1:2a
and all the brothers with me: This clause means that other believers joined with Paul in sending this letter. It implies that they supported Paul and agreed with what he wrote. They joined with Paul in sending their greetings to the Galatians.
h
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
All the believers who are here join me in sending greetings (Good News Translation)
-or-
All the brothers and sisters here join me in sending this letter (New Living Translation (2004))
This phrase does not mean that the brothers were writers with Paul. Do not imply that the brothers helped Paul to write the letter.
brothers: In the letters of the New Testament, the word brothers refers to brothers in the faith. It refers to fellow believers. It is often restricted to the leading men in the local church. It does not refer to Paul’s biological brothers.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
fellow-believers
-or-
my companions in the faith
-or-
the Lord’s followers (Contemporary English Version)
1:2b
To the churches of Galatia: This phrase tells to whom Paul was sending his letter. These churches were located in the Roman province of Galatia.
In Greek, this phrase has no verb. In many languages, it will be more natural to include a verb here. For example:
?I am writing this letter? to the churches in Galatia
-or-
?We are sending this letter? to the believers in the province/region of Galatia
churches: The word churches refers to groups of believers. It does not refer to church buildings.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
the groups of believers ?in Christ?
-or-
the congregations
-or-
the people/followers of Christ
See church in the Glossary for more information.
of Galatia: Galatia was one of the provinces/regions in the Roman Empire. It is not the name of a town. To make this clear, you may say:
in the province/region of Galatia
General Comment on 1:1–2
In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses in 1:1–2. Some ways to reorder these verses are:
• Begin the letter by stating that Paul and all the brothers with him sent it. For example:
?This letter is? from the apostle Paul and from all the brothers who are with me here.
• Begin the letter by stating that Paul sent it to the Galatian believers. Then state those who joined with Paul in sending this letter. For example:
?I,? Paul, ?am writing? to ?you,? all the believers in Galatia. All the brothers who are with me ?join in sending greetings to you? .
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