Galatians
Galatians front
Introduction to Galatians
Part 1: General Introduction
Outline of the Book of Galatians
- Paul declares his authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ; he says that he is surprised by the false teachings that the Christians in Galatia have accepted from other people (1:1-10).
- Paul says that people are saved by trusting in Christ alone, not by keeping the law (1:11-2:21).
- God puts people right with himself only when they trust in Christ; the example of Abraham; the curse which the law brings (and not a means of salvation); slavery and freedom compared and illustrated by Hagar and Sarah (3:1-4:31).
- When people are joined to Christ, they become free from having to keep the law of Moses. They are also free to live as the Holy Spirit guides them. They are free to refuse the demands of sin. They are free to bear each other’s burdens (5:1-6:10).
- Paul warns the Christians not to trust in being circumcised and in keeping the law of Moses. Instead, they must trust in Christ (6:11-18).
Who wrote the Book of Galatians?
Paul from the city of Tarsus was the author. He had been known as Saul in his early life. Before becoming a Christian, Paul was a Pharisee. He persecuted Christians. After he began to trust in Jesus Christ, he traveled several times throughout the Roman Empire telling people about Jesus.
It is uncertain when Paul wrote this letter and where he was when he wrote it. Some scholars think Paul was in the city of Ephesus and wrote this letter after the second time he traveled to tell people about Jesus. Other scholars think Paul was in the city of Antioch in Syria and wrote the letter soon after the first time he traveled.
What is the Book of Galatians about?
Paul wrote this letter to both Jewish and non-Jewish Christians in the region of Galatia. He wanted to write against the false teachers who said that Christians need to follow the law of Moses. Paul defended the gospel by explaining that a person is saved by believing in Jesus Christ. People are saved as result of God being kind and not as a result of people doing good works. No person can perfectly obey the law. Any attempt to please God by obeying the law of Moses will only result in God condemning them. (See: good news, gospel, save, saved, safe, salvation, faith and law, law of Moses, law of Yahweh, law of God and work, works, deeds)
How should the title of this book be translated?
Translators may choose to call this book by its traditional title, “Galatians.” Or they may choose a clearer title, such as “Paul’s Letter to the Church in Galatia.” (See: How to Translate Names)
Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts
What does it mean to “live like Jews” (2:14)?
To “live like Jews” means to obey the law of Moses, even though one trusts in Christ. The people among the early Christians who taught that this was necessary were called “Judaizers.”
Part 3: Important Translation Issues
How did Paul use the terms “law” and “grace” in the Book of Galatians?
These terms are used in a unique way in Galatians. There is an important teaching in Galatians about Christian living. Under the law of Moses, righteous or holy living required a person to obey a set of rules and regulations. As Christians, holy living is now motivated by grace. This means that Christians have freedom in Christ and are not required to obey a specific set of rules. Instead, Christians are to live a holy life because they are thankful that God has been so kind to them. This is called “the law of Christ.” (See: righteous, righteousness, unrighteous, unrighteousness, upright, uprightness and holy, holiness, unholy, sacred)
What did Paul mean by the expression “in Christ,” “in the Lord,” etc.?
This kind of expression occurs in 1:22; 2:4, 17; 3:14, 26, 28; 5:6, 10. Paul meant to express the idea of a very close union with Christ and the believers. At the same time, he often intended other meanings as well. See, for example, “when we seek for God to justify us in Christ” (2:17), where Paul spoke of being justified by means of Christ.
Please see the introduction to the Book of Romans for more details about this kind of expression.
What are the major issues in the text of the Book of Galatians?
- “Foolish Galatians, whose evil eye has harmed you? Was not Jesus Christ depicted as crucified before your eyes” (3:1)? The ULT, UST, and the other modern versions have this reading. However, older versions of the Bible add, “[so] that ye should not obey the truth.” Translators are advised not to include this expression. However, if in the translators’ region there are older Bible versions that have the passage, the translators can include it. If it is translated, it should be put inside square brackets ([]) to indicate that it is probably not original to Galatians. (See: Textual Variants) (See: Textual Variants)
Galatians 1
Galatians 1 General Notes
Structure and formatting
Paul started this letter differently than his other letters. He adds that he was “not an apostle from men nor by human agency, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead ones.” Paul probably included these words because false teachers were opposing him and trying to undermine his authority.
Special concepts in this chapter
Heresy
God eternally saves people only through the true, biblical gospel. God condemns any other version of the gospel. Paul asks God to curse those who teach a false gospel. They might not be saved. They should be treated as non-Christians. (See: save, saved, safe, salvation, eternity, everlasting, eternal, forever, good news, gospel and condemn, condemned, condemnation and curse, cursed, cursing)
Paul’s qualifications
Some people in the early church were teaching that Gentiles needed to obey the law of Moses. To refute this teaching, in verses 13-16 Paul explains how he was formerly a zealous Jew. But God still needed to save him and show him the true gospel. As a Jew, and the apostle to Gentile people, Paul was uniquely qualified to address this issue. (See: law, law of Moses, law of Yahweh, law of God)
Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
“You are turning so quickly to a different gospel”
The Book of Galatians is one of Paul’s earliest letters in Scripture. It shows that heresies troubled even the early church. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Galatians 1:1
Unless noted otherwise, all instances of “you” and “your” in this letter refer to the Galatians and are plural. (See: Forms of You)
Παῦλος
Your language may have a particular way of introducing the author of a letter. Use that here. Alternate translations: “From me, Paul” or “I, Paul” (See: https://git.door43.org/Door43-Catalog/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-123person/01.md)
τοῦ ἐγείραντος αὐτὸν
Alternate translation: “who caused him to live again”
Galatians 1:2
ἀδελφοί
Here, brothers means fellow Christians, including both men and women, since all believers in Christ are members of one spiritual family, with God as their heavenly Father. Alternate translation: “brothers and sisters” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)
Galatians 1:4
περὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν
Here, sins figuratively refers to the punishment for sin. Alternate translation: “to take the punishment we deserved because of our sins” or “to take the punishment for our sins” (See: Metonymy)
Galatians 1:3
χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ Θεοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
After introducing the senders and recipients of the letter, Paul gives a blessing. Use a form that people would recognize as a blessing in your language. Alternate translation: “May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.” (See: Blessings)
χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήν
If it would be clearer in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract nouns grace and peace with adjectives such as “gracious” and “peaceful.” Alternate translation: “May God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be gracious to you and make you peaceful” (See: Abstract Nouns)
Galatians 1:4
ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος τοῦ ἐνεστῶτος πονηροῦ
Here, this present evil age does not refer to a time period, but to the present attitudes and activities of mankind in contrast to God. Alternate translation: “that he might bring us to a place of safety from the evil powers at work in the world today” or “that he might free us from the evil powers at work in the world today”(See: Metonymy)
Galatians 1:6
θαυμάζω
Alternate translation: “I am surprised” or “I am shocked.” Paul was very saddened that the people in Galatia were not living a life that showed they were trusting in the Messiah.
