SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2016

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:24

1:24

And they glorified God because of me: This clause tells the result of 1:23. The believers in Judea heard the report about Paul’s ministry (1:23). As a result, they glorified/praised God:

(a) for changing Paul and

(b) for working through him to spread the faith (1:23b).

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

So they praised God for what had happened to me. (God’s Word)
-or-
Therefore they were praising God for what he had done in my life.
-or-
Because of this news about me, they gave thanks to God.

glorified God: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as glorified means “praised” or “gave thanks.” The form of the Greek verb indicates that the believers regularly praised God. They did it more than one time.

One other way to translate this verb is:

were praising God

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SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:11

3:11a

Now: In 3:11–12, Paul briefly interrupted his new discussion about being cursed (in 3:10). He did this to remind his readers of one of his main themes: we are justified by faith, not by works. He then returned to the idea of curse in 3:13.

The Greek indicates this brief interruption with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now.

Some English versions, such as the Contemporary English Version and New International Version, do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, no conjunction will be necessary either.

it is clear that: Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

it is evident (English Standard Version)
-or-
it is obvious
-or-
we see/understand that

no one is justified before God: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as justified means “cause/make to be acceptable/right.” This same word occurs in 3:8b.

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

• Use a passive. For example:

no one can be made right with God (New Century Version)
-or-
no one can be regarded as righteous/straight in front of God

• Use an active. For example:

obeying the law cannot put/make a person right with God
-or-
God does not consider a person right

See also justify in the Glossary for more information.

by the law: The phrase by the law means the same thing as “by the works of the law” in 3:2b. It means “by keeping/obeying the law.”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

by ?obeying/following? the law
-or-
through ?keeping? the law
-or-
if/when ?he obeys? the law
-or-
because of ?his following? the law
-or-
following the law

3:11b

because: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because introduces the basis for the statement in 3:11a. The basis for 3:11a is a verse from Scripture.

Some other ways to show the connection are:

for (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
because the scripture says (Good News Translation)

In some languages, it is natural to put the basis first. For example:

11b “The righteous shall live by faith.” 11a ?So? no one is justified by the law.

The righteous will live by faith: There are two ways to interpret the phrase by faith :

(1) It is connected with the noun righteous. It means that those people whom God declares righteous because of their faith will live. For example:

Only the person who is put right with God through faith shall live (Good News Translation)

(Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It is connected with the verb live. It means that those people who are righteous will live because of their faith. For example:

Those who are right with God will live by faith (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, English Standard Version, NET Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Throughout Galatians, Paul has connected righteousness and faith. God makes people righteous because of their faith, not because they follow the law.

It appears that more versions follow interpretation (2). But it is possible that some are simply ambiguous and do not intend to exclude interpretation (1).

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

The person whom God makes right because of his faith will live.
-or-
The people who believe in God are made right. These people will live.

The righteous: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as The righteous refers to a righteous person. It is a person whom God has declared right/straight. The word righteous is the noun form of the verb “justified” in 3:11a.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

The person who is justified
-or-
The person who is blameless
-or-
The one who is made right/straight

In some languages, it may be more natural to use the plural word “people” here. For example:

The people who are made right/straight

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:14

4:14a–b

although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me: The word although introduces the first clause in a pair of clauses, and it indicates that the second clause is unexpected. The unexpected clause is 4:14b.

Some ways to translate this pair of clauses are:

• Indicate in the first clause that an unexpected clause is coming. For example:

a
even though my illness was a trial to you, b you did not treat me with contempt or scorn (New International Version)

• Indicate in that second clause that it is unexpected. For example:

a my condition was a trial to you, but b in spite of that, you did not scorn or despise me

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

b you did not scorn or despise me, a even though my condition was a trial to you

The individual parts of these two clauses are explained below.

