SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2016

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:8

1:8–9

In these verses, Paul strongly condemned anyone who teaches a false gospel. The true gospel is the only gospel. It is more important than any person.

No one, including Paul, may change the gospel. Paul said that God would curse anyone who would change the gospel. He emphasized this by stating a situation that was not real. Neither Paul nor the brothers with him had preached a different gospel to the Galatians.

This contrasts with the real situation of the false teachers who were teaching a false gospel. Paul was warning those who were listening to the false teachers.

1:8

Before you translate 1:8, carefully consider what is the most natural order in your language for the clauses in this verse. In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses. Compare the order of the clause in the Berean Standard Bible and God’s Word:

a But even if we or an angel from heaven b should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, c let him be under a curse! (Berean Standard Bible)

b Whoever tells you good news that is different from the Good News we gave you c should be condemned to hell, a even if he is one of us or an angel from heaven. (God’s Word)

See other examples in the Display under 1:8a–c reordered.

1:8a

But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between the “gospel of Christ” that Paul preached and the “different gospel” that some men were preaching. With this contrast, Paul continued to show that there is only one gospel.

Some English versions indicate this contrast with the conjunction But. Other English versions do not translate this conjunction here. However, the contrast is still shown by the expressions for the true gospel and the false gospel.

even if: The phrase even if introduces a situation that is not real. The following situation never happened. The Greek grammar clearly shows that what follows is a hypothetical statement.

Some other ways to translate this are:

suppose
-or-
consider/imagine ?the false situation in which?
-or-
if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you ?but we have not done that?

we: The pronoun we refers to Paul and his companions. Paul used it to emphasize that he himself is included. This pronoun does not include the Galatians.

an angel from heaven: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as angel means “messenger.” It can be either a human messenger or a divine messenger. The phrase from heaven shows that here it refers to a divine messenger.

Here, heaven is a figure of speech that represents God who lives in heaven. So the phrase angel from heaven refers to a “messenger from heaven” or “messenger from God.”

Some ways to translate this phrase are:

• Use a descriptive word or phrase. For example:

messenger from heaven/God
-or-

?good/holy? spirit-being from above

• Use a local term that fits the biblical meaning. If you use a term for angel that people cannot confuse with an ordinary messenger, then it would not be necessary to add from heaven. For example:

angel

• In some areas the churches may already be using a borrowed term or a transliterated word for angel. Be sure that this term fits the biblical meaning. If some people do not understand the right meaning from this term, you may need to indicate the meaning with a descriptive phrase. For example:

an angelos messenger from heaven
-or-
a sacred angelos spirit from above

Be sure that your term for angel is different from your terms for “prophet” and “apostle.”

See also angel in the Glossary for more information.

1:8b

should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as contrary to can also be translated as “that is opposed to” or “that does not agree with.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preached to you (Good News Translation)
-or-
should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you (New International Version)
-or-
should preach/teach you a doctrine that does not agree with the gospel we already taught you

1:8c

let him be under a curse: This clause is a type of prayer. Paul asked God to punish or condemn the person who changed the true gospel and preached another gospel.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

may he be cursed
-or-
Let God’s curse fall on anyone (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I pray that God will punish (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
may he be condemned to hell (Good News Translation)

Paul was not casting a spell on someone. Do not use an expression in your language that would imply casting a spell.

him: The pronoun him refers to anyone who might preach a false gospel.

Some ways to translate this more clearly are:

that person
-or-
that messenger

© 2016 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2:16

2:16

This verse contains many clauses. Some of the clauses at the end of the verse repeat information from the beginning. In some languages, it may be more natural to avoid repeating the information. One way to do this is:

a know that a man is not justified by works of the law, b but by faith in Jesus Christ. c So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus. d ?We did this? that we may be justified.

2:16a

In 2:16, Paul said something that people would not normally expect a Jew to say. The unexpected statement was that he and Peter (who were born Jews and had lived by the law) knew that a person was not justified by obeying the law. Paul introduced this unexpected statement with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “but.” Some other ways to translate this conjunction are:

however
-or-
yet (English Standard Version)
-or-
nevertheless (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
in spite of that

The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this conjunction, and some other versions, such as the New International Version, also do not translate it. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either. Connect 2:16a to 2:15 in a way that is natural in your language.

know that a man is not justified: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as justified means that God has made us acceptable to him. It means “acquitted,” “pronounced and treated as righteous,” or “accepted as righteous before God.” A person who is justified is found to be in perfect conformity to God’s law. He no longer has his sins counted against him. God forgives him and considers him to be a righteous person.

Some other ways to translate the word justified are:

accepted as righteous by God
-or-
considered straight before God
-or-
made right with God
-or-
a person’s sins are taken care of

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:27

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))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:30

4:30a

But: There is a contrast between 4:29 and 4:30. The contrast is between the way that the false teachers were treating the Galatians (persecuting them) and the way that the Galatians should treat the false teachers (cast them out). The Greek indicates this contrast with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But.