οὕτως ταχέως, μετατίθεσθε ἀπὸ τοῦ καλέσαντος
Here, you are turning away figuratively refers to doubting or no longer trusting in God. Alternate translation: “you are so quickly starting to doubt him” or “you are so quickly turning your backs on God” (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 1:7
οἱ ταράσσοντες
Alternate translation: “stirring up”, “causing great distress”, or “confusing you”
Galatians 1:8
παρ’ ὃ εὐηγγελισάμεθα
Alternate translation: “different from the gospel” or “different from the message”
ἀνάθεμα ἔστω
If your language has a common way of calling a curse down on someone, you should use that.
Galatians 1:10
ἄρτι γὰρ ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἢ τὸν Θεόν? ἢ ζητῶ ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν
These rhetorical questions expect the answer “no.” Alternate translation: “I do not seek the approval of men, but instead I seek the approval of God. I am not seeking to please men.” (See: Rhetorical Question)
εἰ ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον, Χριστοῦ δοῦλος οὐκ ἂν ἤμην
This phrase is contrary to fact. Alternate translation: “I am not still trying to please men; I am a servant of Christ”
Galatians 1:11
ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κατὰ ἄνθρωπον
Alternate translation: “did not come from a human” or “is not from the thoughts of a person”
Galatians 1:12
δι’ ἀποκαλύψεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
This could mean: (1) “Jesus Christ revealed the gospel to me” or (2) “God made me know the gospel when he showed Jesus Christ to me”
Galatians 1:13
ἀναστροφήν ποτε
Alternate translation: “my behavior at one time” or “my prior life,” or “my earlier life”
Galatians 1:15
καλέσας διὰ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ
This could mean: (1) “God called me to serve him because he is gracious” (2) “he called me by means of his grace”
Galatians 1:16
ἀποκαλύψαι τὸν Υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ
1test This could mean: (1) “to allow me to know his Son” (2) “to reveal his Son to others through me”
τὸν Υἱὸν
This is an important title for Jesus. (See: Translating Son and Father)
εὐαγγελίζωμαι αὐτὸν
Alternate translation: “proclaim that Jesus is God’s Son” or “preach the good news about God’s Son”
προσανεθέμην σαρκὶ καὶ αἵματι
Here, Consult with flesh and blood figuratively refers to talking with other people. (See: Idiom)
Galatians 1:17
ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα
Jerusalem was in a region of high hills, making it necessary to climb many hills in order to get there, and so it was common to describe travel to Jerusalem as “to go up to Jerusalem
ἀπῆλθον εἰς Ἀραβίαν
The region of Arabia was located south of Damascus and Jerusalem.
Galatians 1:19
ἕτερον δὲ τῶν ἀποστόλων οὐκ εἶδον, εἰ μὴ Ἰάκωβον
This double negative emphasizes that James was the only other apostle besides Peter whom Paul saw. Alternate translation: “the only other apostle I saw was James” (See: Double Negatives)
Galatians 1:20
ἃ δὲ γράφω ὑμῖν, ἰδοὺ, ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ ὅτι οὐ ψεύδομαι
Paul emphasizes that he is telling the truth. Alternate translation: “I am not lying to you in the messages I write to you” or “in the things I write to you, I am telling you the truth” (See: Litotes)
Galatians 1:22
ἤμην δὲ ἀγνοούμενος τῷ προσώπῳ ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῆς Ἰουδαίας, ταῖς ἐν Χριστῷ
Alternate translation: “None of the people in the churches of Judea that are in Christ had ever met me”
Galatians 2
Galatians 2 General Notes
Structure and formatting
Paul continues to defend the true gospel. This began in Galatians 1:11.
Special concepts in this chapter
Freedom and slavery
Throughout this letter, Paul contrasts freedom and slavery. The Christian is free in Christ to do many different things. But the Christian who attempts to follow the law of Moses needs to follow the whole law. Paul describes trying to follow the law as a type of slavery. (See: law, law of Moses, law of Yahweh, law of God)
Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
“I do not negate the grace of God”
Paul teaches that, if a Christian attempts to follow the law of Moses, they do not understand the grace God has shown to them. This is a fundamental error. But Paul uses the words “I do not negate the grace of God” as a type of hypothetical situation. The purpose of this statement could be seen as, “If you could be saved by following the law, then it would negate the grace of God.” (See: grace, gracious and Hypothetical Situations)
Galatians 2:1
Paul continues to give the history of how he learned the gospel from God, not the apostles.
ἀνέβην
Here, went up is used because Jerusalem is located in hilly country. The Jews also viewed Jerusalem as the place on earth that is closest to heaven, so Paul may have been speaking figuratively, or it may be that it was reflecting the difficult, uphill, journey to get to Jerusalem.
Galatians 2:2
τοῖς δοκοῦσιν
Alternate translation: “to those who were recognized as the important overseers of the believers” or “with those who were considered leaders of the church”
τρέχω ἢ ἔδραμον
Paul uses running as a metaphor to compare his work of preaching the gospel to a person running a race. Paul worked hard to preach the gospel. He wanted the gospel that he preached to have lasting effects. Alternate translation: “I did not want to work hard for God uselessly” or “I did not want my hard work to be wasted”
μή πως εἰς κενὸν
Paul feared that if he did not explain the gospel privately to the leaders, they could misunderstand the gospel, or others would misrepresent him. The double negative can be represented positively: “I was doing profitable work” (See: Double Negatives and Metaphor) Alternate translation: “for no benefit” or “for nothing”
Galatians 2:3
περιτμηθῆναι
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “to have someone circumcise him” (See: Active or Passive)
Galatians 2:4
τοὺς παρεισάκτους ψευδαδέλφους
Alternate translation: “People who pretended to be Christians came into the church,” or “People who said they were Christians but were not came into our group”
διὰ δὲ
But is was because of could be: (1) connected to v. 1, which gives the reason for why Paul explained the gospel privately to the leaders in Jerusalem (2) connected to v. 3, which explains why people wanted to circumcise Titus (3) unconnected and begins an unfinished sentence.
