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Galatians

Galatians front

Introduction to Galatians

Part 1: General Introduction

Outline of the Book of Galatians
  1. 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).
  2. Paul says that people are saved by trusting in Christ alone, not by keeping the law (1:11-2:21).
  3. 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).
  4. 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).
  5. 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 01 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

Paul, an apostle, writes this letter to the churches in the area of Galatia. Unless noted otherwise, all instances of “you” and “your” in this letter refer to the Galatians and are plural. (See: Forms of You)

τοῦ ἐγείραντος αὐτὸν

“who caused him to live again”

Galatians 1:2

ἀδελφοί

Here this 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

“Sins” is a metonym the punishment for sin. Alternate translation: “to take the punishment we deserved because of our sins” (See: Metonymy)

ὅπως ἐξέληται ἡμᾶς ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος τοῦ ἐνεστῶτος πονηροῦ

Here “this…age” represents the powers at work in the age. Alternate translation: “that he might bring us to a place of safety from the evil powers at work in the world today” (See: Metonymy)

τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Πατρὸς ἡμῶν

This refers to “God our Father.” He is our God and our Father.

Galatians 1:6

Paul gives his reason for writing this letter: he reminds them to continue to understand the gospel.

θαυμάζω

“I am surprised” or “I am shocked.” Paul was disappointed that they were doing this.

οὕτως ταχέως, μετατίθεσθε ἀπὸ τοῦ καλέσαντος

Here “turning away…from him” is a metaphor for started to doubt or no longer trust God. Alternate translation: “you are so quickly starting to doubt him” (See: Metaphor)

τοῦ καλέσαντος ὑμᾶς

“God, who called you”

τοῦ καλέσαντος

Here this means God has appointed or chosen people to be his children, to serve him, and to proclaim his message of salvation through Jesus.

ἐν χάριτι Χριστοῦ

“because of Christ’s grace” or “because of Christ’s gracious sacrifice”

μετατίθεσθε…εἰς ἕτερον εὐαγγέλιον

Here “turning to” is a metaphor that means to start to believe something. Alternate translation: “you are instead starting to believe a different gospel” (See: Metaphor)

Galatians 1:7

οἱ ταράσσοντες

“some people”

Galatians 1:8

εὐαγγελίζηται

This is describing something that has not happened and should not happen. Alternate translation: “would proclaim” or “were to proclaim” (See: Hypothetical Situations)

παρ’ ὃ εὐηγγελισάμεθα

“different from the gospel” or “different from the message”

ἀνάθεμα ἔστω

“God should punish that person forever.” 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

Both the “if” phrase and the “then” phrase are contrary to fact. “I am not still trying to please men; I am a servant of Christ” or “If I were still trying to please men, then I would not be a servant of Christ”

Galatians 1:11

Paul explains that he did not learn the gospel from others; he learned it from Jesus Christ.

ἀδελφοί

See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2.

ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κατὰ ἄνθρωπον

By using this phrase, Paul was not trying to say that Jesus Christ is not himself human. Because Christ is both man and God, however, he is not a sinful human being. Paul is writing about where the gospel came from; that it did not come from other sinful human beings, but it came from Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:12

δι’ ἀποκαλύψεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

Possible meanings are (1) “Jesus Christ himself revealed the gospel to me” or (2) “God made me know the gospel when he showed me who Jesus Christ was.”

Galatians 1:13

ἀναστροφήν ποτε

“behavior at one time” or “prior life” or “earlier life”

Galatians 1:14

καὶ προέκοπτον

This metaphor pictures Paul as being ahead of other Jews his age in their goal to be perfect Jews.

συνηλικιώτας

“the Jewish people who are the same age as I am”

τῶν πατρικῶν μου

“my ancestors”

Galatians 1:15

καλέσας διὰ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ

Possible meanings are (1) “God called me to serve him because he is gracious” or (2) “He called me by means of his grace.”

Galatians 1:16

ἀποκαλύψαι τὸν Υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ

Possible meanings are (1) “to allow me to know his Son” or (2) “to show the world through me that Jesus is God’s Son.”

τὸν Υἱὸν

This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

εὐαγγελίζωμαι αὐτὸν

“proclaim that he is God’s Son” or “preach the good news about God’s Son”

προσανεθέμην σαρκὶ καὶ αἵματι

This is an expression that means talking with other people. Alternate translation: “ask people to help me understand the message” (See: Idiom)

Galatians 1:17

ἀνῆλθον εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα

“go to Jerusalem.” 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 “going up to Jerusalem.”

Galatians 1:19

ἕτερον…τῶν ἀποστόλων οὐκ εἶδον, εἰ μὴ Ἰάκωβον

This double negative emphasizes that James was the only apostle whom Paul saw. Alternate translation: “the only other apostle I saw was James” (See: Double Negatives)

Galatians 1:20

ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ

Paul wants the Galatians to understand that Paul is completely serious and that he knows that God hears what he says and will judge him if he does not tell the truth.

