Galatians 1:10
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.
Study Note
Study Note
The rhetorical question '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' establishes the antithesis between human approval-seeking and divine accountability that runs throughout the opening section of Galatians. The question implies that Paul's opponents have accused him of being a 'people-pleaser' — adjusting his gospel message to suit different audiences (circumcising Gentiles when among Jews, not among Gentiles). The response is emphatic: gospel compromise for social approval is incompatible with being a 'slave of Christ' (doulos Christou), which entails accountability to the master's commission alone. The verse has shaped discussions of prophetic integrity, pastoral courage, and the temptation of academic or cultural accommodation in theology.
Other Translations
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.
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.
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.
Cross References
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord; and his name …
And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and …
And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken …
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, …
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and …