ἵνα ἡμᾶς καταδουλώσουσιν
Paul is speaking about how these people wanted to force the Galatian believers to follow the Jewish rituals that the law commanded. He is speaking about following the law as if it were slavery. Alternate translation: “to force us to obey the law”or “in order to make us slaves to the law” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Metaphor)
Galatians 2:5
εἴξαμεν τῇ ὑποταγῇ
Alternate translation: “submit,” or “listen,” or “accept what they were saying,” or “agreed with that they wanted to do”
Galatians 2:6
ἐμοὶ…οὐδὲν προσανέθεντο
Here, me represents what Paul was teaching. Alternate translation: “added nothing to what I teach” or “did not add anything to my message” (See: Metonymy)
Galatians 2:9
δοκοῦντες στῦλοι εἶναι
Here, pillars refers to men who were leaders of the believers in Jerusalem and taught people the word of God. Alternate translation: “who were like pillars of the church” or “who were recognized as important leaders” or “who were considered to have authority” (See: Metaphor)
γνόντες τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι
The abstract noun grace* refers to how God gave Paul the task to proclaim the gospel to the non-Jews. Alternate translation: “understood that God had been kind to me and gave me this work” or “understood the work God was kind to give me” (See: Abstract Nouns)
δεξιὰς ἔδωκαν…κοινωνίας
Here, gave the right hand of fellowship is an action that symbolizes a pledge of friendship or agreement. Alternate translation: “welcomed…as fellow workers” or “welcomed…with honor” or “shook hands...as a sign that they agreed with us” or “agreed that were partners in this work”(See: Symbolic Action)
Galatians 2:10
τῶν πτωχῶν…μνημονεύωμεν
You may need to make explicit how they were to remember the poor. Alternate translation: “remember to take care of the needs of the poor” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Galatians 2:11
κατὰ πρόσωπον αὐτῷ ἀντέστην
The phrase to his face is a metonym. Alternate translation: “I confronted him in person” or “I challenged his actions in person” or “I opposed him in front of everyone” (See: Metonymy)
Galatians 2:12
φοβούμενος τοὺς ἐκ περιτομῆς
The reason Peter was afraid can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: “He was afraid that these men who required circumcision would judge that he was doing something wrong” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
τοὺς ἐκ περιτομῆς
Here, those from the circumcision represents Jews who had become Christians, but who demanded that those who believe in Christ live according to Jewish customs like circumcision.
ἀφώριζεν ἑαυτόν
Alternate translation: “stayed away from” or “avoided”
Galatians 2:14
οὐκ ὀρθοποδοῦσιν πρὸς τὴν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου
Alternate translation: “they were not living like people who believe the true gospel” or “they were not obeying the true gospel”
πῶς τὰ ἔθνη ἀναγκάζεις Ἰουδαΐζειν
This rhetorical question is a rebuke and can be translated as a statement. The word you is singular and refers to Peter. Alternate translation: “you are wrong to force the Gentiles to live like Jews” (See: Rhetorical Question and Forms of You)
Galatians 2:15
οὐκ ἐξ ἐθνῶν ἁμαρτωλοί
The term sinners was used by Jews as a synonym for non-Jews. Alternate translation: “We are not Gentiles, those people who do not know God” or “We are not people who do not follow the law”
Galatians 2:16
εἰδότες
The word knowing could refer to: (1) Paul and others, but not the Galatians (exclusive), who were primarily Gentiles (2) Paul and includes the Galatians. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)
οὐ…σάρξ
The word flesh is a synecdoche for the whole person. Alternate translation: “no person” (See: Synecdoche)
Galatians 2:17
ζητοῦντες δικαιωθῆναι ἐν Χριστῷ
The phrase to be justified in Christ means justified because we are united with Christ and justified by means of what Christ has done.
εὑρέθημεν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἁμαρτωλοί
The phrase were also found to be sinner could mean: (1) they admit they are sinners (2) they are no longer following the law (3) others view them as sinners for not following the law or eating with non-Jews.
μὴ γένοιτο
Alternate translation: “Of course, that is not true!” or “no, never!” This expression gives the strongest possible negative answer to the preceding rhetorical question is Christ a minister of sin? (See: Rhetorical Question)
Galatians 2:18
παραβάτην ἐμαυτὸν συνιστάνω
I prove myself to be a transgressor could mean: (1) Paul sinned by trying to obey the law again (2) Paul sinned by leaving the law for a time when he believed in the Messiah (3) the law proves Paul is a sinner when he tries to follow it.
εἰ γὰρ ἃ κατέλυσα, ταῦτα πάλιν οἰκοδομῶ
For if I again rebuild those things which I destroyed is a metaphor for someone who returns to trying to obey the law after they trusted in the Messiah. He compares trying to follow the law with someone trying to build a building. He compares someone who trusts in the Messiah with someone who destroys the building they are trying to build. He compares someone who returns to trying to follow the law after trusting the Messiah with someone who wants to rebuild the building they destroyed. Alternate translation: “If I believe in Christ to be justified before God instead of following the law, and then I change my mind and start following the law again for justification.” (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 2:19
διὰ νόμου
The phrase through the law could refer to: (1) Paul’s experience in trying to obey the law (2) how Christ paid the requirements of the law. Alternate translation: “When the Messiah completed the law”
ἐγὼ...νόμῳ ἀπέθανον
The phrase, I...died to the law means that the law no longer has any power or authority over Paul. Alternate translation: “I am separated from the law”
Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι;
I have been crucified with Christ could mean (1) by the Messiah’s death, Paul was now separated from the law (2) Paul died spiritually and escaped the dominion of sin and the law.
Galatians 2:20
Υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ
This is an important title for Jesus. (See: Translating Son and Father)
Galatians 2:21
οὐκ ἀθετῶ
Paul states a negative to emphasize the positive. Paul is defending a charge others made against him. He does not reject God’s grace when he rejects following the law. This phrase can be translated positively. Alternate translation: “I confirm the value of” or “I do not reject God’s kindness” or “I do not ignore God’s kindness.” (See: Litotes)
εἰ…διὰ νόμου δικαιοσύνη, ἄρα Χριστὸς δωρεὰν ἀπέθανεν
Paul is describing a situation that never existed. (See: Hypothetical Situations)
εἰ…διὰ νόμου δικαιοσύνη
Alternate translation: “if people could become righteous by obeying the law” or “if it were possible for a person to become righteous in God’s sight by obeying the law”.
ἄρα Χριστὸς δωρεὰν ἀπέθανεν
Alternate translation: “then Christ would have accomplished nothing by dying” or “then it was pointless for Christ to die”
Galatians 3
Galatians 3 General Notes
Special concepts in this chapter
Equality in Christ
All Christians are equally united to Christ. Ancestry, gender, and status do not matter. All are equal with each other. All are equal in the eyes of God.
Important figures of speech in this chapter
Rhetorical Questions
Paul uses many different rhetorical questions in this chapter. He uses them to convince the Galatians of their sin. (See: Rhetorical Question and sin, sinful, sinner, sinning)
Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
Flesh
This is a complex issue. “Flesh” is possibly a metaphor for our sinful nature. Paul is not teaching that the physical part of man is sinful. “Flesh” is used in this chapter to contrast with that which is spiritual. (See: flesh)
“Those of faith are children of Abraham”
Scholars are divided on what this means. Some believe Christians inherit the promises that God gave to Abraham, so Christians replace the physical descendants of Israel. Others believe Christians spiritually follow Abraham, but they do not inherit the promises that God gave to Abraham. In light of Paul’s other teachings and the context here, Paul is probably writing about the Jewish and Gentile Christians sharing the same faith as Abraham did. (See: spirit, wind, breath and Metaphor)
Galatians 3:1
Paul is rebuking the Galatians by asking rhetorical questions.
