3:27a

For: Verse 3:27 further explains what Paul has just said in 3:26. The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For.

Many English versions do not translate this conjunction. It some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

all of you who: This phrase refers to the Galatian believers.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

as many of you as (English Standard Version, New King James Version)
-or-
everyone among you who
-or-
You (Good News Translation)

were baptized into Christ: This phrase refers to believers being united with Christ through baptism. Baptism was a sign that a person had entered into a new relationship.

This clause is passive. Some ways to translate it are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

You were baptized into union with Christ (Good News Translation)
-or-
All of you who were baptized and so now are united with Christ

• Use an active verb. For example:

All of you whom they baptized and who are united with Christ
-or-
All of you who received baptism and are united with Christ

baptized: You can use the same expression for “baptize” here as you used in the gospels.

See also baptize in the Glossary for more information.

3:27b

have clothed yourselves with Christ: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as have clothed yourselves means “to clothe,” “to put on” or “to wear something.” This is a metaphor. In this metaphor, Paul talked about people who put on certain clothes to show who they are. He compared these people to believers putting on Christ. They are similar in that both “take on the characteristics of what they are wearing” or “become like what they wear.”

Some ways to translate this clause are:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

have put on Christ (English Standard Version)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes (Contemporary English Version)

• Translate the meaning without a figure of speech. For example:

you have become like Christ
-or-
you have identified yourselves with Christ
-or-
have been made like him (New Living Translation (1996))

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