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

what does the Scripture say?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this rhetorical question to emphasize what the Scripture says.

Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

what do the Scriptures say about that? (New Living Translation (2004))

• As a statement. For example:

consider what God’s word says:

Use whichever form is most natural in your language.

4:30b

Expel the slave woman and her son: This is a quotation from Genesis 21:10. God told Abraham to send Hagar and her son away from the household.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Send away the slave woman and her son
-or-
Throw out the slave woman and her son. (New Century Version)
-or-
Cast out/Banish the slave woman and her son

Paul probably quoted this verse to tell the Galatian Christians to expel those people who were telling them to follow the law.

4:30c

for: Verse 4:30c is the basis for the command to send away the slave woman and her son (in 4:30b). The Greek introduces this basis with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for. Another way to translate this conjunction is:

b Get rid of the slave woman and her son, c because the son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance d with the son of the free woman. (God’s Word)

In some language, no conjunction is needed to introduce the basis for the command. For example:

b Get rid of the slave woman and her son! c He won’t be given anything. d The son of the free woman will receive everything. (Contemporary English Version)

In other languages, it is more natural to put the basis before the command. For example:

c The son of the slave woman must never share the inheritance d with the son of the free woman. b So throw out the slave woman and her son.

the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance: In the case of Abraham, his possessions that were to be inherited as part of the inheritance included the spiritual blessing of the covenant that God made with him. The son of the slave woman was not part of that covenant.

Some other ways to translate the phrase will never share in the inheritance are:

will not be an heir
-or-
will not have a part of the father’s property (Good News Translation)
-or-
will not receive the blessing

4:30d

with the free woman’s son: In some languages, it may be more natural to make this phrase a separate sentence. For example:

The son of the free woman will be the heir of everything.
-or-
The son of the free women will inherit/receive all his father’s possessions.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:5

6:5

For: Verse 6:5 is the basis for the command in 6:4a that “each person should test his own work.” The Greek introduces this basis with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For.

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

each one should carry his own load: This clause is a metaphor. In this metaphor, the work/responsibilities that God has given each believer are compared to bearing/carrying a load. Believers must concentrate on doing the work for which they themselves are responsible.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

We each must carry our own load. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
each of us are responsible for carrying the load ?that God has given us?

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

We must each do the work ?that God has given each of us? , like someone who is responsible/assigned to carry his own load.

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

we are each responsible for our own conduct (New Living Translation (2004))

load: In some languages, it may be necessary to translate the word load here in 6:5 with the same word as “burden” in 6:2. In such a situation, there may be an apparent conflict between 6:2 and 6:5. On the one hand, we are to bear one another’s burdens/loads. On the other hand, we are to bear our own loads.

The words translated as “burden” and load are different in Greek. So you may have to say something like “heavy load” in 6:2 to distinguish it from load here.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:19

1:19

But: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between whom Peter saw and whom he did not see. The Greek indicates this contrast with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But.

I saw none of the other apostles except James: There are two ways to interpret the clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as I saw none of the other apostles except James :

(1) Paul considered James to be one of the apostles. He saw two of the apostles, Peter and James, but none of the other apostles. For example:

The only other apostle I saw was James (Contemporary English Version)

(2) Paul did not consider James to be one of the apostles. He saw the apostle Peter, but no other apostle. The only other person he saw was James. For example:

I didn’t see any other apostle. I only saw James, the Lord’s brother. (God’s Word)

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

I saw none of the other apostles: Paul wrote this tell the Galatians that he had almost no contact with the apostles in Jerusalem. They did not teach the gospel to him.

The word “apostle” first occurs in 1:1a. See also apostle in the Glossary for more information.

James, the Lord’s brother: Church groups differ in what they believe about James and in what sense he was the Lord’s brother. The three main views are:

(1) James was the son of Joseph and Mary, born after Jesus.

(2) James was Jesus’ cousin.

(3) James was Jesus’ half-brother. He was the son of Joseph from a previous marriage.

If possible, use a general word for brother that could apply to any of the views above.

If your language must distinguish between “older” and “younger” brother, it is recommended that you use a term for “younger brother” here.

If your language does not use terms that distinguish male and female, you can use a term for “sibling” or “younger-sibling.”

the Lord’s brother: Paul used the title “Lord” to refer to Jesus. If this is not clear in your language, you could say:

the brother of the Lord Jesus

General Comment on 1:19

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses in this verse. You may need to say that Paul also saw James before mentioning that he did not see any other apostles. For example:

I also saw James, the Lord’s brother. But I did not see any of the other apostles at that time.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:6

Paragraph 3:6–9

The implied response to Paul’s rhetorical questions in 3:1–5 is that the Galatians received the Spirit by faith in Christ. Paul then talked about Abraham to support his case that salvation is by faith. Abraham was a familiar example of a person with great faith.