τίς ὑμᾶς ἐβάσκανεν
Paul is using irony and a rhetorical question to say that the Galatians are acting as though someone has put a spell on them. He does not really believe that someone has put a spell on them. Alternate translation: “You behave as if someone has put a spell on you!” (See: Irony and Rhetorical Question)
ἀνόητοι
Alternate translation: “without understanding” or “stupid”
ὑμᾶς ἐβάσκανεν
Alternate translation: “done magic on you” or “done witchcraft on you”
οἷς κατ’ ὀφθαλμοὺς Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς προεγράφη ἐσταυρωμένος
This metaphor describes how the Galatian believers heard the gospel message preached so clearly that it was if Jesus was crucified before their own eyes. Alternate translation: “You yourselves heard the clear teaching about Jesus being crucified” (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 3:2
τοῦτο μόνον θέλω μαθεῖν ἀφ’ ὑμῶν
This continues the irony from verse 1. Paul knows the answers to the rhetorical questions he is about to ask. (See: Irony)
ἐξ ἔργων νόμου τὸ Πνεῦμα ἐλάβετε, ἢ ἐξ ἀκοῆς πίστεως
Alternate translation: “You received the Spirit, not by doing what the law says, but by believing what you heard.” (See: Rhetorical Question)
Galatians 3:3
οὕτως ἀνόητοί ἐστε
Alternate translation: “You are very foolish!” or “Don’t be so foolish!” or “are you crazy” (See: Rhetorical Question)
σαρκὶ
The word flesh is a metonym and refers to an independent reliance on one’s own effort through outward deeds . Alternate translation: “by your own effort” or “by your own work” (See: Metonymy)
Galatians 3:4
τοσαῦτα ἐπάθετε εἰκῇ
Paul uses this rhetorical question to remind the Galatians that when they were suffering, they believed that they would receive some benefit. Alternate translation: “Surely you did not think that you were suffering so many things for nothing…!” or “Surely you knew that there was some good purpose for suffering so many things…!” (See: Rhetorical Question)
ἐπάθετε
This could refer to: (1) suffering from persecution (2) the spiritual benefits they have experienced.
τοσαῦτα ἐπάθετε εἰκῇ
It can be stated clearly that they had suffered these things because of people who opposed them for their faith in Christ. Alternate translation: “Have you suffered so many things by those who opposed you for your faith in Christ for nothing” or “You believed in Christ, and you suffered many things by those who oppose Christ. Were your belief and suffering for nothing” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
εἰκῇ
Alternate translation: “uselessly” or “in vain”
εἴ γε καὶ εἰκῇ
This could mean: (1) Paul warns them not to let their experiences be for nothing. Alternate translation: “Do not let it be for nothing!” or “Do not stop believing in Jesus Christ and let your suffering be for nothing.” (2) their suffering was already in vain. (See: Rhetorical Question)
Galatians 3:5
ἐξ ἔργων νόμου ἢ ἐξ ἀκοῆς πίστεως
Paul asks another rhetorical question to remind the Galatians how people receive the Spirit. (See: Rhetorical Question)
ἐξ ἔργων νόμου
This represents people doing the works that the law requires. Alternate translation: “because you do what the law tells us to do”
ἐξ ἀκοῆς πίστεως
Your language may require that what the people heard and whom they trusted be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: “because you heard the message and had faith in Jesus” or “because you listened to the message and trusted in Jesus” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Galatians 3:6
Paul reminds the Galatian believers that even Abraham received righteousness by faith and not by the law.
ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην
God saw Abraham’s faith in God, so then God considered Abraham righteous.
Galatians 3:7
οἱ ἐκ πίστεως
Alternate translation: “those who believe” (See: Abstract Nouns)
οὗτοι υἱοί εἰσιν Ἀβραὰμ
Since Abraham was saved by faith, Abraham’s true children are those who are also saved by faith as he was.This phrase goes against the opponents who claimed that the Galatian believers mustbe circumcised and obey the law in order to be a genuine son of Abraham. (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 3:8
προϊδοῦσα δὲ ἡ Γραφὴ
Here, the scripture is a personification and is equivalent to saying “the Lord” or “God”. Alternate translation: “God predicted” or “the Lord saw ahead of time” (See: Personification)
ἐν σοὶ
The word you refers to Abraham and is singular. Alternate translation: “Because of you” or “Because of what you have done” or “Because I have blessed you.” (See: Forms of You)
πάντα τὰ ἔθνη
God was emphasizing that he was not favoring only the Jewish people, his chosen group. His plan of salvation was for both Jews and non-Jews.
Galatians 3:10
ὅσοι γὰρ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου
Alternate translation: “All people who follow the law” or “Everyone who tries to be justified through obeying the law”
ὅσοι γὰρ ἐξ ἔργων νόμου εἰσὶν ὑπὸ κατάραν εἰσίν
Here, under a curse represents being cursed by God. Here it refers to eternal punishment. Alternate translation: “are cursed” or “God will eternally punish” (See: Metaphor and Metonymy)
Galatians 3:11
δῆλον
Alternate translation: “it is obvious that” or “it is evident that”
ἐν νόμῳ, οὐδεὶς δικαιοῦται παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ
Alternate translation: “God justifies no one by the law”
ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται
The nominal adjective righteous” refers to people who righteous. Alternate translation: “Righteous people will live by faith” or “The person who is righteous because he believes will live” “It is through believing that a person becomes righteous and obtains eternal life” (See: Nominal Adjectives)
Galatians 3:12
ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς
Alternate translation: “will live because of them” or “will because he obeyed them”
Galatians 3:13
ἐκ τῆς κατάρας τοῦ νόμου
The word curse is a metonym for God condemning the person whom he has cursed. Alternate translation: “from God condemn us because we broke the law” or “from being cursed because of the law” or “from being cursed for not obeying the law” (See: Metonymy)
ὁ κρεμάμενος ἐπὶ ξύλου
Paul expected his audience to understand that he was referring to Jesus hanging on the cross.
Galatians 3:14
ἵνα…ἡ εὐλογία τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ γένηται
Alternate translation: “Because Christ became a curse for us, the blessing of Abraham will come”
λάβωμεν
The word we includes the people who would read the letter. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)
Galatians 3:15
ἀδελφοί
See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2.
κατὰ ἄνθρωπον
Alternate translation: “from a human standpoint” or “with a human analogy”
Galatians 3:16
δὲ
This word shows that Paul has stated a general principle and is now beginning to introduce a specific case.
ὡς ἐπὶ πολλῶν
Alternate translation: “referring to many descendants”
τῷ σπέρματί σου
The word your is singular and refers to a specific person who is a descendant of Abraham (and that descendant is identified as “Christ”). (See: Forms of You)
Galatians 3:17
ὁ μετὰ τετρακόσια καὶ τριάκοντα ἔτη
Alternate translation: “four hundred and thirty years” (See: Numbers)
Galatians 3:18
εἰ γὰρ ἐκ νόμου ἡ κληρονομία, οὐκέτι ἐξ ἐπαγγελίας
Paul is speaking of a situation that did not exist to emphasize that the inheritance came only by means of the promise. Alternate translation: “the inheritance comes to us by means of the promise, because we could not keep the demands of God’s law” (See: Hypothetical Situations)
κληρονομία
Receiving what God has promised believers is spoken of as if it were an inheritance of property. (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 3:19
τί οὖν ὁ νόμος
This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: “I will tell you what the purpose of the law is.” or “Let me tell you why God gave the law.” (See: Rhetorical Question)
προσετέθη
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “God added it” or “God added the law” (See: Active or Passive)
διαταγεὶς δι’ ἀγγέλων ἐν χειρὶ μεσίτου
God used angels to give the law to Moses. Moses is referred here as a mediator between God and the people of Israel. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “God issued the law with the help of angels, and a mediator put it into force” (See: Active or Passive)
χειρὶ μεσίτου
Alternate translation: “given through a middleman”
Galatians 3:20
ὁ δὲ μεσίτης ἑνὸς οὐκ ἔστιν, ὁ δὲ Θεὸς εἷς ἐστιν
God gave his promise to Abraham without a mediator, but he gave the law to Moses, who was a mediator between God and the people of Israel.
