SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2016 – Page 12

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:17

1:17a

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me: This clause indicates that Paul did not go and get his message from the other apostles. These apostles were in Jerusalem. They had authority as the spiritual leaders of the church. It might be expected that Paul would go to them to learn the gospel. But he did not go to them.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I did not go to Jerusalem and learn from those who were apostles before I was

go up to Jerusalem: The city of Jerusalem was built on a hill. So anyone going to the city had to walk up the hill.

In some languages, it is important to say whether people walk up or “down” when they travel. In other languages, this will be unusual or may be confusing. If it is confusing in your language, you should simply say:

go to Jerusalem (Good News Translation)

The same Greek verb occurs in 1:18b and 2:1a.

apostles who came before me: This phrase refers to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem. These men had become apostles before Paul became an apostle. Three of them are mentioned by name in 2:9b (Cephas, John, and James, who was the brother of Jesus).

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

chosen to be apostles before I was chosen to be an apostle
-or-

became apostles before I became an apostle

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

1:17b

but: There is a contrast here. The contrast is between what Paul did not do (in 1:16c–17a) and what he did. 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 (Good News Translation)

• With no conjunction.

I went into Arabia: This clause states what Paul did after God revealed Jesus to him. He went to Arabia.

Arabia is the name of a region. It was far away from Jerusalem. None of the apostles were in Arabia. This showed that God worked directly in Paul’s life apart from any connection to the apostles in Jerusalem. Paul’s point is that the gospel he preached came from God.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

I went immediately into Arabia (New International Version)
-or-
I went away to the region of Arabia

Notice the word “immediately” in the New International Version example above. This word actually occurs in 1:16 in Greek (the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “rush” there). In English it is more natural to put the word “immediately” with the action that a person does rather than the action that the person did not do.

1:17c

and later returned to Damascus: Damascus is the name of a city. It was also far from Jerusalem. It was on the road to Damascus that God first revealed Christ to Paul (Acts 9:1–19). When Paul left the region of Arabia, he went back to the city of Damascus. Paul did not say how long he stayed in Arabia before he returned to Damascus.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and later I returned to the city of Damascus (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and afterwards I went back to the city of Damascus
-or-
and then came back to Damascus (God’s Word)

© 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 3:4

3:4a

Have you suffered so much for nothing: Before you translate 3:4a, there are two issues to consider:

Issue 1: The interpretation issue

There are three ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as suffered :

(1) It refers to the bad things that the Galatians had experienced. In other word, it refers to the persecution that they had suffered. In this interpretation, the verb is understood in a negative sense. It is likely that the Galatian believers had previously suffered for their faith because of persecution. For example:

Have you suffered so many things for nothing? (NET Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, English Standard Version, NET Bible, God’s Word, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (1996), Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It refers to the good and bad things that they had experienced. In this interpretation, the verb is understood as either positive or negative experiences. For example:

Did you experience so many things in vain? (Revised Standard Version)

(3) It refers to the good experiences they have had since they believed in Christ. In this interpretation, the verb is understood in a positive sense. For example:

Have all your great experiences been in vain…? (New English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). “Suffered” is the normal meaning of this word in the New Testament. And this is the meaning that Paul intended in all other places in his letters where he used this word.

Issue 2: The rhetorical question

This is Paul’s fourth rhetorical question in this chapter. Like the other rhetorical questions, it is a rebuke. The Galatians suffered because they believed in Jesus. Paul rebukes them and says that if they turn away from that faith, they have suffered for nothing.

Some ways to translate this rebuke are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Did you suffer so much for nothing? (God’s Word)

• As a statement. For example:

You have suffered so much for the Good News. (New Living Translation (1996))

• As a command. For example:

Do not allow your suffering to be for nothing.

Use whichever form is most natural in your language.

for nothing: This word refers to something that is useless or without purpose.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

no use/value
-or-
in vain
-or-
wasted

3:4b

if it really was for nothing: Paul added this phrase to his rhetorical question to express his hope that the suffering of the Galatians was not in vain. It was not too late for them to return to the true gospel.