Paul explained that God accepted Abraham as righteous because of his faith. Salvation never depended on keeping the law.

3:6a–b

So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”: This verse is a quotation from Genesis 15:6. It proves that God considered Abraham as righteous by means of faith. Abraham’s righteousness did not depend on anything that he did.

You may want to make it clear that this is a quotation from Genesis. One way to do this is to put the reference in a footnote at the end of the verse (as in the Berean Standard Bible). A sample footnote is:

This is a quotation from Genesis 15:6.

3:6a

So also: There are at least three ways to interpret the function of the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So also :

(1) It introduces an example. The example is Abraham and his faith. For example:

Abraham serves as an example. (God’s Word)

(2) It introduces a quotation from the Old Testament. Here, it is a shortened introduction. The longer introduction would be “just as it is written” (as in Romans 1:17). For example:

The Scriptures say that God accepted Abraham because Abraham had faith. (Contemporary English Version)
(3) It introduces a comparison. The comparison is between Abraham in 3:6 and “those who believe” in 3:7. They were both God’s people because they believed. For example:

6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, 7 so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. (NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Consider Abraham (New International Version)
-or-
Think of Abraham
-or-
Remember Abraham

Abraham: Abraham is an important Jewish ancestor written about in the Old Testament. Paul often referred to him as an example of a believing person.

In some languages, it is natural to use a title or description along with the name of important people like Abraham. For example:

Abraham ?of old?
-or-

?our
(excl.) father? Abraham
-or-

?the prophet? Abraham

believed God: Paul used the word believed to refer to faith in God. It does not refer to just accepting a statement as true.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

trusted God
-or-
had faith in God
-or-
put his faith in God (New Jerusalem Bible)

See faith, Meaning 1 in the Glossary for more information.

3:6b

and it was credited to him as righteousness: The clause it was credited means “was calculated,” “was reckoned,” or “was regarded/considered.” God considered Abraham to be righteous because of his faith.

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

• Use a passive clause. For example:

he was counted/considered to be righteous

• As an active verb: For example:

and God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that faith made him right with God (New Century Version)
-or-
and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous (Good News Translation)

as righteousness: The word righteousness refers to the character trait of being “upright,” “blameless,” or “just.”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

upright/blameless
-or-
a just/straight man

See also righteous in the Glossary for more information.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:9

4:9a

But: There is a contrast between 4:8 and 4:9. The contrast is between not knowing God (4:8a) and knowing God. The Berean Standard Bible introduces this contrast with the conjunction But.

Another way to translate this is:

However

now that you know God: This clause indicates that these Galatians had become believers.

Another way to translate this clause is:

now that you have come to know God (English Standard Version)

4:9b

or rather: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as or rather indicates that Paul wanted to clarify what he had just said.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

or, I should say (Good News Translation)
-or-
or better still (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
actually

are known by God: The verb are known is a passive verb. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

• As a passive. For example:

are known of God (King James Version)

• As an active. For example:

God knows you (Good News Translation)

4:9c

how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this question to rebuke the Galatians strongly. He indicated that when the Galatians obey the laws of Moses such as circumcision, it was the same as returning to the pagan religion of their former lives. This was a startling and shocking statement.

Some ways to translate this rhetorical question are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

why are you turning back to those weak and worthless elementary principles again?

• As statement followed by a question. For example:

surely you do not wish to turn back and obey those weak and worthless elementary principles, do you?

• As a statement. For example:

I am shocked that you should turn back to obey/follow those weak and worthless rules and laws. You should never do that!

Use whichever form is most natural in your language to express a rebuke.

are turning back: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as are turning back indicates that the Galatians were returning to their pagan ways. They were abandoning the gospel and starting to follow the laws of Moses. It was the same as returning to customs that they previously obeyed before they became believers.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

return to follow/obey
-or-
turn back and become the slaves (Contemporary English Version)

those weak and worthless principles: The adjectives weak and worthless indicate that the weak and worthless principles have no power to save us and are of no value.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as principles refers to the rules, laws, customs, and principles of this world. It is the same Greek word that was used in 4:3b. You should translate here as you did there.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

customs and law in this world that are weak and useless
-or-
those weak and useless rules (New Century Version)
-or-
those customs/teaching of ?our ancestors? that have no power ?to save people? and have no value

4:9d

Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?: This is a second rhetorical question, after the one in 4:9c. It continues Paul’s rebuke of the Galatians.

In Greek, 4:9c and 4:9d are part of the same sentence. Some ways to translate the rhetorical question here in 4:9d are:

• As a separate rhetorical question. For example:

Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? (Good News Translation)

• As a statement. For example:

When you do that, you are enslaving yourselves to them all over again.
-or-
You are becoming their slaves again!

Use whichever form is most natural in your language to express a rebuke.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2016

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2:16

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:27

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:30

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:19

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:6

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:9

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