Section 3:1–14
We are justified by believing, not by obeying the law
In this section, Paul contrasted “doing” and “believing.” He began by rebuking the Galatians because they had forgotten something. They had forgotten that they had been made right with God (justified) and had received the Holy Spirit by believing. They should not then begin to do/obey the law to be made right with God.
Being made right with God (justification) has always been an issue of believing. Abraham himself was justified because he believed. People who are Abraham’s children are those who believe. They are the ones who are blessed. People who try to be made right with God by obeying the law are cursed, because no one can obey the entire law.
Paul wanted the Galatians to change their ways. He was convinced that if they thought about their actions and understood the truth, they would change.
Some other examples for a heading for this section are:
Justification by Law or by Faith? (NET Bible)
-or-
Law or Faith
Paragraph 3:1–5
This paragraph contains the strongest rebuke in the book of Galatians. (It is perhaps the strongest rebuke in the whole New Testament.) Paul rebuked the Galatians using several rhetorical questions. He used these rhetorical questions to tell the Galatians that he was very unhappy with them. He was unhappy because they had turned away from believing/trusting in Christ.
3:1
In Greek, 3:1a–c is one sentence. This whole sentence is a rhetorical question. For example:
You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? (New American Standard Bible)
Most English versions are like the Berean Standard Bible and divide 3:1a–c into several sentences. For example:
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. (New International Version)
In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses in this verse. For example:
1a You foolish Galatians! 1c Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 1b Who has bewitched you?
-or-
1b Who has bewitched you, 1a you foolish Galatians? 1c Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
3:1a
O foolish Galatians: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as O has several functions. One of its functions is to introduce a rebuke. Paul used this word to introduce his rebuke of the Galatians believers because they began to follow the law.
Many English versions do not translate this word. Instead, they use an exclamation point to show that Paul began to rebuke the Galatians. They also supply the pronoun “you.” For example:
You foolish Galatians! (New International Version)
Many English versions do not show that 3:1a–c is a rhetorical question until 3:1b. However, it is also possible to translate 3:1a as a rhetorical question. For example:
Are you Galatians foolish/mad?
foolish: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as foolish refers to someone who can think, but who fails to do so. It is the opposite of the word “wise.” Paul used this word to show the Galatians that they were not thinking clearly. They had allowed themselves to be misled. They had accepted false teaching without properly thinking about the consequences.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
fools
-or-
crazy/mad
-or-
stupid (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
lost your heads/minds
3:1b
Who has bewitched you?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this rhetorical question to rebuke the Galatians for their wrong thinking. Their thinking was so wrong that it was as if they were bewitched. (See an explanation of the word bewitched below.)
Some ways to translate this rebuke are:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Who put a spell on you? (Good News Translation)
-or-
What magician has cast an evil spell on you? (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Why did you allow people to deceive/trick you?
• As a statement followed by a rhetorical question. For example:
You permitted someone to bewitch you. Why did you do that?
• As an exclamation. For example:
You should not have allowed someone to trick you!
Use whichever form is most natural in your language to rebuke someone for wrong thinking.
bewitched: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bewitched refers to putting a magical spell or curse on someone. The Galatians were turning away from the true gospel. It was as if someone had put a magical spell or curse on them. This word can also refer to someone who is “misled” or “deceived.”
Some other ways to translate this word are:
put a spell/curse on
-or-
deceived
-or-
blinded
The Galatians did not literally have a curse or spell put on them. If the people who read your translation understand the word bewitched only in its literal meaning, you should not use it. Instead, look for a way to translate the idea of being misled or deceived.
3:1c
Before your very eyes: This phrase refers to the time when Paul personally preached to the Galatians. His message about Christ’s death was so clear that it was as if they had actually seen Christ on the cross before/with their own eyes.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
?it was as if you had seen it? with your eyes
-or-
Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture (New Living Translation (2004))
Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as clearly portrayed can refer to a public poster. On this poster, information was written or even painted so that everybody could go and look at it.
Paul used this phrase in a metaphorical way to refer to his preaching. He explained Christ’s crucifixion in detail. It was as if the Galatians had been there and could see it.
This clause is passive. Some ways to translate it are:
• Use a passive clause. For example:
You…were told very clearly about the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. (New Century Version)
-or-
Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross (New Living Translation (2004))
• Use an active clause. For example:
I told you exactly how Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I clearly explained to you how Jesus Christ died on a cross.
Not only did the Galatians understand how Christ was crucified, they had understood the purpose of Christ’s death. Christ’s death was the means of their being made right with God. It may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:
I clearly explained how Jesus Christ was crucified, and the reason why he was crucified.
as crucified: This phrase refers to Christ being nailed on a cross and dying.
This phrase is also passive. Some ways to translate it are:
• Use a passive. For example:
was nailed to a cross (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
was killed on a cross
• Use an active clause. For example:
how they nailed Jesus Christ on a cross
-or-
how they killed Jesus Christ
General Comment on 3:1c
In Greek, 3:1c is a part of the rebuke and rhetorical question that begins in 3:1a. The Berean Standard Bible translates 3:1c as a statement. But in some languages, it may be natural to translate 3:1c as a rhetorical question. For example:
Wasn’t Christ Jesus’ crucifixion clearly described to you? (God’s Word)
-or-
I clearly explained to you how they nailed Jesus Christ to a cross, did I not? ?It was as if you had seen it? with your own eyes.
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