ἃ δὲ γράφω ὑμῖν, ἰδοὺ, ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ ὅτι οὐ ψεύδομαι

Paul uses litotes to emphasize 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 1:21

κλίματα τῆς Συρίας

“part of the world called”

Galatians 1:22

ἤμην δὲ ἀγνοούμενος τῷ προσώπῳ ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῆς Ἰουδαίας, ταῖς ἐν Χριστῷ

“None of the people in the churches of Judea that are in Christ had ever met me”

Galatians 1:23

μόνον δὲ ἀκούοντες ἦσαν

“but they only knew what they heard others saying about me”

Galatians 2

Galatians 02 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

“traveled.” 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

“the most important leaders among the believers”

μή πως εἰς κενὸν τρέχω ἢ ἔδραμον

Paul uses running as a metaphor for work, and he uses a double negative to emphasize that the work he had done was profitable. Alternate translation: “I was doing, or had done, profitable work” (See: Double Negatives and Metaphor)

εἰς κενὸν

“for no benefit” or “for nothing”

Galatians 2:3

περιτμηθῆναι

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “to have someone circumcise him” (See: Active or Passive)

Galatians 2:4

τοὺς παρεισάκτους ψευδαδέλφους

“People who pretended to be Christians came into the church,” or “People who pretended to be Christians came among us”

κατασκοπῆσαι τὴν ἐλευθερίαν ἡμῶν

secretly watch people to see how they live in liberty

τὴν ἐλευθερίαν

freedom

ἵνα ἡμᾶς καταδουλώσουσιν

“to make us slaves to the law.” Paul is speaking about being forced to follow the Jewish rituals that the law commanded. He is speaking about this as if it were slavery. The most important ritual was circumcision. Alternate translation: “to force us to obey the law” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Metaphor)

Galatians 2:5

εἴξαμεν τῇ ὑποταγῇ

“submit” or “listen”

Galatians 2:6

ἐμοὶ…οὐδὲν προσανέθεντο

The word “me” here represents what Paul was teaching. Alternate translation: “added nothing to what I teach” or “did not tell me to add anything to what I teach” (See: Metonymy)

Galatians 2:7

ἀλλὰ τοὐναντίον

“Instead” or “Rather”

πεπίστευμαι

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “God trusted me” (See: Active or Passive)

Galatians 2:9

δοκοῦντες στῦλοι εἶναι

They were men who taught people about Jesus and convinced people to believe in Jesus. (See: Metaphor)

γνόντες τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι

The abstract noun “grace” can be translated as the verb “be kind.” Alternate translation: “understood that God had been kind to me” (See: Abstract Nouns)

τὴν χάριν τὴν δοθεῖσάν μοι

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “the grace that God had given to me” (See: Active or Passive)

δεξιὰς ἔδωκαν…κοινωνίας

Grasping and shaking the right hand was a symbol of fellowship. Alternate translation: “welcomed…as fellow workers” or “welcomed…with honor” (See: Symbolic Action)

δεξιὰς

“their right hands”

Galatians 2:10

τῶν πτωχῶν…μνημονεύωμεν

You may need to make explicit what about the poor he was to remember. 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 words “to his face” are a metonym for “where he could see and hear me.” Alternate translation: “I confronted him in person” or “I challenged his actions in person” (See: Metonymy)

Galatians 2:12

πρὸ

in relation to time

ὑπέστελλεν

“he stopped eating with them”

φοβούμενος τοὺς ἐκ περιτομῆς

The reason Cephas 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” or “He was afraid that these men who required circumcision would blame him for doing something wrong” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τοὺς ἐκ περιτομῆς

Jews who had become Christians, but who demanded that those who believe in Christ live according to Jewish customs

ἀφώριζεν ἑαυτόν

“stayed away from” or “avoided”

Galatians 2:14

οὐκ ὀρθοποδοῦσιν πρὸς τὴν ἀλήθειαν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου

“they were not living like people who believe the gospel” or “they were living as though they did not believe the 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)

ἀναγκάζεις

Possible meanings are (1) force by using words or (2) persuade .

Galatians 2:15

Paul tells the believers that Jews who know the law, as well as Gentiles who do not know the law, are saved only by faith in Christ and not by keeping the law.

οὐκ ἐξ ἐθνῶν ἁμαρτωλοί

“not those whom the Jews call Gentile sinners”

Galatians 2:16

καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐπιστεύσαμεν

“We believed in Christ Jesus”

εἰδότες

This probably refers to Paul and others but not to the Galatians, who were primarily Gentiles. (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 “justified in Christ” means justified because we are united with Christ and justified by means of Christ.