Galatians 3:21
The word us in this section is inclusive and refers to all Christians. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)
κατὰ τῶν ἐπαγγελιῶν
Alternate translation: “opposed to the promises” or “in conflict with the promises”
ἐν νόμου ἂν ἦν ἡ δικαιοσύνη
Alternate translation: “we could have become righteous by obeying that law”
Galatians 3:22
ἡ Γραφὴ
This could refer to: (1) a particular passage of Scripture (2) all of scripture (3) a metonymy for God himself. (See: Personification and Metonymy)
Galatians 3:23
ὑπὸ νόμον ἐφρουρούμεθα, συνκλειόμενοι
The way the law controlled us is spoken of as if the law were a prison guard holding us as captives. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the law held us captive in prison” (See: Active or Passive and Metaphor)
εἰς τὴν μέλλουσαν πίστιν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “until God would reveal that he justifies those who have faith in Christ” or “until God would reveal that he justifies those who trust in Christ” (See: Active or Passive and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Galatians 3:24
παιδαγωγὸς
A guardian was usually a slave who was responsible for enforcing rules and behaviors given by the parent and would report to the parent on the child’s actions. (See: Personification)
ἵνα…δικαιωθῶμεν
Before Christ came, God had planned to justify us. When Christ came, he carried out his plan to justify us. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “so that God would declare us to be righteous” (See: Active or Passive)
Galatians 3:27
ὅσοι γὰρ εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε
Alternate translation: “For all of you who were baptized into Christ”
Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσασθε
This is a metaphor that means they have been united to Christ and have put on his character of righteousness and virtue. (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 3:29
κληρονόμοι
The people to whom God has made promises are spoken of as if they were to inherit property and wealth from a family member. (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 4
Galatians 4 General Notes
Structure and formatting
Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with verse 27, which is quoted from the Old Testament.
Special concepts in this chapter
Sonship
Sonship is a complex issue. Scholars have many views on Israel’s sonship. Paul uses sonship to teach how being under the law differs from being free in Christ. Not all of Abraham’s physical descendants inherited God’s promises to him. Only his descendants through Isaac and Jacob inherited the promises. And God only adopts into his family those who follow Abraham spiritually through faith. They are children of God with an inheritance. Paul calls them “children of promise.” (See: inherit, inheritance, heir, promise, promised, spirit, wind, breath and faith and adoption, adopt, adopted)
Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
Abba, Father
“Abba” is an Aramaic word. In ancient Israel, people used it to informally refer to their fathers. Paul “transliterates” its sounds by writing them with Greek letters. (See: Copy or Borrow Words)
Galatians 4:1
Paul continues to remind the Galatian believers that Christ came to redeem those who were under the law, and that he rescued them from their enslavement to the law and to sin and has made them God’s children.
Galatians 4:2
ἐπιτρόπους
The word guardians refers to people with legal responsibility for the personal life of a child. Alternate translation: “people supervise the child”.
οἰκονόμους
The word stewards refers to people who watch over the property and finances of the child. Alternate translation: “people manage the child’s possessions”.
Galatians 4:3
ἦμεν
The word we here refers to all Christians, including Paul’s readers. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)
ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι
Here children is a metaphor for the time before someone trusts in the Messiah. (See: Metaphor)
τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου
This could refer to: (1) the laws, knowledge, or moral principles of the world (2) the spiritual beings, which some people thought control what happens on earth (3) the Jewish religion.
ἤμεθα δεδουλωμένοι
Here, we were being enslaved is a metaphor for being unable to stop one’s self from doing something. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the spirits that ruled the world had made us their slaves,” or “the spirits that ruled the world had caused us to serve them like slaves.” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)
Galatians 4:4
τὸν Υἱὸν
This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God. (See: Translating Son and Father)
τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου
Here, the fullness of time shows that God was working his purposes throughout history. It emphasizes a time designated by God to deliver people from their helplessness and enslavement to the Law and to those forces that are opposed to God. Alternate translation: “at the proper time” or “at the designated time”
Galatians 4:5
ἐξαγοράσῃ
Paul uses the metaphor of a person buying back lost property or buying the freedom of a slave as a picture of Jesus paying for his people’s sins by dying on the cross. (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 4:6
ἐστε υἱοί
Paul uses the word for male child here because the subject is inheritance. In his culture and that of his readers, inheritance passed most commonly, but not always, to male children. He was neither specifying nor excluding female children here.
τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ
This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God. (See: Translating Son and Father) The Holy Spirit is intimately linked to God’s Son. The Spirit was the promise of the Son (Jn. 14) as well as of the Father. It is by the Spirit that Christ lives in our hearts.
εἰς τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν
The heart is metonym for the center and source of the whole inner life of a person. It is the source of thinking, feeling, and volition. Alternate translation: “to live in us” (See: Metonymy)
κρᾶζον
The Spirit is the subject of the one “crying out.” Yet this also expresses the believer’s attitude as well. it is important to avoid translating this verb in a way that would suggest either shouting or weeping.
Ἀββά, ὁ Πατήρ
By calling out Abba, Father the Spirit assures us that we are God’s children and he loves us. Abba is an Aramaic word that was used by a child to address their father.
Galatians 4:7
υἱός
Paul uses son here because the subject is inheritance. In his culture and that of his readers, inheritance passed most commonly, but not always, to male children. He was neither specifying nor excluding female children here.
εἶ
Paul is addressing his readers as though they are one person, so you here is singular. (See: Forms of You)
κληρονόμος
The word heir refers to how believers inherit the promises God made to Abraham like a person inherits property and wealth from a family member. (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 4:8
Paul reminds the Galatian believers that they are again trying to live under God’s laws rather than living by faith.
τοῖς φύσει μὴ οὖσι θεοῖς
The phrase, those, by nature, not being gods refers to the beings which the Galatians served when they were pagans and were considered by them to be gods, but they were not really gods
Galatians 4:9
ἐπιστρέφετε πάλιν
Here, turning again is a metaphor for starting to follow and obey their former false religion practices. This is the first of two rhetorical questions Paul gives. Alternate translation: “you should not start obeying again.” or “you should not follow again.” (See: Metaphor and Rhetorical Question)
τὰ ἀσθενῆ καὶ πτωχὰ στοιχεῖα
See how you translated this phrase in Galatians 4:3.
