Bible Strands
Galatians 1:10
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Galatian churches, mid-rebuke, having just cursed anyone preaching a contrary gospel (v. 9) and about to declare the non-human origin of his own (v. 11). He is defending his apostolic authority against rivals who have gained the congregation's ear.
The words — πεῖθω (peithō) literally means "to be persuaded" or "to seek consent," so the verb frames the question as one of whose side you are on rather than a neutral preference. ἄρτι (arti, "presently") marks a hard break from whatever came before.
The thread — 1 Thessalonians 2:4 states the same binary ("not to please men but God, who examines hearts"); Acts 5:29 gives the obedience formula ("obey God rather than men"); Ephesians 6:6 closes the loop by defining the "servant of Christ" as one who does the will of God from the heart.
Why it lands — The verse offers no third category: if your message is shaped to land well with an audience, you have already left Christ's service, regardless of your intent.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
- Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
- Ephesians 6:6 And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
- James 4:4 You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
- Matthew 22:16 They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance.
- Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 5:9 So we aspire to please Him, whether we are at home in this body or away from it.
- Romans 2:29 No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.
- Acts 4:19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.
- 2 Corinthians 12:19 Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.