εὑρέθημεν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἁμαρτωλοί

The words “were found to be” are an idiom that emphasizes that “we are” certainly sinners. Alternate translation: “we see that we also certainly are sinners” (See: Idiom)

μὴ γένοιτο

“Of course, that is not true!” This expression gives the strongest possible negative answer to the preceding rhetorical question “Does Christ become a servant of sin?” You may have a similar expression in your language that you could use here. (See: Rhetorical Question)

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. Alternate translation: “I confirm the value of” (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

“if people could become righteous by obeying the law”

ἄρα Χριστὸς δωρεὰν ἀπέθανεν

“then Christ would have accomplished nothing by dying”

Galatians 3

Galatians 03 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.

Paul reminds the believers in Galatia that God gave them God’s Spirit when they believed the gospel by faith, not by their doing God’s law.

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)

ὑμᾶς ἐβάσκανεν

“done magic on you” or “done witchcraft on you”

οἷς κατ’ ὀφθαλμοὺς Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς προεγράφη ἐσταυρωμένος

Paul speaks of his clear teaching of Jesus being crucified as if he had put on public display a picture of Jesus being crucified. And he speaks of the Galatians having heard his teaching as if they had seen the picture. 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

Translate this rhetorical question as a question if you can, because the reader will be expecting a question here. Also, be sure that the reader knows that the answer to the question is “by believing what you heard,” not “by doing what the law says.” 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

This rhetorical question shows that Paul is surprised and even angry that the Galatians are foolish. Alternate translation: “You are very foolish!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

σαρκὶ

The word “flesh” is a metonym for effort. Alternate translation: “by your own effort” or “by your own work” (See: Metonymy)

Galatians 3:4

τοσαῦτα ἐπάθετε εἰκῇ

Paul uses this 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)

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

“uselessly” or “without the hope of receiving something good”

εἴ γε καὶ εἰκῇ

Possible meanings are (1) Paul uses this rhetorical question to warn 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.” or (2) Paul uses this question to assure them that their suffering was not for nothing. Alternate translation: “It was certainly not for nothing!” (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. Alternate translation: “He…does not do it by the works of the law; he does it by hearing with faith.” (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

“those who have faith.” The meaning of the noun “faith” can be expressed with the verb “believe.” Alternate translation: “those who believe” (See: Abstract Nouns)

υἱοί…Ἀβραὰμ

This represents people whom God views as he viewed Abraham. Alternate translation: “righteous in the same way as Abraham” (See: Metaphor)

Galatians 3:8

προϊδοῦσα δὲ

Because God made the promise to Abraham and they wrote it down before the promise came through Christ, the scripture is like someone who knows the future before it happens. Alternate translation: “predicted” or “saw before it happened” (See: Personification)

ἐν σοὶ

“Because of what you have done” or “Because I have blessed you.” The word “you” refers to Abraham and is singular. (See: Forms of You)

πάντα τὰ ἔθνη

“all the people-groups in the world.” 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 εἰσὶν ὑπὸ κατάραν εἰσίν

Being under a curse represents being cursed. Here it refers to being eternally punished. “Those who rely on…the law are cursed” or “God will eternally punish those who rely on…the law” (See: Metaphor and Metonymy)

ἔργων νόμου

“what the law says we must do”

Galatians 3:11

δὲ…δῆλον

What is clear can be stated explicitly. AT “The scriptures are clear” or “The scriptures teach clearly” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἐν νόμῳ, οὐδεὶς δικαιοῦται παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ

This can be stated with an active verb. Alternate translation: “God justifies no one by the law”

ἐν νόμῳ, οὐδεὶς δικαιοῦται παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ

Paul is correcting their believe that if they obeyed the law, God would justify them. Alternate translation: “no one is justified before God by obeying the law” or “God does not justify anyone for their obedience to the law” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται

The nominal adjective “righteous” refers to righteous people. Alternate translation: “righteous people will live by faith” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

Galatians 3:12

ζήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς

Possible meanings are (1) “must obey them all” or (2) “will be judged by his ability to do what the law demands.”

Galatians 3:13

Paul reminds these believers again that keeping the law could not save a person and that the law did not add a new condition to the promise by faith given to Abraham.

ἐκ τῆς κατάρας τοῦ νόμου

The noun “curse” can be expressed with the verb “curse.” Alternate translation: “from being cursed because of the law” or “from being cursed for not obeying the law”

ἐκ τῆς κατάρας τοῦ νόμου, γενόμενος ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν κατάρα…ἐπικατάρατος πᾶς

The word “curse” here is a metonym for God condemning the person whom he has cursed. Alternate translation: “from us having God condemn us because we broke the law…having God condemn him instead of us…God condemns everyone” (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

“because Christ became a curse for us, the blessing of Abraham will come”

ἵνα…λάβωμεν διὰ τῆς πίστεως

“because Christ became a curse for us, by faith we will receive”

λάβωμεν

The word “we” includes the people who would read the letter and so is inclusive. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

Galatians 3:15

ἀδελφοί

See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2.