οἷς πάλιν ἄνωθεν δουλεύειν θέλετε
Paul uses this rhetorical question to rebuke the Galatian believers for behaving in a way that would make them like slaves. (See: Rhetorical Question)
οἷς πάλιν ἄνωθεν δουλεύειν θέλετε
Here, to be enslaved again is a metaphor for being obligated to obey certain rules or customs. Alternate translation: “Do you want to have to obey rules again like a slave must obey his master?” or “It seems that you want to be controlled by these rules all over again!” (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 4:10
ἡμέρας παρατηρεῖσθε, καὶ μῆνας, καὶ καιροὺς, καὶ ἐνιαυτούς
Paul is speaking of their being careful to celebrate certain times, thinking that doing that will make them right with God. Alternate translation: “You carefully celebrate days and new moons and seasons and years”
Galatians 4:11
εἰκῇ
Alternate translation: “may have been useless” or “has not had any effect”
Galatians 4:12
Paul reminds the Galatian believers how kindly they treated him when he was with them, and he encourages them to continue to trust him while he is not there with them.
ἀδελφοί
See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2 and Galatians 3:15.
οὐδέν με ἠδικήσατε
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: “You treated me well” or “You treated me as you should have”
Galatians 4:14
καὶ τὸν πειρασμὸν ὑμῶν ἐν τῇ σαρκί μου
This could mean: (1) they endured the difficulty of welcoming Paul when he was sick (2) they resisted the temptation to reject Paul when he was sick.
οὐκ ἐξουθενήσατε
Alternate translation: “you did not scorn” or “you did not hate”
Galatians 4:17
ἀλλὰ ἐκκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς
Alternate translation: “to shut you out from us” or “to make you stop being loyal to us”
αὐτοὺς ζηλοῦτε
Alternate translation: “you would be devoted to them” or “you would be attached to them”.
Galatians 4:19
τέκνα μου
This is a metaphor and points to the fact that it was through Paul that the Galatians had become Christians. Alternate translation: “You who are disciples because of me” (See: Metaphor)
οὓς…ὠδίνω, μέχρις οὗ μορφωθῇ Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν
Paul uses childbirth as a metaphor for his concern about the Galatians. Alternate translation: “I am in pain as though I were a woman giving birth to you, and I will continue to be in pain until Christ truly controls you” (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 4:21
λέγετέ μοι
Alternate translation: “I want to ask a question” or “I want to tell you something”.
τὸν νόμον οὐκ ἀκούετε
Paul is introducing what he will say next. Alternate translation: “you need to learn what the law really says.” or “let me tell you what the law really says.” (See: Rhetorical Question)
Galatians 4:24
ἀλληγορούμενα
An allegory is a historical event that represents something else. In Paul’s allegory, the two women referred to in Galatians 4:22 represent two different covenants.
Ὄρους Σινά
Mount Sinai is a synecdoche for the law that Moses gave to the Israelites there. Alternate translation: “Mount Sinai, where Moses gave the law to Israel” (See: Synecdoche)
δουλείαν γεννῶσα
Paul treats the law as if it were a person. Alternate translation: “The people under this covenant are like slaves who have to obey the law” (See: Metaphor and Personification)
Galatians 4:25
συνστοιχεῖ
Alternate translation: “represents” or “is similar”.
δουλεύει…μετὰ τῶν τέκνων αὐτῆς
Hagar is a slave and her children are slaves with her. Alternate translation: “Jerusalem, like Hagar, is a slave, and her children are slaves with her” (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 4:27
εὐφράνθητι
Alternate translation: “Be happy”.
Galatians 4:28
ἀδελφοί
See how you translated this word in Galatians 1:2.
ἐπαγγελίας τέκνα
Here, children of promise could refer to: (1) Abraham’s children (2) God’s children.
Galatians 4:29
κατὰ σάρκα
This refers to how Abraham became Ishmael’s father by taking Hagar as a wife. Alternate translation: “by means of human action” or “the natural way” (See: Metaphor)
κατὰ Πνεῦμα
Here, according to Spirit means Isaac was born in a supernatural way, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: “because of the Spirit” or “because of the work of the Spirit”
Galatians 4:31
ἀδελφοί
See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2.
Galatians 5
Galatians 5 General Notes
Structure and formatting
Paul continues writing about the law of Moses as something that traps or enslaves a person. (See: law, law of Moses, law of Yahweh, law of God)
Special concepts in this chapter
Fruit of the Spirit
The phrase “the fruit of the Spirit” is not plural, even though it begins a list of several things. Translators should keep the singular form if possible. (See: fruit, fruitful, unfruitful)
Important figures of speech in this chapter
Illustrations
Paul uses several metaphors in this chapter to illustrate his points and help explain complicated issues. (See: Metaphor)
Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
“You are cut off from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you no longer experience grace.”
Some scholars think Paul teaches that being circumcised causes a person to lose their salvation. Other scholars think Paul means that obeying the law to try to get right with God will keep a person from being saved by grace. (See: grace, gracious)
Galatians 5:1
Paul applies the allegory of the two women to remind believers that the are free from having to obey the law.
τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ, ἡμᾶς Χριστὸς ἠλευθέρωσεν
For freedom Christ set us free implies that Christ sets believers free from the law and that they are not obligated to obey it. Alternate translation: “Christ has set us free from the old covenant so that we might be free” or “Christ has set us free from the law so that we might live as free people” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Metaphor)
στήκετε
Stand firm figuratively refers to staying strongly resolute for a certain task. Here, it is implied that the Galatian believers are continue to be determined to live a life free from the law. Alternate translation: “Do not give in to the arguments of people who teach something else” or “Be determined to stay free” (See: Metaphor and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
μὴ πάλιν ζυγῷ δουλείας ἐνέχεσθε
Here, do not again be subjected to a yoke of slavery figuratively refers to being obligated to obey the law. Alternate translation: “do not live like one who is controlled like being under a yoke of slavery to the law” or “do not go back again to being a slave of the law” (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 5:2
ἐὰν περιτέμνησθε
Alternate translation: “if you let someone circumcise you” or “if you receive circumcision”
Χριστὸς ὑμᾶς οὐδὲν ὠφελήσει.
Paul means that if a person is circumcised in order to receive salvation, then all that Christ has done for them is for nothing. No one can be justified by faith in Christ and at the same time by their own efforts.