Some ways to translate this phrase are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Surely it was not in vain, was it? (New Living Translation (1996))

• As a statement. For example:

I do not believe that it was for nothing!
-or-
I hope not! (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:7

4:7a

So: Verse 4:7 is the conclusion of this paragraph: Believers are no longer slaves, but are sons and heirs. The Greek introduces this conclusion with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So.

Some other ways to connect this verse are:

Therefore (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
So then

you are no longer a slave, but a son: In this clause Paul stated that the believer’s status has changed. The believer is no longer a slave to the law. He is a son.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

You are no longer a slave but instead you are a child of God
-or-
You are not a slave anymore, rather you are a son
-or-
You are a son. You are no longer a slave.

you: In Greek, the pronoun you is singular. This form emphasizes that each believer is a son. In some languages, it may be more natural to use “we” or “you” plural. For example:

we are no longer slaves
-or-
you(plur) are no longer slaves

4:7b

and: The conjunction and introduces a second part of the conclusion. Not only are believers sons, they are also heirs.

Some other ways to connect this clause are:

also
-or-
So

since you are a son, you are also an heir through God: This sentence declares a truth and the consequence of that truth. The truth is that we are sons. There is no doubt about that. The consequence of that truth is that we are also heirs.

Some other ways to translate this sentence are:

since you are his child, God has made you his heir (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
because you are a son/child, God has made you his heir

an heir through God: The phrase an heir through God indicates that God is the one who made you his heir.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

God has made you his heir (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
everything he has belongs to you (New Living Translation (1996))

heir: This is the same word that Paul used in 3:29c. It refers to those who will receive an inheritance.

Some ways to translate this word are:

one who receives the inheritance
-or-
the person who receives the blessing

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 5:8

5:8

Such persuasion: This phrase refers to the teaching of the false teachers who were trying to persuade the Galatians to stop obeying the truth of the gospel (in 5:7). Specifically, it refers to the teaching that the Galatians needed to be circumcised.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

Those arguments
-or-
That teaching
-or-
Their persuading you
-or-
The teaching of those who are trying to persuade you to be circumcised

does not come from the One who calls you: The phrase the One who calls you refers to God. He is the one who called the Galatians to himself.

Paul stated that the false teaching was the idea of those leading the Galatians astray. It was not from God.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

are not from God who called you to believe
-or-
is not from God . He invited you to be his followers .

Be careful that your translation of the clause who calls you does not imply that there is another God who does not call you.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:14

6:14a

But as for me, may I never: Paul began verse 6:14 with a phrase that emphatically contrasted his actions with the actions of the false teachers. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

But may I never (NET Bible)
-or-
But far be it from me (English Standard Version)
-or-
But it’s unthinkable for me

boast: The word boast is the same word as in 6:13c.

6:14b

except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: This clause means that Paul will only boast about Christ’s death on the cross to save us. This refers to the complete gospel message of Christ’s death as the means of justification.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

about anything except the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross for salvation
-or-

I will only boast about our Lord Jesus Christ dying on the cross for us .
-or-

The death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross to save us is the only thing I will boast about .

To many people, the cross was something to be ashamed of. But to Paul, it was something to be proud of.

our Lord Jesus Christ: In this phrase, the words Lord and Christ are titles for Jesus. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this clearer. For example:

our Lord the Christ Jesus
-or-
Jesus our Lord and Christ
-or-
our Lord Jesus. He is the Christ/Messiah

6:14c

through which: This phrase means “by means of the cross” or “because of the cross.” As in 6:14b, the phrase “the cross” represents Christ’s death on the cross.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

