabile aliquid et abominabile videatur, ut nihil inde victor in usus suos auferret, sed totum in pœnam luendam votavit: hoc erat anathematizare, quod vulgo dicitur devotare. Origo autem hujus verbi est in Græca lingua ab his rebus quæ votæ et persolutæ, id est promissæ et redditæ sursum ponebantur in templis: et est dictum: id est sursum ponere.

1.8 But although us, etc. Bonus messenger/angel can to_be_understood, not/no that this contingat, but so_much certus it_is from/about with_truth of_the_Gospels self, that when/but_if also messenger/angel something_else nuntiaret, not/no to_believet, but anathematizaret. Præterquam that. AUG. Attende. Not/No he_said: Plus how you_received. For/Surely when/but_if it/this/that would_say, to_himself themselves beforeyudicaret, who/which cupiebat to_come to some, to_whom exactly_that/himself scribebat: like to Thessalonicenses, as suppleret which of_them of_faith deerant. But who/which supplet, that minus was adds; not/no that inerat, takes_away. Who however besidesgreditur of_faith rule, not/no comes in/into/on way/road, but retreats from way/road. Anathema let_it_be. Why this? Because something_else evangelizans, from/about privato wants fluere, not/no from/about in_the_middle. And when/with this human carnal nebula beforepeditus, and from source common to ownm his_own falsitatem reductus can to_do, nunquid and messenger/angel? Vere when/but_if messenger/angel from/about own fluens in/into/on paradise not/no was hearing, not/no commandsaremur in/into/on death. Media water placed was to_all precept/rule of_God. Aqua in_a_certain_way public was, and without fraude, without stain, without cœno fluebat. But he_came messenger/angel from/about sky falls serpens became, because insidiose already venenum spargere cupiebat, and sent venenum. From/About own spoke it_is, from/about his_own: Gustate, and you(pl)_will_be like gods Gen. 3.. And them appetentes that not/no they_were, they_lost that they_received. Anathema. This the_word/saying for curse is_placed, and generally it_is_said devotio. For/Surely devotare himself each nobody/no_one almost he_says, except himself curseens. From_where/who it/this/that: And anathematizavit him and cities his, and called it_is name loci of_that Anathema Num. 21.. Hence tractum it_is as anathema detestabile something and abominable it_seems, as nothing therefore/from_there victor in/into/on use(n) his_own take_awayt, but whole in/into/on punishment luendam wishes/vowsvit: this was anathematizare, that generally it_is_said devotare. Origo however of_this words it_is in/into/on Græca tongue/language away his things which votæ and persolutæ, that it_is promissæ and returnsæ up/above they_were_puttingur in/into/on temples: and it_is said: that it_is up/above to_put.

UGNT ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐὰν ἡμεῖς ἢ ἄγγελος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ εὐαγγελίζηται ὑμῖν παρ’ ὃ εὐηγγελισάμεθα ὑμῖν, ἀνάθεμα ἔστω!
(alla kai ean haʸmeis aʸ angelos ex ouranou euangelizaʸtai humin par’ ho euaʸngelisametha humin, anathema estō!)

SBL-GNT ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐὰν ἡμεῖς ἢ ἄγγελος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ⸀εὐαγγελίζηται ⸀ὑμῖν παρʼ ὃ εὐηγγελισάμεθα ὑμῖν, ἀνάθεμα ἔστω.
(alla kai ean haʸmeis aʸ angelos ex ouranou ⸀euangelizaʸtai ⸀humin parʼ ho euaʸngelisametha humin, anathema estō.)

RP-GNT Ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐὰν ἡμεῖς ἢ ἄγγελος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ εὐαγγελίζηται ὑμῖν παρ' ὃ εὐηγγελισάμεθα ὑμῖν, ἀνάθεμα ἔστω.
(Alla kai ean haʸmeis aʸ angelos ex ouranou euangelizaʸtai humin par' ho euaʸngelisametha humin, anathema estō.)

TC-GNT Ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐὰν ἡμεῖς ἢ ἄγγελος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ [fn]εὐαγγελίζηται ὑμῖν παρ᾽ ὃ εὐηγγελισάμεθα ὑμῖν, ἀνάθεμα ἔστω.
(Alla kai ean haʸmeis aʸ angelos ex ouranou euangelizaʸtai humin par ho euaʸngelisametha humin, anathema estō. )

1:8 ευαγγελιζηται υμιν 48.5% ¦ ευαγγελιζεται υμιν 𝔐^pt HF 39.7% ¦ υμιν ευαγγελιζηται TH 1% ¦ ευαγγελισηται υμιν WH 0.8%

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s 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)

1:8–9

In these verses, Paul strongly condemned anyone who teaches a false gospel. The true gospel is the only gospel. It is more important than any person.

No one, including Paul, may change the gospel. Paul said that God would curse anyone who would change the gospel. He emphasized this by stating a situation that was not real. Neither Paul nor the brothers with him had preached a different gospel to the Galatians.

This contrasts with the real situation of the false teachers who were teaching a false gospel. Paul was warning those who were listening to the false teachers.

1:8

Before you translate 1:8, carefully consider what is the most natural order in your language for the clauses in this verse. In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses. Compare the order of the clause in the BSB and GW:

^aBut even if we or an angel from heaven ^bshould preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, ^clet him be under a curse! (BSB)

^bWhoever tells you good news that is different from the Good News we gave you ^cshould be condemned to hell, ^aeven if he is one of us or an angel from heaven. (GW)

See other examples in the Display under 1:8a–c reordered.

1:8a

But even if we or an angel from heaven

But even if we^(excl) or an angel from heaven/God
Suppose that we^(excl) or an angel from heaven
Consider/imagine the false situation in which we or an angel

But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between the “gospel of Christ” that Paul preached and the “different gospel” that some men were preaching. With this contrast, Paul continued to show that there is only one gospel.