κατὰ ἄνθρωπον

“as a person” or “of things most people understand”

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

“referring to many descendants”

τῷ…σπέρματί σου

The word “your” is singular and refers to a specific person, who is a particular descendant of Abraham (and that descendant is identified as “Christ”). (See: Forms of You)

Galatians 3:17

ὁ μετὰ τετρακόσια καὶ τριάκοντα ἔτη

“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 and wealth from a family member, and eternal blessings and redemption. (See: Metaphor)

Galatians 3:19

Paul tells the believers in Galatia why God gave the law.

τί οὖν ὁ νόμος

Paul uses a rhetorical question to introduce the next topic he wants to discuss. It can also 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

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “God added it” or “God added the law” (See: Active or Passive)

διαταγεὶς δι’ ἀγγέλων ἐν χειρὶ μεσίτου

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “God issued the law with the help of angels, and a mediator put it into force” (See: Active or Passive)

χειρὶ μεσίτου

“a representative”

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 with a mediator. As a result, Paul’s readers may have thought that the law somehow made the promise to no effect. Paul is stating what his readers might have thought here, and he will respond to them in the verses that follow.

Galatians 3:21

The word “us” in this section refers to all Christians. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

κατὰ τῶν ἐπαγγελιῶν

“opposed to the promises” or “in conflict with the promises”

εἰ…ἐδόθη νόμος ὁ δυνάμενος ζῳοποιῆσαι

This can be stated in active form, and the abstract noun “life” can be translated with the verb “live.” Alternate translation: “if God had given a law that enabled those who kept it to live” (See: Active or Passive and Abstract Nouns)

ἐν νόμου ἂν ἦν ἡ δικαιοσύνη

“we could have become righteous by obeying that law”

Galatians 3:22

συνέκλεισεν ἡ Γραφὴ τὰ πάντα ὑπὸ ἁμαρτίαν, ἵνα ἡ ἐπαγγελία ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοθῇ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν

Other possible meanings are (1) “because we all sin, God put all things under the control of the law, like putting them in prison, so that what he has promised to those who have faith in Christ Jesus he might give to those who believe” or (2) “because we sin, God put all things under the control of the law, like putting them in prison. He did this because what he has promised to those who have faith in Christ Jesus he wants to give to those who believe.”

Γραφὴ

Paul is treating scripture as though it were a person and is speaking of God, who wrote scripture. Alternate translation: “God” (See: Personification)

Galatians 3:23

Paul reminds those in Galatia that believers are free in God’s family, not slaves under the law.

ὑπὸ νόμον ἐφρουρούμεθα, συνκλειόμενοι

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “the law held us captive and we were in prison” or “the law held us captive in prison” (See: Active or Passive)

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. Alternate translation: “the law controlled us like a prison guard” (See: Metaphor)

εἰς τὴν μέλλουσαν πίστιν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι

This can be stated in active form, and who this faith is in can be stated clearly. 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

More than simply “one who gives oversight to a child,” this 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.

εἰς Χριστόν

“until the time when Christ came”

ἵνα…δικαιωθῶμεν

Before Christ came, God had planned to justify us. When Christ came, he carried out his plan to justify us. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “so that God would declare us to be righteous” (See: Active or Passive)

Galatians 3:27

ὅσοι γὰρ εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε

“For all of you who were baptized into Christ”

Χριστὸν…ἐνεδύσασθε

Possible meanings are (1) this is a metaphor meaning that they have been united to Christ. Alternate translation: “have become united with Christ” or “belong to Christ” or (2) this is a metaphor meaning that they have become like Christ. Alternate translation: “have become like Christ” (See: Metaphor)

Galatians 3:28

οὐκ ἔνι Ἰουδαῖος οὐδὲ Ἕλλην, οὐκ ἔνι δοῦλος οὐδὲ ἐλεύθερος, οὐκ ἔνι ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ

“God sees no difference between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female”

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 04 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 made them no more slaves but sons.

οὐδὲν διαφέρει

“the same as”

Galatians 4:2

ἐπιτρόπους

people with legal responsibility for children

οἰκονόμους

people whom others trust to keep valuable items safe

Galatians 4:3

The word “we” here refers to all Christians, including Paul’s readers. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι

Here “children” is a metaphor for being spiritually immature. Alternate translation: “when we were like children” (See: Metaphor)

ἡμεῖς…ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἤμεθα δεδουλωμένοι

Here “enslaved” is a metaphor being unable to stop one’s self from doing something. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “the elemental principles of the world controlled us” or “we had to obey the elemental principles of the world as if we were slaves” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου

Possible meanings are (1) this refers to the laws or moral principles of the world, or (2) this refers to spiritual powers, which some people thought control what happens on earth.