By his cross (God’s Word)
-or-
by means of his cross (Good News Translation)
-or-
Because of his cross (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Because of his death on the cross

the world: The phrase the world refers to values that exclude God. It also refers to everyone and everything that oppose God.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

values of the world
-or-
influences of the world
-or-
what people of the world value
-or-
the evil things that people in the world do

has been crucified to me: In this context, the word crucified is a figure of speech. It refers to “dying” to the world or “no longer being influenced by” the world. Paul used it to show clearly the separation between himself and the world. The world no longer had influence or power over him. He no longer valued or wanted the things that the world wants.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

is dead to me
-or-
my interest in this world died (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
the world is dead as far as I am concerned (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I no longer value/want the things of the world

6:14d

and I to the world: The complete form of this phrase is “and I have been crucified to the world.” This continues the figure of speech. It means “I am like a dead person to the world.” In other words, the world does not value or want what is important to Paul.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

and the world’s interest in me is also…dead (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
and I am dead as far as the world is concerned (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the world no longer values/wants what I value/want.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2:4

2:4a

This issue arose: This phrase is not in the Greek. Most commentators agree that in 2:4–5, Paul was responding to the pressure to have Titus circumcised. In 2:4, Paul began a sentence that he never finished. To make it a complete sentence, the Berean Standard Bible has added some words at the beginning of this verse. Some other English versions do the same. For example:

This matter arose (New International Version)
-or-
We talked about this problem (New Century Version)
-or-
Even that question came up only (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
although some wanted it done (Good News Translation)

issue The word issue in the Berean Standard Bible refers to the issue of circumcision. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this more explicit. For example:

We talked about the issue of circumcision
-or-
But some people wanted him to get circumcised.

because some false brothers: The term false brothers refers to Jews who pretended to be Christian brothers. In fact, they were not Christian brothers. Their message was also a false message.

Some other ways to translate this term are:

false/fake Christian brothers
-or-
those who pretended to be followers (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
some men who pretended to be our brothers in Christ

had come in under false pretenses: In the Greek, the words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as had come in under false pretenses is actually two separate phrases. The Greek literally says “the false brothers brought in secretly, came in by stealth.” There are two ways to interpret the Greek word literally translated as “brought in secretly”:

(1) It has an active sense and describes what the false brothers themselves did. They brought themselves secretly into the meeting. According to this interpretation, this word and the Greek word that is literally “came in by stealth” refer to the same action. Most English versions that follow this interpretation translate both Greek words as one English verb. For example:

had sneaked in among us (Contemporary English Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, New Living Translation (1996), Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It has a passive sense and describes what other people did for the false brothers. Other people brought the false brothers into the meeting secretly. According to this interpretation, this word refers to a different action than the Greek word literally translated as “came in by stealth.” Most English versions that follow this interpretation translate the two Greek words with two different English expressions. For example:

False Christians were brought in. They slipped in (God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The phrase had come in under false pretenses suggests that the false brothers came into the meeting of their own initiative.

You should use a verb that describes the actions of spies/traitors who “sneak” into groups and their meetings.

Some other ways to translate this entire expression are:

these men slipped into our group (Good News Translation)
-or-
some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks (New International Version)
-or-
some false brothers had secretly joined/attended our meeting
-or-
some false believers had come into our group secretly. They came in (New Century Version)

2:4b

to spy on: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to spy on means “to watch or observe.” The context determines whether it was for good or for evil. In this context, the false brothers certainly came to watch with evil intentions. They wanted to destroy the freedom of the new Christians. In some languages, it may be good to make this more explicit. For example:

to spy on us and take away (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
as spies. They had come to take away (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
to observe us and destroy/remove

our freedom in Christ Jesus: This clause refers to the freedom that believers have, because they believe in Christ Jesus, from obeying the law of Moses. As believers in Christ, the Galatians were not obligated to be circumcised as the Jews who were under the law were. They were free from those types of religious laws.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

the freedom that Christ Jesus had given us (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
We are free from the law because we believe in Christ Jesus

Christ Jesus: In 1:1c, 1:3, and 1:12c, the order of this phrase is “Jesus Christ.” This is the first time the order is Christ Jesus. In most English translations and other national language translations, “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus” are translated in the same order as they occur in the Greek.