4:14a

my illness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as illness refers to Paul’s condition. This same word also occurs in 4:13.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

my condition (English Standard Version)
-or-
my sickness (New Century Version)

was a trial to you: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as trial means hardship or difficulty. Paul’s difficult illness could have led the Galatians to reject Paul and his message, but instead they developed a close relationship with him.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

was a trouble for you (New Century Version)
-or-
was a hardship for you
-or-
was difficult for you (God’s Word)

4:14b

you did not despise or reject me: The words despise and reject are a doublet. This means that these words are similar in meaning. The word despise means “loathe someone,” “be disgusted by someone” or “reject someone.” The word reject means “dismiss someone as inadequate” or “dismiss someone because they do not meet a certain standard.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

you did not treat me with contempt or scorn (New International Version)
-or-
you did not look down on me or be disgusted/repulsed
-or-
you didn’t hate me or turn me away (Contemporary English Version)

4:14c

Instead: There is a contrast between 4:14b and 4:14c. The contrast is between the negative way that the Galatians could have treated Paul and the positive way that they actually did treat him. Languages have different ways to indicate this negative-positive type of contrast. Some of the ways are:

• With the conjunction “but.”

• With a conjunction other than “but.” This is a common way in English to show this type of contrast. For example:

rather
-or-
on the contrary
-or-
Instead (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version)

• With no conjunction. For example:

b you didn’t hate me or turn me away because of it. c You welcomed me as though I were one of God’s angels or even Christ Jesus himself. (Contemporary English Version)

you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as welcomed means “received.” In this clause Paul stated that the Galatians welcomed him with great honor and respect. He compared the welcome they gave him to the welcome they might give to a messenger from heaven.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

You welcomed me as though I were one of God’s angels (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God (New Living Translation (2004))

angel of God: The word angel means “messenger.” It can be either a human messenger or a divine messenger. The phrase of God shows that here it refers to a divine messenger. It is a spirit being who serves God.

Some ways to translate angel of God are:

messenger of/from God
-or-

?holy/good? spirit-being from God

The word angel first occurs in 1:8a. See also angel in the Glossary for more information.

4:14d

as if I were Christ Jesus Himself: The words “you welcomed me” from 4:14c are implied here. Paul said that his welcome could also be compared to the way the Galatians would welcome Jesus Christ.

Some ways to translate this comparison are:

as though I were Christ Jesus himself (NET Bible)
-or-

?You received me in the same way that you would have received? Jesus Christ ?himself? .

Your translation should not imply that Paul thought of himself as equal to an angel of God or to Jesus Christ.

Christ Jesus Himself: The Berean Standard Bible translates the phrase Christ Jesus Himself in the same order as in Greek. Remember that Christ is a title, and Jesus is a name.

Another way to translate this phrase is:

Jesus the Christ/Messiah

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 5:15

5:15a

But: There is a contrast between 5:14b and 5:15. The contrast is between the command to love one another and the way that the Galatians were actually treating one another. The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the conjunction But.

if you keep on biting and devouring one another: This clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, the way that the Galatians were treating one another is compared to the kinds of actions that wild animals do. Paul implied that the actions of the sinful nature are as destructive as the actions of wild animals.

Paul used two words, biting and devouring (that is, eating), to emphasize how serious the situation in Galatia was.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

• Keep the metaphor but make the image explicit. For example:

if you ?are wild animals that? bite and devour/eat one another

• Change the metaphor to a simile and make the image explicit. For example:

when you ?act like wild animals that? bite and eat each other
-or-
if you act like wild animals, hurting and harming each other (Good News Translation)

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

if you criticize and attack each other (God’s Word)

devouring: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as devouring is a word used for wild animals eating food. They eat greedily and swallow food without chewing it. This is not the normal word used to describe humans eating.

5:15b

watch out, or you will be consumed by one another: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as consumed means “destroyed.” It refers to the results of biting and devouring one another. Paul asked the Galatians to stop and think about the effects of not loving one another.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

watch out or you will be destroyed by each other (New International Version)
-or-
look out! Beware ruining one another.
-or-
be careful that you don’t destroy each other (God’s Word)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:3

1:3

Grace and peace to you: This phrase was a common greeting among Christians at that time. This greeting was like a prayer or a blessing. Paul prayed to God and asked him to bless the Galatians.

In Greek, this greeting has no verb. In some languages, it may be more natural to add a verb. (The verbs are underlined below.) For example:

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

?I pray that? God our(incl.) Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will bless you(plur) with his favor. ?I pray that he will? give you(plur) peace ?in your hearts? .

