Does the "different gospel" Paul talks about in Galatians 1 mean Catholic teaching, or something else?

Question

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" (Galatians 1:6-9)

Answer 1

Contrary to the attacks of the Catholic haters, Paul is not talking about Catholics in Galatians 1. Paul was an apostle and faithful steward of the catholic-orthodox original Church.

Even a cursory glance at any commentary based on historical scholarship will show that Paul was talking about Judaizers, Jews who wanted Christianity to conform to the strictures of Judaism. Paul had many conflicts with those who wanted to dictate what foods to eat or what days to celebrate.

We see some of their counterparts in those who demand Saturday worship, or who forbid us to play musical instruments, or who are horrified at the thought of stained glass, paintings, or sculptures in church.

More generally, those who attack fellow Christians for harmless and edifying practices that don't agree with their Christian straitjacket are preaching a false gospel.

CDF

Answer 2

Assuming there is a satan and he wants to separate men from God (and I realize I've already lost half of you), it would make sense that if God had come up with a plan to provide an escape from our own sin, that satan would try to undermine it. So it is no surprise to learn that there were a number of gnostic writings with "secret" truths that Jesus had never said and that were contradictory to what he had said, which emerged very early in the infancy of the church. It was not a Catholic thing, in fact this was long before the denominationalistic thing started happening. We shouldn't be looking for the flaws and areas of contention among churches but rather the common ground, Jesus Christ. God never intended for there to be a denominational system, but he allowed it and as the Kingdom of God draws nearer, he will restore the church back to an Apostolic system where we rally around "Father" figures who are leaders and rally Christians around the world. There was supposed to be one church comprised of people who belong to Christ and it is God's will that we get back to that again. Spread the love!

Answer 3

Something else.

The Christian Church that Paul belonged to did not call itself the Catholic Church until 107 C.E. (about 10 years after the last book of the New Testament was written), when the Greek term "Katholikos" (meaning universal) appears in the Letter of St. Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans:

"Wherever the bishop appear, there let the multitude be; even as wherever Christ Jesus is, there is the Catholic Church."

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-smyrnaeans-hoole.html

All of this was long before the Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed from 325 C.E. which states, "We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church."

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07644a.htm

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

Paul is talking about heresy, which has been a problem since the beginning and always will be.

Paul himself was an early apostle of the Catholic Church, and so he is warning them against teachers who preach things contrary to what has been revealed to the Church.

But Catholicism will endure, as Christ promised in the Gospel of Matthew.

Pax Vobiscum+

Answer 5

It was the same thing Paul was always having to battle; Jewish brethren following behind him, teaching the Gentiles they had to keep the law in order to be saved. The law was so ingrained they saw no other way.

The Catholic church produced its own false gospel, claiming Scripture was not a sufficient guide to salvation, and people had to be Catholic in order to be saved, to mention a few.

.

Answer 6

There were those in the community that were 'twisting' the Gospel. Paul was warning the people that there were 'false prophets' among them. He was saying, 'if anyone is preaching a gospel other than the one I preached to you and you accepted,' don't listen to it. He is not talking about your Catholic teaching. The Gospel is that Jesus is the Christ of God, He went to the Cross and died in yours an my place for the forgiveness of sins. He rose on the third day and now sits at the right hand of the Father. "Believe in Me and you will be saved."

Answer 7

Anything different from what Holy Spirit were giving to Paul, Peter, John, James and the rest of the apostles.

Answer 8

First you have to realize that they are more than one gospel in the Bible.

During the time Jesus preached on the earth He basically preached the Gospel of the Kingdom.. (which is repent for the kingdom of God is at hand) Paul's Gospel is different than this gospel. PAULS GOSPEL WAS A MYSTERY NOT KNOWN BY ANY MAN.
Paul didn't learn his gospel from any man.. but by direct revelation of Jesus Christ, and his gospel involved the Resurrection.

(this is Pauls Gospel)
I Corinthians 15:1-4
15 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:


In Jesus' days on earth, Jesus spoke of his death to the diciples.. and they didnt want to hear it.

Jesus spoke to his diciples a few time on the subject of the Resurrection, and it says,

"and they understood none of these things, for it was hidden from them."

the Resurrection is something that was unknown in Jesus' days.
Jesus didnt preach the Resurrection. Paul did.
2 different gospels.

and if that is not proof enough look at what it says in Corinthians 2.

(Paul is speaking,)
I Corinthians 2
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 WHICH NONE OF THE PRINCES OF THIS WORLD KNEW FOR HAD THEY KNOWN IT, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY.

Galatians 1 has nothing to do with catholics..it has to do with the Gospel or Mystery, giving by Jesus Christ to the Apostle Paul.

Answer 9

Paul is telling them "There is no other Gospel" only the ONE"Gospel of Christ "and they have been doing things to please men that are contrary to the Gospel of Christ.

Answer 10

Heretics, teachings other than from Christ. Since Catholic teachings are from Christ through the apostles, it was some teaching contrary to the Catholic teachings.