Some English versions indicate this contrast with the conjunction But. Other English versions do not translate this conjunction here. However, the contrast is still shown by the expressions for the true gospel and the false gospel.

even if: The phrase even if introduces a situation that is not real. The following situation never happened. The Greek grammar clearly shows that what follows is a hypothetical statement.

Some other ways to translate this are:

suppose

consider/imagine the false situation in which

if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you but we have not done that

we: The pronoun we refers to Paul and his companions. Paul used it to emphasize that he himself is included. This pronoun does not include the Galatians.

an angel from heaven: The Greek word that the BSB translates as angel means “messenger.” It can be either a human messenger or a divine messenger. The phrase from heaven shows that here it refers to a divine messenger.

Here, heaven is a figure of speech that represents God who lives in heaven. So the phrase angel from heaven refers to a “messenger from heaven” or “messenger from God.”

Some ways to translate this phrase are:

Use a descriptive word or phrase. For example:
messenger from heaven/God
good/holy spirit-being from above
Use a local term that fits the biblical meaning. If you use a term for angel that people cannot confuse with an ordinary messenger, then it would not be necessary to add from heaven. For example:
angel
In some areas the churches may already be using a borrowed term or a transliterated word for angel. Be sure that this term fits the biblical meaning. If some people do not understand the right meaning from this term, you may need to indicate the meaning with a descriptive phrase. For example:
an angelos messenger from heaven
a sacred angelos spirit from above

Be sure that your term for angel is different from your terms for “prophet” and “apostle.”

See also angel in the Glossary for more information.

1:8b

should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you,

preach to you^(plur) a gospel that is different than the gospel that we had preached to you^(plur),
teach you^(plur) a message that is not the same as good news that we^(excl) first taught you,
teach you something that does not agree with the good news that we first taught you.

should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you: The Greek word that the BSB translates as contrary to can also be translated as “that is opposed to” or “that does not agree with.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you (GNT)

should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you (NIV)

should preach/teach you a doctrine that does not agree with the gospel we already taught you

1:8c

let him be under a curse!

let/may that person be cursed.
may God’s curse/punishment fall on that person.
If that should happen, I pray that God will punish/destroy that person.

let him be under a curse: This clause is a type of prayer. Paul asked God to punish or condemn the person who changed the true gospel and preached another gospel.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

may he be cursed

Let God’s curse fall on anyone (NLT)

I pray that God will punish (CEV)

may he be condemned to hell (GNT)

Paul was not casting a spell on someone. Do not use an expression in your language that would imply casting a spell.

him: The pronoun him refers to anyone who might preach a false gospel.

Some ways to translate this more clearly are:

that person

that messenger

1:8a–c

(reordered) I pray that God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from our message to you! It doesn’t matter if that person is one of us or an angel from heaven. (CEV)

(reordered) Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. (NLT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

καὶ ἐὰν ἡμεῖς ἢ ἄγγελος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ εὐαγγελίζηται ὑμῖν παρ’ ὃ εὐηγγελισάμεθα ὑμῖν, ἀνάθεμα ἔστω

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά καί ἐάν ἡμεῖς ἤ ἄγγελος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ὑμῖν εὐαγγελίζηται πάρʼ ὅ εὐηγγελισάμεθα ὑμῖν ἀνάθεμα ἔστω)

The word if introduces a hypothetical situation. Paul uses a hypothetical situation to warn the Galatians against any teaching that is contrary to the original gospel message which he taught them. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a hypothetical situation. Alternate translation: [if it were to happen that we or an angel from heaven might proclaim to you a gospel other than the one we proclaimed to you, let whoever would do that be cursed] or [suppose it were to happen that we or an angel from heaven might proclaim to you a gospel other than the one we proclaimed to you. Let whoever would do that be cursed]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

ἡμεῖς & εὐηγγελισάμεθα

we & ˱we˲_gospel_preached

When Paul says we here, he is not including the Galatians, so we would be exclusive. Your language may require you to mark these forms.

ἡμεῖς

Alternate translation: [I or my co-laborers in the gospel]

εὐαγγελίζηται ὑμῖν

˓may_be˒_gospel_preaching (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀλλά καί ἐάν ἡμεῖς ἤ ἄγγελος ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ὑμῖν εὐαγγελίζηται πάρʼ ὅ εὐηγγελισάμεθα ὑμῖν ἀνάθεμα ἔστω)

Alternate translation: [might proclaim to you a gospel message] or [might proclaim to you a message of good news]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

παρ’ ὃ εὐηγγελισάμεθα

Here, the phrase the one refers to the gospel message that Paul and his co-laborers had proclaimed to the Galatians. IIf it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: [different from the gospel we proclaimed] or [different from the message we proclaimed]

ἀνάθεμα ἔστω

˓a˒_curse ˱him˲_let_be

If your language has a common way of asking God to curse someone or of calling down a curse on someone, and it would be appropriate to use in this context, consider using it here.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἀνάθεμα ἔστω

˓a˒_curse ˱him˲_let_be

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of someone being cursed, you could express the same idea with a verbal form such as “curse.” Alternate translation: [let God curse him]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἀνάθεμα ἔστω

˓a˒_curse ˱him˲_let_be

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who did the action, Paul implies that “God” is the one who will do it. Alternate translation: [let God curse him]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀνάθεμα ἔστω

˓a˒_curse ˱him˲_let_be

Although the term him is masculine, Paul is using the word here in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: [let God curse that person]

Parallel GAL 1:8

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

1:8–9

1:8

1:8a

1:8b

1:8c

1:8a–c