Some languages translate the words Grace and peace as long phrases. If that is true in your language, you may want to use something shorter in this greeting. Here Paul was not actually teaching about grace and peace. So it may not be necessary to include all the elements normally associated with these terms.

Grace: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Grace refers to kindness that is shown to people freely. In this context, the word refers to God’s grace. He is kind to people because he loves them. People have not done anything to deserve his kindness.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

kindness
-or-
generous help
-or-
favor

See also grace, Meaning 1 in the Glossary.

peace: The Jewish concept of peace includes both an absence of war and a state of well-being, safety, health, and economic prosperity. All this comes from God for those who are in a relationship with him.

Some languages may have one word to describe the absence of war or conflict. These languages may have a different word to describe a general state of well-being or an inner peace of the heart. If that is the case, choose the word that describes a state of wholeness or well-being.

from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: There is a textual issue here. Different Greek texts have the pronoun our in different places.

(1) Some texts have our Father. For example:

God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (New Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004), English Standard Version)

(2) Some texts have our Lord Jesus Christ. For example:

God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (Revised Standard Version)

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, King James Version, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). This is the option followed in the UBS Handbook Greek New Testament.

God our Father: In some languages, it may be more natural to translate God our Father as:

God our ?heavenly? Father
-or-
our Father God

the Lord Jesus Christ: In the term Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus is a personal name, and Lord and Christ are both titles.

The word Lord means “master” or “one who has authority over others.” It is a title.

As mentioned in 1:1c, the title Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah.” It is also a title.

Some other ways to translate the Lord Jesus Christ are:

the Lord Jesus the Christ
-or-
Jesus the Lord and Christ
-or-
the Master and Messiah Jesus

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2:11

2:11a

When Cephas came to Antioch: According to 2:12–13, Cephas (Peter) had been in Antioch for some time before Paul opposed him. (As was mentioned in 2:9b, Cephas is Peter’s Jewish name.) In your translation, avoid implying that Paul

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:22

3:22a

But: There is a contrast between 3:21 and 3:22. The contrast is between what the law cannot do (give life) and what the law does (imprisons/confines). Languages have different ways to indicate this negative-positive order of contrast. Some of the ways are:

• With the conjunction “but.”

• With a conjunction other than “but.” For example:

Rather
-or-
Instead (New Century Version)

• With no conjunction.

the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin: In this clause, Paul spoke about the Scripture as if it were a judge who condemns people to prison/jail, and Paul spoke about sin as if it were a jailer who has control over prisoners. These are two figures of speech called personification. In some languages, it will not be possible to translate one or both of these personifications.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

the Scriptures have declared that we are all prisoners of sin (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
the Scriptures say that sin controls everyone (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
They wrote in God’s book that that sin ties up all people
-or-

?God in his? holy book says that the desire to sin has power over everyone

the Scripture: When Paul used the phrase the Scripture, he often referred to a particular verse in Scripture. Here, he was probably referring to Deuteronomy 27:26, “Cursed is he who does not put the words of this law into practice.” This verse is part of the law that God gave to Moses. So here the phrase the Scripture is a way to refer to the law.

The law tells people what sin is. It says that when someone sins, he is guilty. In that sense, Scripture is like a judge who says/declares that people are guilty. The law also shows people that they are under the power of sin.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the scripture says that (Good News Translation)
-or-
the ?law written in? Scripture tells us that
-or-

?God in? his holy book says that
-or-

?they wrote in? God’s book that

all things: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as all things refers to everything that God created. In this passage, the focus is on people. So here the word refers particularly to “everyone.”

Some other ways to translate this word are:

everyone (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the whole world (New International Version)
-or-
we are all (New Living Translation (2004))

confined by sin: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as confined by sin means “under the power of sin” or “controlled by sin.” By using the word confined, Paul was using imprisonment terminology and speaking of sin as if it were a jailer who controls human beings as a jailer controls prisoners. Just as prisoners do what the jailer says, human beings do what sin tells them to do. Sin controls them.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

a prisoner of sin (New International Version)
-or-
controlled by the power of sin (God’s Word)
-or-
under the power of sin (Good News Translation)
-or-
the desire to sin controls everyone

3:22b

so that: There are two ways to interpret the Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that :

(1) It introduces God’s purpose for imprisoning people under sin. His purpose is to give people the promise by means of their faith in Jesus. For example:

so that (New International Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, English Standard Version, NET Bible, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) In introduces the result of our being a prisoner under sin.

