SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2016 – Page 14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:7

3:7

In 3:7, Paul explained how his quotation from Genesis about Abraham related to the Galatians. Because the Galatians believed in Christ, they were spiritual descendants of Abraham. God considered both Abraham and the Galatians as righteous by means of faith.

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of parts of 3:7a and 3:7b. For example:

a So you should know that b the true children of Abraham are a those who have faith. (New Century Version)

3:7a

Understand, then, that: These words are a command or encouragement to draw a conclusion from the example of Abraham and his faith.

Some other ways to translate these words are:

So you should know that (New Century Version)
-or-
And so, you should understand that (Contemporary English Version)

those who have faith: This phrase means “it is those people who have faith” or “the people who believe in Christ.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

it is the people who have faith
-or-
the people who believe in Christ are the ones
-or-
if you believe

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

3:7b

are sons of Abraham: The expression sons of Abraham is a figure of speech. It means “to be like Abraham.” The Galatians are like Abraham in that they have faith. Because of that faith, they are considered to be in the line of Abraham’s descendants.

All Jews are physical descendants of Abraham. But Paul did not consider them to be descendants of Abraham if they did not have faith. He focused on the spiritual relationship and not on the physical relationship.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the true children of Abraham (New Century Version)
-or-
are counted as Abraham’s children
-or-
are children of Abraham

© 2016 by SIL International®
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:10

4:10

You are observing special days and months and seasons and years: This clause tells how the Galatians were enslaving themselves. They were celebrating festivals in the Jewish calendar as a way to be made right with God.

The word days probably refers to keeping the Sabbath. The word months could refer to the monthly new moon celebration. The word seasons could refer to the various Jewish festivals throughout the year such as Passover. The word years may refer to the sabbatical years or the year of Jubilee.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

You are celebrating the Jewish festivals, which include the days, the months, the seasons, and the years, as if you could earn your salvation by doing this !
-or-

When you observe Jewish festivals, the days, the months, the season, and the years, then you are becoming slaves again !
-or-
Why do you observe days, months, seasons, and years commanded by the law

When the Galatians started to follow the law of Moses in order to be made right with God, they were required to celebrate these festivals. Paul confronted the Galatians with the foolishness of what they were doing.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 5:11

Paragraph 5:11–12

In this paragraph, Paul concluded his discussion about circumcision. He made it clear that he was not preaching that people should be circumcised to be made right with God. He strongly condemned the false teachers who did teach this.

5:11a–b

if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this rhetorical question to prove that he did not preach that a person needs to be circumcised.

The word if introduces a statement that is not true. If Paul were still preaching circumcision, then he would not be persecuted. But since he was being persecuted, the Galatians should know that he did not preach circumcision.

It appears that the false teachers had accused Paul of being inconsistent. They perhaps said that in some circumstances he still taught circumcision.

Some ways to translate this proof are:

• As a rhetorical question. In this rhetorical question, it may be necessary to make it clearer that Paul does not preach circumcision. For example:

if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? (New Living Translation (2004))

• As statement followed by a rhetorical question. For example

I do not teach that a man must be circumcised. If I teach circumcision, why am I still being attacked? (New Century Version)
-or-
Some people say that I am still preaching that it is necessary to be circumcised. But if that were true, why am I still being persecuted?

• As statement followed by a tag question. For example:

if I still preached that circumcision is necessary, I would not still be persecuted, would I?

• As a statement. For example:

if I still preached circumcision, then I would not still be persecuted.
-or-
if I were continuing to preach that people must be circumcised, then I would not be persecuted. However, I am still being persecuted. So you can be sure I am not preaching circumcision .

Use whichever form is natural in your language for Paul to prove that he did not preach circumcision.

5:11a

brothers: As in 1:11a, the word brothers refers to “spiritual brothers.” They were Paul’s “fellow believers.” The word includes both men and women. It does not refer to Paul’s biological brothers.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

brothers and sisters (NET Bible)
-or-
fellow believers
-or-
my friends (New Revised Standard Version)

In some languages, it will be natural to put this word first in the verse. See the Display for an example.

if I am: In 5:11, Paul switched from talking about the false teachers to talking about himself. He used the emphatic form of the pronoun I in Greek to focus on his actions.

