In doing a DA (discourse analysis) on Galatians 1:6-7, one of the guys in my group had an interesting point.  I had stated that Galatians 1:6a, “I am astonished,” provides meaning throughout verses 6-10.  He believed that verse 6a refers only to verse 6.  It’s the question of, “What does one proposition refer to and when does it end?”

For example, I argued that Gal 1:6a refers all the way to verse 10.  He saw it ending at verse 6 (Paul was astonished only that they were turning to a different Gospel).  I see  astonishment as what directs Paul to say everything he says from verses 6-10.  We see this same conundrum in Romans 3:21, where perhaps the most important use of the word, “but” (de [adversative] in the Greek), is used.  Here is the question, “Is the ‘but’ an adversative for the immediate context, Rom 3:19-20, the greater context, Rom 3:1-19, or the much greater context, Rom chapters 1-3?”  I (and most commentators) would argue that the ‘but’ refers to Romans 1-3 based on Paul’s logical flow of the three chapters.  That is, Paul is making the case that human beings are inherently sinners deserving of God’s wrath.  And therefore are without hope “BUT NOW the righteosuness of God has been manifested apart from the law (through Christ!!).”

So as you can see, making a decision as to how much a proposition refers to a text and provides context, is a very important decision.  Sometimes it is only the next verse, sometimes it can be chapters.  The same holds true for Romans 12:1 and the “therefore” in “I appeal to you THEREFORE, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.“ The inference is not just to the preceding pericope or verse, it can be (and often is thought of) referring to Romans chapters 1-11!

What do you think?  Here is Galatians 1:6-10:

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.  10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.