Remember that Christ is a title, and Jesus is a name. Some languages will always put a title before a name. So, in some languages, it may be natural always to use the same order.

2:4c

in order to: The words in order to introduce the purpose for the false brothers’ action in 2:4b. Paul is saying:

4b The false brothers wanted to take our liberty away from us 4c in order that they could make us slaves.

In some languages, it will be natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

They wanted to make us like slaves.

enslave us: This clause means that the false brothers wanted to make the Galatian believers slaves to the law of Moses. The false brothers wanted Gentile Christians to follow all the rules of the Jewish law. They especially wanted them to be circumcised. If Gentile Christians did what the false brothers wanted, they would become like slaves who are required to obey a master.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

to make us slaves to the law
-or-
They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their Jewish regulations. (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:15

Section 3:15–25

The law did not cancel God’s promise to Abraham

This section has two parts. In the first part (3:15–18), Paul explained what the law was not intended to do. It was not intended to cancel or replace the blessing that God had promised to give to Abraham.

In the second part (3:19–25), Paul explained what the law was meant to do, how it was given, and how it was limited. It was limited as to what it could accomplish in people’s lives. And it was limited as to the time period during which it would govern God’s people.

Some other examples for a heading for this section are:

The law and the promise
-or-
The promise preceded the law
-or-
The law does not change the promise

Paragraph 3:15–18

3:15a

Brothers: The word Brothers refers to the Galatian believers. Paul used this word to show that he loved them, even though he had just rebuked them.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

My dear fellow believers
-or-
Fellow believers in Christ
-or-

My dear friends
-or-
Relatives

let me put this in human terms: This clause indicates that Paul wanted to explain something. He wanted to further explain that believing is more important than doing/obeying the law. He did this by giving them an example from everyday life.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Here is an example from one of our customs
-or-
I will speak about something that happens on the earth so you will understand what I want to say
-or-
I will explain to you what I want to say by using something that you already know

3:15b

Even a human covenant: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as covenant refers to an official agreement or contract. The contract is between two individuals or two groups. Previously, these agreements/promises could be verbal. In today’s world, such agreements are written documents that are signed by both parties.

One example is a loan document. In this document, a person who has borrowed money and the person who loaned the money agree to the terms of paying back the loan.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

With a human contract
-or-
Even with a letter of promise between two people
-or-
When two people make an agreement

Some English versions translate the word covenant as “will.” This refers to a “last will” or “testament.” The problem with the English word “will” is that the person who made the will must die before the will comes into effect. God would not make a will, but he did make contracts/promises.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:18

4:18a

it is good to be zealous: There are several ways to interpret the Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as it is good to be zealous. The two main ones are:

(1) It is passive. It is always good for the Galatians to be shown interest in by other people. To state it in an active way, it is good when other people show an interest in the Galatians. For example:

It is good for people to show interest in you (New Century Version)

(English Standard Version, NET Bible, Revised Standard Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible)

(2) It is middle with an active sense. It is good when the Galatians show an interest in issues. For example:

It is…good to give your attention to something worthwhile (Contemporary English Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (1996), New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Paul was saying that it is fine if other people show an interest in the Galatians, but their motives must be good. The motives of the false teachers were not good. So Paul warned the Galatians not to trust them.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

• As a passive. For example:

It is…good to be made much of (English Standard Version)
-or-
It is good when you are shown a deep interest in by someone

• As an active. For example:

It is good when someone shows a deep interest in you
-or-
It is good when people show concern for you

if it serves a noble purpose: This phrase refers to a person’s motive/intentions. It is the opposite of “not in a good way” in 4:17a.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

but only if their purpose is good (New Century Version)
-or-
if their motives are good

4:18b

at any time, and not only when I am with you: This clause indicates that it is good for people to show real concern for the Galatians at all times. It should not only happen when Paul is with them. And it should not only be Paul who shows concern for them.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

all the time, not just when I’m with you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

This should happen even when I am not with you.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2016

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:17

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:4

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 5:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2:4

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:15

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:18

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