Therefore (God’s Word)

(Good News Translation, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The majority of English versions follow this interpretation.

Some other ways to introduce this purpose are:

This was so (New Century Version)
-or-

?He did this? so that

by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe: The word faith is the noun form of the Greek verb that English versions translate as believe. So in these phrases, to have faith in Jesus Christ is the same thing as to believe in him. The same idea is repeated. People receive the promise by (or because of) their faith/belief in Jesus Christ. And God gives the promise to people who believe.

Paul repeated the idea of believing to add emphasis. He emphasized that believing in Jesus is what is important. It is more important than obeying the law.

In some languages, it will not be natural to repeat the idea of believing. So the phrase faith in Jesus Christ and the phrase those who believe can be translated as one. For example:

God’s promises will be for anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

?God? will give the ?blessing that he? promised to people who believe in Jesus Christ.

faith: See faith, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

the promise might be given: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as might be given is passive.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

the promise would be given (New Century Version)

• Use an active verb. For example

?God? might give the promise
-or-

?God? might give the ?blessing that he? promised

the promise: This phrase refers to the promise that God made to Abraham. More specifically, it refers to what God promised Abraham. He promised to bless all the nations through him.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

what was promised (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
what ?God? promised
-or-
the promised blessing (Revised English Bible)
-or-
the ?blessing that God? promised

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:25

4:25

In Paul’s allegory, Hagar represents Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai was where the law was given. Mount Sinai is in the land of Arabia. Arabia was where the descendants of Hagar’s son lived. They were descendants of the slave woman. So Paul associated the law with slavery.

Hagar also represents Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a figure of the Jewish religion. Paul said that the people who follow the Jewish religion are like Jerusalem’s children. They are slaves to the law.

So Paul equated the law-keeping Jews with Hagar and her son. They were all slaves. The law-keeping Jews were outside of the covenant of promise, just like the Gentiles.

4:25a

Now: In Greek, 4:25 begins with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now. This conjunction introduces another point. Here, this conjunction is not a time word.

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

Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia:
This clause means that Hagar represents the covenant of the law that was given at Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai is in the land of Arabia. This is the land where the descendants of Hagar’s son Ishmael lived.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Hagar, who stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia (Good News Translation)
-or-
Hagar represents Mount Sinai in ?the land of? Arabia
-or-
Hagar illustrates Mount Sinai in Arabia

4:25b

and corresponds: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as corresponds is literally “she stands in the same line” or “she belongs to the same category.” Here this verb means she “is a figure of.”

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

She is like (God’s Word)
-or-
she can be compared to

to the present-day Jerusalem: The phrase the present-day Jerusalem refers to the earthly Jerusalem in Paul’s time. This earthly Jerusalem is in contrast with the heavenly Jerusalem in 4:26a.

The city of Jerusalem was the center of the Jewish religion. So Jerusalem represents obedience to the law of Moses as a means of being made right with God.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

to the ?earthly city of? Jerusalem of our day
-or-
to the Jerusalem of today

4:25c

because: Verse 4:25c is an explanation of what is similar between Hagar and Jerusalem. The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because.

Another way to introduce this explanation is:

for (English Standard Version)

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate the conjunction either.

she is in slavery with her children: This clause is a figure of speech called personification. In this personification, Paul spoke of Jerusalem as a mother who has children. Both the mother and the children are slaves.

In this allegory, Jerusalem represents the Jewish religion. The people who follow the Jewish religion are the children of Jerusalem. Here Paul implied that everyone who follows the law as a means of justification is a slave. Just as Hagar and her child were slaves, so also the unbelieving Jews of Jerusalem and all who attempt to keep the law are slaves to the law.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

• Keep the personification. For example:

she and her children live in slavery to the law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the city and her children are slaves ?to the law?

• Translate the meaning without using personification. For example:

The people of this city are those who are slaves ?to the law? .

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2016

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:24

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 5:15

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:22

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:25

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