Some other ways to begin this verse are:

But as for me…, if I (Good News Translation)
-or-
As for me, if I
-or-
if I myself

preaching circumcision: The clause preaching circumcision means “announcing or proclaiming that a person must be circumcised in order for God to accept him.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

preach that circumcision is necessary (Good News Translation)
-or-
preach that people need to be circumcised (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
preach that a person must be circumcised to be made right with God

5:11b

why am I still being persecuted: The verb being persecuted means “made to suffer because of one’s religious beliefs.” This verb first occurred in 1:13b.

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

• Use a passive verb. For example:

why am I still being made to suffer
-or-
how is it that I am still persecuted

• Use an active verb. For example:

why are the Jews persecuting me

5:11c

In that case: The phrase In that case is the translation of one Greek conjunction. This conjunction introduces what would happen if it were true that Paul still preached circumcision.

Some other ways to connect 5:11c to the rest of the verse are:

In such a case
-or-
If that were true (Good News Translation)
-or-
If I still taught circumcision (New Century Version)

the offense of the cross has been abolished: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as offense is often translated “stumbling block” (as in the Revised Standard Version) or “stumbling stone.” It is a figure of speech that refers to something that causes opposition, disapproval, anger, or revulsion. The message of the cross does that.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

the cross wouldn’t be offensive anymore (God’s Word)
-or-
no one would be offended that I preach about Christ’s death on the cross
-or-
my preaching about the cross would not be a problem (New Century Version)

cross: Here the word cross is a figure of speech called a metonymy. The cross represents the gospel message. This message teaches that the only thing that a person needs to do to be saved is to believe that Christ died on the cross for his sins. The true gospel does not include circumcision.

Some ways to translate cross are:

Christ’s death on the cross
-or-
the message of Christ’s death
-or-
salvation through the cross of Christ alone
-or-
the gospel of Christ’s death on the cross for salvation

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:17

Paragraph 6:17

6:17a

From now on: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as From now on is literally “of the remainder.” There are two ways to interpret this phrase:

(1) It means from now on (and continuing into the future). For example:

From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me (New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It means Finally. For example:

Finally, let no one cause me trouble (New International Version)

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

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

Beginning from now
-or-
Starting today

let no one cause me trouble: This clause is a command from Paul to the Galatians. He commands them to stop causing him problems. They had already caused him enough trouble. They should stop causing him trouble by no longer following the false teachers.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

do not give me any more trouble (New Century Version)
-or-
do not cause me to suffer anymore

6:17b

for: Verse 6:17b is the basis for the command in 6:17a not to cause Paul any more trouble. The Greek introduces the basis for this command with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translate as for.

Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. For example:

I have scars on my body that show I belong to Christ Jesus. (New Century Version)

In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.

In other languages, it will be more natural to put the basis for the command before the command itself. For example:

b On my own body are scars that prove I belong to Christ Jesus. a So I don’t want anyone to bother me anymore. (Contemporary English Version)

I bear on my body the marks of Jesus: The phrase the marks of Jesus refer to the physical scars that Paul had on his body. He got these scars because he was beaten for preaching the true gospel of Jesus.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

I have scars on my body that show I belong to Christ Jesus. (New Century Version)
-or-
On my own body are scars that prove I belong to Christ Jesus. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
I have scars on my body. These scars are from people beating me because I preach about Jesus.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2:7

2:7a

This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “but.” Some English versions, such as the New American Standard Bible and New Century Version, translate it that way in order to introduce the contrast between what the leaders might have done (2:6b) and what they actually did (2:7a). The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this conjunction, and many other versions, including the English Standard Version, New International Version, NET Bible, and New Living Translation (2004), also do not translate it. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either. Connect 2:7a to 2:6b in a way that is natural in your language.