Galatians 5:3
μαρτύρομαι δὲ
Alternate translation: “I declare” or “I serve as a witness” or “I tell you” or “I warn you”
Galatians 5:4
κατηργήθητε ἀπὸ Χριστοῦ
Here cut off is a metaphor for separation from Christ. Alternate translation: “You have ended your relationship with Christ” or “You are no longer united with Christ” (See: Metaphor)
οἵτινες ἐν νόμῳ δικαιοῦσθε
The phrase being justified by the law describes the attempt or pursuit to be justified by the law. Alternate translation: “all of you who think you can be justified by doing the deeds required by the law” or “you who want to be justified by the law”
τῆς χάριτος ἐξεπέσατε
Alternate translation: “you have turned your back on the grace of God” or “God will not be gracious to you” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Galatians 5:5
Here, we refers to Paul and those who do not trust in the law, but in the Messiah. And exclusive form of “we” fits the context better in this case. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)
Πνεύματι
Alternate translation: “by the power of the Spirit” or “by the help of the Spirit”
ἡμεῖς…ἐκ πίστεως ἐλπίδα δικαιοσύνης ἀπεκδεχόμεθα
This could mean: (1) “we are waiting by faith for the hope of righteousness” (2) “we are waiting for the hope of righteousness that comes by faith”
Galatians 5:6
οὔτε περιτομή…οὔτε ἀκροβυστία
The words circumcision and uncircumcision refer to being a Jew or a non-Jew. Alternate translation: “neither being a Jew nor not being a Jew” (See: Metonymy)
τι ἰσχύει
Alternate translation: “makes no difference” or “is meaningless”
Galatians 5:7
ἐτρέχετε
Paul uses the metaphor of running to describe the spiritual progress the Galatian believers were making. Alternate translation: “You were making excellent progress” or “you were doing so well” (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 5:8
πεισμονὴ
Here, persuasion refers to the idea of getting a person to change what they believe and act differently. Alternate translation: “This teaching which persuaded you to stop trusting in the Messiah” or “This way of thinking”
Galatians 5:9
μικρὰ ζύμη
A little leaven describes the teaching of circumcision, which threaten to ruin the entire lives of the Galatian believers.
Galatians 5:10
οὐδὲν ἄλλο φρονήσετε
Alternate translation: “you will not believe anything different from what I am telling you” or “you will not think differently than what I believe”
ταράσσων ὑμᾶς
Alternate translation: “is causing you to be uncertain about the truth” or “stirs up trouble among you”
ὅστις ἐὰν ᾖ
This could mean: (1) Paul does not know the names of the people who are telling the Galatians that they need to obey the law of Moses (2) Paul does not want the Galatians to care about whether they are important or influential.
Galatians 5:11
ἐγὼ δέ, ἀδελφοί, εἰ περιτομὴν ἔτι κηρύσσω, τί ἔτι διώκομαι
Paul is describing a situation that does not exist to emphasize the fact that people are persecuting him. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. (See: Rhetorical Question and Hypothetical Situations)
ἀδελφοί
See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2, Galatians 3:15, Galatians 4:12.
κατήργηται τὸ σκάνδαλον τοῦ σταυροῦ
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the teaching about the cross has no stumbling block” or “there is nothing in the teaching of the cross that would cause people to stumble” (See: Active or Passive)
κατήργηται τὸ σκάνδαλον τοῦ σταυροῦ
Stumbling represents sinning, and a stumbling block represents something that causes people to sin. In this case the sin is to reject the truth of the teaching that in order to be made right with God, people only need to believe that Jesus died on the cross for us. Alternate translation: “the teaching about the cross that causes people to reject the truth has been removed” or “there is nothing in the teaching about Jesus dying on the cross that would lead people to reject the teaching” (See: Metaphor and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Galatians 5:12
ἀποκόψονται
This could be: (1) literal, to cut off their male organs so as to become eunuchs (2) metaphorical, completely withdraw from the Christian community. (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 5:13
γὰρ
Paul is giving the reason for his words in Galatians 5:12.
ὑμεῖς…ἐπ’ ἐλευθερίᾳ ἐκλήθητε
It is implied that Christ has set believers free from the old covenant. Here freedom from the old covenant is a metaphor for not being obligated to obey it. Alternate translation: “You were called to freedom from the old covenant” or “Christ has chosen you to not be obligated to the old covenant” (See: Metaphor)
ἀδελφοί
See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2.
ἀφορμὴν τῇ σαρκί
The word flesh* refers to the part of human nature that does not submit to God. This word sums up the impelling motive of the natural man, and is the moral bias of the man who is not ruled by the Holy Spirit. The relationship between opportunity and the flesh can be stated more clearly. Alternate translation: “an opportunity for you to behave according to your sinful nature” or “an opportunity to follow the evil desires of your hearts” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Galatians 5:14
ὁ…πᾶς νόμος ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ πεπλήρωται
This could mean: (1) “you can state the whole law in just one commandment” (2) “by obeying one commandment, you obey all the commandments”
ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν
The words your and yourself are singular. (See: Forms of ‘You’ — Singular)
Galatians 5:16
Πνεύματι περιπατεῖτε
Here, walk is a metaphor for living. Alternate translation: “conduct your life in the power of the Holy Spirit” or “live your life in dependence on the Spirit” (See: Metaphor)
ἐπιθυμίαν σαρκὸς οὐ μὴ τελέσητε
The phrase you would certainly not fulfill the desires of the flesh” is an idiom that means “to do what someone desires.” Alternate translation: “You will not do what your sinful nature desires” (See: Idiom)
ἐπιθυμίαν σαρκὸς
The sinful nature is spoken of as if it were a person and wanted to sin. Alternate translation: “what you want to do because of your sinful nature” or “the things you want to do because you are sinful” (See: Personification). See how you translated this flesh in [Galatians 5:13].
Galatians 5:18
οὐκ ἐστὲ ὑπὸ νόμον
Alternate translation: “you are not obligated to obey the law of Moses”
Galatians 5:19
τὰ ἔργα τῆς σαρκός
The word flesh is used as if it were a person. The abstract noun works can be translated with the verb “does.” Alternate translation: “what the sinful nature does” or “the deeds if we follow the sinful desires of our hearts” or “what people do because of their sinful nature.” See how you translated flesh in [Galatians 5:13] and [Galatians 5:16].
Galatians 5:21
κληρονομήσουσιν
The word inherit figuratively refers to how believers will receive what God has promised believers like someone who inherits property and wealth from a family member. (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 5:22
ὁ δὲ καρπὸς τοῦ Πνεύματός
Here, fruit is a metaphor for “result” or “outcome.” Alternate translation: “But what the Spirit produces” or “But the Spirit makes” (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 5:24
τὴν σάρκα ἐσταύρωσαν σὺν τοῖς παθήμασιν καὶ ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις
Paul speaks of Christians who refuse to live according to their sinful nature as if it were a person and they have killed it on a cross. Alternate translation: “refuse to live according the sinful nature with its passions and desires, as if they killed it on a cross.” See how you translated flesh in [Galatians 5:13], [Galatians 5:16], and [Galatians 5:19]. (See: Personification and Metaphor)
Galatians 5:25
εἰ ζῶμεν Πνεύματι
Alternate translation: “Since God’s Spirit has caused us to be alive”
Πνεύματι καὶ στοιχῶμεν
Here, walk is a metaphor for how a person lives. Alternate translation: “then we should allow the Holy Spirit to guide how we live” or “let us follow the Holy Spirit in every part of our lives” (See: Metaphor)
Galatians 6
Galatians 6 General Notes
Structure and formatting
This chapter concludes Paul’s letter. His final words address some issues that do not seem to be connected to the rest of his letter.
Brothers
Paul writes the words in this chapter to Christians. He calls them “brothers.” This refers to Paul’s Christian brothers and not his Jewish brothers.