Galatians 4:4

τὸν Υἱὸν

This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

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.

ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν κρᾶζον, Ἀββά, ὁ Πατήρ

By calling out “Abba, Father” the Spirit assures us that we are God’s children and he loves us.

ἐξαπέστειλεν…τὸ Πνεῦμα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν

The heart is metonym for the part of a person that thinks and feels. Alternate translation: “sent his Son’s Spirit to show us how to think and act” (See: Metonymy)

τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ

This is an important title for Jesus, the Son of God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

κρᾶζον

The Spirit is the one who calls.

Ἀββά, ὁ Πατήρ

This is the way a young child would address his father in Paul’s home language, but not in the language of the Galatian readers. To keep the sense of a foreign language, translate this as a word that sounds as much like “Abba” as your language allows.

Galatians 4:7

οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος, ἀλλὰ υἱός

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.

οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος…καὶ κληρονόμος

Paul is addressing his readers as though they are one person, so “you” here is singular. (See: Forms of You)

κληρονόμος

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 4:8

He continues to rebuke the Galatians by asking rhetorical questions.

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

“those things that are” or “those spirits who are”

Galatians 4:9

γνωσθέντες ὑπὸ Θεοῦ

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “God knows you” (See: Active or Passive)

πῶς ἐπιστρέφετε πάλιν ἐπὶ τὰ ἀσθενῆ καὶ πτωχὰ στοιχεῖα

Here “turning back to” is a metaphor for starting to pay attention to something again. This is the first of two rhetorical questions. Alternate translation: “you should not start paying attention to the weak and worthless elemental principles.” or “you should not be concerned with the weak and worthless elemental principles.” (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 question to rebuke the people for behaving in a way that would make them like slaves. Alternate translation: “It seems that you want to be slaves again.” or “You behave as though you wanted to be like slaves again.”(See: Rhetorical Question)

οἷς πάλιν ἄνωθεν δουλεύειν θέλετε

Here being “enslaved” 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 has to obey his master?” or “It seems that you want to be controlled 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

“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.

δέομαι

Here this means to ask or urge strongly. This is not the word used to ask for money or food or physical objects.

ἀδελφοί

See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2.

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

“Though it was difficult for you to see me so physically ill”

ἐξουθενήσατε

hate very much

Galatians 4:17

ζηλοῦσιν ὑμᾶς

“to convince you to join them”

ἀλλὰ ἐκκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς

“to shut you out from us” or “to make you stop being loyal to us”

αὐτοὺς ζηλοῦτε

“zealous to do what they tell you to do”

Galatians 4:19

Paul tells believers that grace and law cannot work together.

τέκνα μου

This is a metaphor for disciples or followers. 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 having to give birth to you, and I will continue to be in pain until Christ truly controls you” (See: Metaphor)

Galatians 4:21

λέγετέ μοι

“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

Paul begins a story to illustrate a truth—that law and grace cannot exist together.

ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα

“This story of the two sons is like a picture of what I will tell you now”

ἀλληγορούμενα

An “allegory” is a story in which the people and things in it represent other things. In Paul’s allegory, the two women referred to in Galatians 4:22 represent two covenants.

αὗται…εἰσιν

“women are a picture of”

Ὄρους Σινά

“Mount Sinai” here 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

“she is a picture of”

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 4:26

ἐλευθέρα ἐστίν

“is not bound” or “is not a slave”

Galatians 4:27

εὐφράνθητι

be happy

στεῖρα…ἡ οὐκ ὠδίνουσα

Here “you” refers to the barren woman and is singular. (See: Forms of You)

Galatians 4:28

ἀδελφοί

See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2.

ἐπαγγελίας τέκνα

Possible meanings are that the Galatians have become God’s children (1) by believing God’s promise or (2) because God worked miracles to fulfill his promises to Abraham, first by giving Abraham a son and then by making the Galatians children of Abraham and thus sons of God.

Galatians 4:29

κατὰ σάρκα

This refers to Abraham’s becoming Ishmael’s father by taking Hagar as a wife. Alternate translation: “by means of human action” or “because of what people did” (See: Metaphor)

κατὰ Πνεῦμα

“because of something the Spirit did”

Galatians 4:31

ἀδελφοί

See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2.

ἀλλὰ τῆς ἐλευθέρας

The words “we are children” are understood from the previous phrase. This can be translated as a separate sentence. Alternate translation: “Rather, we are children of the free woman” (See: Ellipsis)

Galatians 5

Galatians 05 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 by reminding the believers to use their liberty in Christ because all the law is fulfilled in loving neighbors as ourselves.

τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ, ἡμᾶς Χριστὸς ἠλευθέρωσεν

“It is so that we can be free that Christ has set us free.” It is implied that Christ sets believers free from the old covenant. Here freedom from the old covenant is a metaphor for not being 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 so that we might live as free poeple” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Metaphor)

στήκετε

Standing firm here represents being determined not to change. How they are not to change can be stated clearly. 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 being under control of a yoke of slavery represents being obligated to obey the law. Alternate translation: “do not live like one who is under the control of a yoke of slavery to the law” (See: Metaphor and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Galatians 5:2

ἐὰν περιτέμνησθε

Paul is using circumcision as a metonym for Judaism. Alternate translation: “if you turn to the Jewish religion” (See: Metonymy)

Galatians 5:3

μαρτύρομαι δὲ

“I declare” or “I serve as a witness”

παντὶ ἀνθρώπῳ περιτεμνομένῳ

Paul is using circumcision as a metonym for being Jewish. Alternate translation: “to every person who has become a Jew” (See: Metonymy)

ὀφειλέτης ἐστὶν…ποιῆσαι

“he must obey”

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

Paul is speaking ironically here. He actually teaches that no one can be justified by trying to do the deeds required by the law. Alternate translation: “all 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” (See: Irony)

τῆς χάριτος ἐξεπέσατε

Who that grace comes from can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: “God will not be gracious to you” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Galatians 5:5

Here the word “we” refers to Paul and those who oppose the circumcision of Christians. He is probably including the Galatians. (See: Inclusive and Exclusive “We”)

γὰρ Πνεύματι

“This is because through the Spirit”

ἡμεῖς…ἐκ πίστεως ἐλπίδα δικαιοσύνης ἀπεκδεχόμεθα

Possible meanings are (1) “we are waiting by faith for the hope of righteousness” or (2) “we are waiting for the hope of righteousness that comes by faith.”

ἡμεῖς…ἐλπίδα δικαιοσύνης ἀπεκδεχόμεθα

“we are waiting patiently and with excitement for God to put us right with himself forever, and we expect him to do it”

Galatians 5:6

οὔτε περιτομή…οὔτε ἀκροβυστία

These are metonymy for being a Jew or a non-Jew. Alternate translation: “neither being a Jew nor not being a Jew” (See: Metonymy)

ἀλλὰ πίστις δι’ ἀγάπης ἐνεργουμένη

“Rather, God is concerned with our faith in him, which we show by loving others”

τι ἰσχύει

is worthwhile

Galatians 5:7

ἐτρέχετε

“You were practicing what Jesus taught”

Galatians 5:8

ἡ πεισμονὴ οὐκ ἐκ τοῦ καλοῦντος ὑμᾶς

“The one who persuades you to do that is not God, the one who calls you”

τοῦ καλοῦντος ὑμᾶς

What he calls them to can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: “the one who calls you to be his people” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

πεισμονὴ

To persuade someone is to get that person to change what he believes and so to act differently.

Galatians 5:10

οὐδὲν ἄλλο φρονήσετε

“you will not believe anything different from what I am telling you”

ὁ δὲ ταράσσων ὑμᾶς, βαστάσει τὸ κρίμα

“God will punish the one who is troubling you”

ταράσσων ὑμᾶς

“is causing you to be uncertain about what is truth” or “stirs up trouble among you”

ὅστις ἐὰν ᾖ

Possible meanings are (1) Paul does not know the names of the people who are telling the Galatians that they need to obey the law of Moses or (2) Paul does not want the Galatians to care about whether those who “confuse” them are rich or poor or great or small or religious or not religious.

Galatians 5:11

ἐγὼ δέ, ἀδελφοί, εἰ περιτομὴν ἔτι κηρύσσω, τί ἔτι διώκομαι

Paul is describing a situation that does not exist to emphasize that people are persecuting him because he is not preaching that people need to become Jews. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Brothers, you can see that I am not still proclaiming circumcision because the Jews are persecuting me.” (See: Rhetorical Question and Hypothetical Situations)

ἀδελφοί

See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2.

ἄρα κατήργηται τὸ σκάνδαλον τοῦ σταυροῦ

Paul is describing a situation that does not exist to emphasize that people persecute him because he is preaching that God forgives people because of Jesus’ work on the cross. (See: Hypothetical Situations)

ἄρα

“If I were still saying that people need to become Jews”

κατήργηται τὸ σκάνδαλον τοῦ σταυροῦ

This can be stated in active form. 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

Possible meanings are (1) literal, to cut off their male organs so as to become eunuchs or (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

This can be expressed in an active form. Alternate translation: “Christ has called you to freedom” (See: Active or Passive)

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 relationship between the opportunity and the sinful nature can be stated more clearly. Alternate translation: “an opportunity for you to behave according to your sinful nature” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Galatians 5:14

ὁ…πᾶς νόμος ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ πεπλήρωται

Possible meanings are (1) “you can state the whole law in just one commandment, which is this” or (2) “by obeying one commandment, you obey all the commandments, and that one commandment is this.”

ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν

The words “you,” “your,” and “yourself” are all singular. (See: Forms of You)

Galatians 5:16

Paul explains how the Spirit gives control over sin.

Πνεύματι περιπατεῖτε

Walking 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 “carry out someone’s desires” is an idiom meaning “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)

Galatians 5:18

οὐκ…ὑπὸ νόμον

“not obligated to obey the law of Moses”

Galatians 5:19

τὰ ἔργα τῆς σαρκός

The abstract noun “works” can be translated with the verb “does.” Alternate translation: “what the sinful nature does”

τὰ ἔργα τῆς σαρκός

The sinful nature is spoken of as if it were a person who does things. Alternate translation: “what people do because of their sinful nature” or “the things people do because they are sinful” (See: Personification)

Galatians 5:21

κληρονομήσουσιν

Receiving what God has promised believers is spoken of as if it were inheriting property and wealth from a family member. (See: Metaphor)

Galatians 5:22

ὁ…καρπὸς τοῦ Πνεύματός ἐστιν ἀγάπη…πίστις

Here “fruit” is a metaphor for “result” or “outcome.” Alternate translation: “what the Spirit produces is love…faith” or “the Spirit produces in God’s people love…faith” (See: Metaphor)

Galatians 5:23

πραΰτης…ἐνκράτεια

The list of “the fruit of the Spirit” that begins with the words “love, joy, peace” ends here. Here “fruit” here is a metaphor for “result” or “outcome.” Alternate translation: “what the Spirit produces is love, joy, peace…gentleness…self-control” or “the Spirit produces in God’s people love, joy, peace…gentleness…self-control” (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: Personification and Metaphor)

τὴν σάρκα…σὺν τοῖς παθήμασιν καὶ ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις

The sinful nature is spoken of as if it were a person that had passions and desires. Alternate translation: “their sinful nature, and the things they strongly want to do because of it” (See: Personification)

Galatians 5:25

εἰ ζῶμεν Πνεύματι

“Since God’s Spirit has caused us to be alive”

Πνεύματι…στοιχῶμεν

“Walk” here is a metaphor for living every day. Alternate translation: “allow the Holy Spirit to guide us so we do things that please and honor God” (See: Metaphor)

Galatians 5:26

γινώμεθα

“We should”

Galatians 6

Galatians 06 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.

ἀδελφοί

See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2.

ἐὰν…ἄνθρωπος

“if anyone among you”

ἐὰν καὶ προλημφθῇ ἄνθρωπος ἔν τινι παραπτώματι

Possible meanings are (1) someone else found that person in the act. Alternate translation: “if someone is discovered in an act of sin” or (2) that person committed the sin without intending to do evil. Alternate translation: “if someone gave in and sinned”

ὑμεῖς, οἱ πνευματικοὶ

“those of you who are guided by the Spirit” or “you who are living in the guidance of the Spirit”

καταρτίζετε τὸν τοιοῦτον

“correct the person who sinned” or “exhort the person who sinned to return to a correct relationship with God”

ἐν πνεύματι πραΰτητος

Possible meanings are (1) that the Spirit is directing the one who is offering correction or (2) “with an attitude of gentleness” or “in a kind way.”

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 concerned about yourself’” (See: Forms of You)

μὴ καὶ σὺ πειρασθῇς

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “so that nothing will tempt you also to sin” (See: Active or Passive)

Galatians 6:3

εἰ γὰρ

“Because if.” The words that follow tell why the Galatians should (1) “carry one other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2) or (2) be careful that they themselves are not tempted (Galatians 6:1) or (3) “not become conceited” (Galatians 5:26).

εἶναί τι

“he is someone important” or “he is better than others”

μηδὲν ὤν

“he is not important” or “he is not better than others”

Galatians 6:4

δοκιμαζέτω ἕκαστος

“Each person must”

Galatians 6:5

ἕκαστος…τὸ ἴδιον φορτίον βαστάσει

“each person will be judged by his own work only” or “each person will be responsible for his own work only”

ἕκαστος…βαστάσει

“each person will”

Galatians 6:6

ὁ κατηχούμενος

“With the he person who teaches”

τὸν λόγον

“the message,” everything God has said or commanded

Galatians 6:7

ὃ γὰρ ἐὰν σπείρῃ ἄνθρωπος, τοῦτο καὶ θερίσει

Planting represents doing things that end in some kind of result, and gathering in 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

Paul is not specifying males here. 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