Special concepts in this chapter
New Creation
People who are born again are a new creation in Christ. Christians have been given new life in Christ. They have a new nature in them after they come to faith in Christ. To Paul, this is more significant than a person’s ancestry. (See: born again, born of God, new birth and faith)
Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
Flesh
This is a complex issue. “Flesh” is contrasted with “spirit.” In this chapter, flesh is also used to refer to the physical body. (See: flesh and sin, sinful, sinner, sinning and spirit, wind, breath)
Galatians 6:1
Paul teaches believers how they should treat other believers and how God rewards someone who is faithful.
ἀδελφοί
See how you translated brothers in Galatians 1:2, Galatians 3:15, Galatians 4:12, and Galatians 5:11.
ἐὰν…ἄνθρωπος
Alternate translation: “if anyone among you” or “if one of you”
ἐὰν καὶ προλημφθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἔν τινι παραπτώματι
This could mean: (1) a fellow believers catches the person committing a sin. Alternate translation: “if someone is discovered in an act of sin” (2) a sin overcomes a person so that they sin. Alternate translation: “if someone among you sins” or “if someone is led astray to sin”
ὑμεῖς, οἱ πνευματικοὶ
Alternate translation: “those of you who are guided by the Spirit” or “you who submit to the Spirit”
καταρτίζετε τὸν τοιοῦτον
Alternate translation: “exhort the person who sinned to return to a correct relationship with God” or “you should humbly help bring that person to the right path”
ἐν πνεύματι πραΰτητος
This could refer to: (1) the person’s attitude and disposition. Alternate translation: “with an attitude of gentleness” or “in a kind way” (2) the Holy Spirit who is characterized by gentleness is directing the one offering correction. Alternate translation: “through the Holy Spirit of gentleness” or “by following the Holy Spirit who is gentle”
σκοπῶν σεαυτόν
These words treat the Galatians as though they are all one person to emphasize that he is talking to each of them. Alternate translation: “Be concerned about yourselves” or “I say to each one of you, ‘Be careful for yourself’” (See: Forms of ‘You’ — Singular)
μὴ καὶ σὺ πειρασθῇς
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “so that you are tempted and also sin” (See: Active or Passive)
Galatians 6:2
ἀναπληρώσετε τὸν νόμον τοῦ Χριστοῦ
Here, the law of Christ does not refer to a set of rules, but most likely to the Messiah’s command to love one another in John 13:34. It involves submission to the person of Jesus and not to a code or list of commandments. This is similar to Paul’s statement that the law can be summarized by loving one another in [Galatians 5:14].
Galatians 6:3
εἰ γὰρ
For could be connected to: (1) carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) (2) lest you also might be tempted (Galatians 6:1) (3) Let us not become conceited* (Galatians 5:26).
εἶναί τι
Alternate translation: “he is better than others”
μηδὲν ὤν
Alternate translation: “he is not better than others”
Galatians 6:5
τὸ ἴδιον φορτίον βαστάσει
The could mean: (1) each person has their own responsibilities and tasks. Alternate translation: “each person must do the work that God has given him” or “each person is responsible for only his work” (2) each person is responsible for their own weaknesses and sins. Alternate translation: “each person is responsible for their own weaknesses”
Galatians 6:7
ὃ γὰρ ἐὰν σπείρῃ ἄνθρωπος, τοῦτο καὶ θερίσει
Here, sow represents doing things that end in some kind of result, and reap represents experiencing the results of what one has done. Alternate translation: “for just as a farmer gathers in the fruit of whatever kind of seeds he plants, so everyone experiences the results of whatever he does” (See: Metaphor)
ὃ γὰρ ἐὰν σπείρῃ ἄνθρωπος
Alternate translation: “whatever a person plants” or “whatever someone plants” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)
Galatians 6:8
ὁ σπείρων εἰς τὴν σάρκα ἑαυτοῦ
Here, sowing is a metaphor for doing deeds that will have consequences later. In this case, sowing to his own flesh refers to a person doing sinful actions because of his sinful nature. Alternate translation: “the person who continually does deeds following the evil desires of their heart” or “the person who does the things he wants to do because of his sinful nature” or “the person who does what pleases his sinful self” (See: Metaphor)
θερίσει φθοράν
Here, destruction refers to God punishing the person as if the person were harvesting a crop. Alternate translation: “will receive punishment for what he did” or “he will harvest death” or “he will harvest punishment that is forever” (See: Metaphor)
ὁ δὲ σπείρων εἰς τὸ Πνεῦμα
Here, sowing is a metaphor for doing deeds that will have consequences later. In this case, sowing to the Spirit refers to a person who does good actions because he is obeying and following God’s Spirit. Alternate translation: “the person who does the things God’s Spirit loves” or “the person who lives to please the Spirit” (See: Metaphor)
ἐκ τοῦ Πνεύματος θερίσει ζωὴν αἰώνιον
Here, eternal life refers to God rewarding the person as if the person were harvesting a crop. Alternate translation: “will receive eternal life as a reward from God’s Spirit” or “he will harvest eternal life from the Holy Spirit”
Galatians 6:9
καιρῷ γὰρ ἰδίῳ
Alternate translation: “for at the proper time” or “when the right time arrives”
Galatians 6:10
ἄρα οὖν
Alternate translation: “As a result of this” or “Because of this”
τοὺς οἰκείους τῆς πίστεως
Alternate translation: “those who are members of God’s family through faith in Christ”
Galatians 6:11
As Paul closes this letter, he gives one more reminder that the law does not save and that they should remember the cross of Christ.
τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί
This could mean: (1) Paul had someone write most of this letter as Paul told him what to write, but Paul himself wrote this last part of the letter (2) Paul wrote the whole letter himself.
Galatians 6:12
εὐπροσωπῆσαι ἐν σαρκί
Alternate translation: “others will think well of them” or “others will think that they are good people”
ἐν σαρκί
Here, in the flesh refers to their desire to circumcise the Galatian believers. Alternate translation: “outwardly” or “by the way their bodies appear”
τῷ σταυρῷ
Here, for the cross represents what Christ did for us when he died on the cross. Alternate translation: “the work Jesus did on the cross” (See: Metonymy)
Galatians 6:14
κἀγὼ κόσμῳ
The words has been crucified are understood from the previous phrase. This means that the natural world has stopped having any claims or influence on Paul. Alternate translation: “and I have been crucified to the world” (See: Ellipsis)
Galatians 6:15
καινὴ κτίσις
Here, a new creation refers to the whole process of conversion when someone trusts in the Messiah and the Holy Spirit gives that person new life.
Galatians 6:16
τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ Θεοῦ
This could refer to: (1) believers in general are the Israel of God (2) Jewish believers are the Israel of God (3) the Jews in general are the Israel of God
Galatians 6:17
κόπους μοι
This means Paul does not want the Galatian believers to doubt his authority or continue to cause him trouble by following teachers who demand them to become circumcised.
ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγματα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου βαστάζω
Here, the marks were scars from people who beat and whipped Paul because they did not like him teaching about Jesus. Alternate translation: “for the scars on my body show that I serve Jesus”
Galatians 6:18
ἀδελφοί
See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2.