Planting seeds is a metaphor for doing deeds that will have consequences later. In this case, the person is doing sinful actions because of his sinful nature. Alternate translation: “plants seed according to what he wants because of his sinful nature” or “does the things he wants to do because of his sinful nature” (See: Metaphor)

θερίσει φθοράν

God punishing the person is spoken of as if the person were harvesting a crop. Alternate translation: “will receive punishment for what he did” (See: Metaphor)

σπείρων εἰς…τὸ Πνεῦμα

Planting seeds is a metaphor for doing deeds that will have consequences later. In this case, the person is doing good actions because he is listening to God’s Spirit. Alternate translation: “does the things God’s Spirit loves” (See: Metaphor)

ἐκ τοῦ Πνεύματος θερίσει ζωὴν αἰώνιον

“will receive eternal life as a reward from God’s Spirit”

Galatians 6:9

τὸ δὲ καλὸν ποιοῦντες, μὴ ἐνκακῶμεν

“We should continue to do good”

τὸ δὲ καλὸν ποιοῦντες

doing good to others for their well-being

καιρῷ γὰρ ἰδίῳ

“for in due time” or “because at the time God has chosen”

Galatians 6:10

ἄρα οὖν

“As a result of this” or “Because of this”

μάλιστα δὲ πρὸς τοὺς οἰκείους

“most of all…to those” or “in particular…to those”

τοὺς οἰκείους τῆς πίστεως

“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.

πηλίκοις…γράμμασιν

This can mean that Paul wants to emphasize (1) the statements that follow or (2) that this letter came from him.

τῇ ἐμῇ χειρί

Possible meanings are (1) Paul probably had a helper who wrote most of this letter as Paul told him what to write, but Paul himself wrote this last part of the letter or (2) Paul wrote the whole letter himself.

Galatians 6:12

εὐπροσωπῆσαι

“cause others to think well of them” or “cause others to think that they are good people”

ἐν σαρκί

“with visible evidence” or “by their own efforts”

οὗτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν

“to force” or “to strongly influence”

μόνον ἵνα τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ μὴ διώκωνται

“so that the Jews will not persecute them for claiming that the cross of Christ alone is what saves people”

τῷ σταυρῷ

The cross here represents what Christ did for us when he died on the cross. Alternate translation: “the work Jesus did on the cross” or “the death and resurrection of Jesus” (See: Metonymy)

Galatians 6:13

θέλουσιν

“those people who are urging you to be circumcised want”

ἵνα ἐν τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ σαρκὶ καυχήσωνται

“so that they may be proud that they have added you to the people who try to keep the law”

Galatians 6:14

ἐμοὶ δὲ, μὴ γένοιτο καυχᾶσθαι, εἰ μὴ ἐν τῷ σταυρῷ

“I do not ever want to boast in anything other than the cross” or “May I boast only in the cross”

ἐμοὶ…κόσμος ἐσταύρωται

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “I think of the world as already dead” or “I treat the world like a criminal God has killed on a cross” (See: Active or Passive)

κἀγὼ κόσμῳ

The words “have been crucified” are understood from the phrase before this. Alternate translation: “and I have been crucified to the world” (See: Ellipsis)

κἀγὼ κόσμῳ

Possible meanings are (1) “the world thinks of me as already dead” or (2) “the world treats me like a criminal that God has killed on the cross”

κόσμος

Possible meanings are (1) the people of the world, those who care nothing for God or (2) the things that those who care nothing for God think are important.

Galatians 6:15

τὶ ἐστιν

“is important to God”

καινὴ κτίσις

Possible meanings are (1) a new believer in Jesus Christ or (2) the new life of a believer.

Galatians 6:16

εἰρήνη ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἔλεος, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ Θεοῦ

Possible meanings are (1) that believers in general are the Israel of God or (2) “may peace and mercy be upon Gentile believers and upon the Israel of God” or (3) “may peace be upon those who follow the rule, and may mercy be upon even the Israel of God.”

Galatians 6:17

τοῦ λοιποῦ

This can also mean “Lastly” or “As I end this letter.”

κόπους μοι μηδεὶς παρεχέτω

Possible meanings are (1) Paul is commanding the Galatians not to trouble him, “I am commanding you this: do not trouble me,” or (2) Paul is telling the Galatians that he is commanding all people not to trouble him, “I am commanding everyone this: do not trouble me,” or (3) Paul is expressing a desire, “I do not want anyone to trouble me.”

κόπους μοι

Possible meanings are (1) “speak of these matters to me” or (2) “cause me hardship” or “give me hard work.”

ἐγὼ γὰρ τὰ στίγματα τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῷ σώματί μου βαστάζω

These 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

ἡ χάρις τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, μετὰ τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν

“I pray that the Lord Jesus will be kind to your spirit”

ἀδελφοί

See how you translated this in Galatians 1:2.