On the contrary: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as On the contrary introduces the unexpected way that the leaders responded to what Paul told them. The leaders may have been expected to teach Paul some things and add to his message. But instead of doing that, they agreed with his message.

Some other ways to introduce the leaders’ unexpected response are:

Instead (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
But instead of adding something to my message
-or-
But rather than adding something to my message

they saw that: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as saw means “realized,” “understood,” or “accepted.” The leaders recognized that the gospel that Paul preached was true and complete.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

They realized that (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
they recognised that (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
they understood that

Do not use a word that implies that the leaders literally saw something.

2:7b

I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as entrusted means “given the work/responsibility of.” This word is related to the word for “trust” or “have faith in.” God had given Paul the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. He trusted Paul to be faithful in doing the task.

This is a passive clause. Some ways to translate this clause are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

I had been given the work of telling the Good News to those who are not Jewish (New Century Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

God had given me the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
God had sent me with the good news for Gentiles (Contemporary English Version)

the uncircumcised: This phrase refers to non-Jews. They were people who were not circumcised.

If your word for circumcised is a long phrase, you may want to translate the phrase the uncircumcised in another way. For example:

those who are not Jewish (New Century Version)
-or-
Gentiles (Contemporary English Version)

2:7c

just as Peter had been to the circumcised: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as just as links Paul’s ministry with Peter’s ministry. It means that God had entrusted Paul with the gospel in the same way that he had entrusted Peter with the gospel. They both preached the same gospel, but they preached it to different groups of people. Peter preached to the circumcised.

Here Paul used the word circumcised to refer to Jews.

This is a passive clause. Some ways to translate this clause are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

as Peter had been entrusted to tell it to those who are circumcised (God’s Word)

• Use an active verb. For example:

just as he had given Peter the task of preaching the gospel to the Jews (Good News Translation)
-or-
just as Peter had the work of telling the Jews (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:18

3:18a–b

For: Verse 3:18 is an explanation of 3:15–17. In this verse Paul explained why the law cannot cancel God’s promises. The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For.

Another way to introduce this explanation is:

I say this because

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

if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise: This sentence has a special type of “if” clause. In this “if” clause, Paul stated the opposite of what is true. The truth is that the inheritance (blessing) does not come by obeying the law. If it did come by the law, that would cancel the promise.

Some languages have a special way to translate this type of “if” sentence. Some examples are listed below. After the examples, each part of this verse is discussed.

Some ways to translate this sentence are:

• Use an “if” clause that indicates the opposite of what is true. For example:

If we received the inheritance by obeying the law (but we do not), then we would not receive it by God’s promise.
-or-
If we inherit/receive what God gives because we obey the law, then we do not receive it because God promised it to us, but because of what we do .

• Express the meaning without using an “if” clause. For example:

God does not bless people because they obey the law. He blesses them because he promised to do it.

3:18a

if the inheritance: In the Old Testament, the word inheritance referred to inheriting/receiving the Promised Land. When God gave the Jews the land, it showed his favor and blessing. Paul used this word to refer to God’s blessing in giving his people salvation. God’s people receive this inheritance/blessing as a result of his promise to bless them through Jesus, the special descendant of Abraham.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

if inheriting God’s blessings
-or-
If…God’s blessings (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
if we received God’s blessing
-or-
if God’s gift (Good News Translation)

The word inheritance does not refer to a human inheritance that is passed on to a person’s descendants after he dies.

depends on the law: This clause means that the inheritance “comes by keeping the law of Moses .”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

is based on the law (NET Bible)
-or-
could be received by keeping the law (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
comes from obeying the law of Moses
-or-
because we obey the law

3:18b

then it no longer depends on a promise: Here the pronoun it refers to the inheritance. The word promise refers to God’s promise to bless people through Abraham.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

then the inheritance does not come to us because God promised it
-or-

then we do not receive/inherit God’s blessings because he promised it, but because of what we have done

3:18c

but: There is a contrast between 3:18a–b and 3:18c. The contrast is between the way that the inheritance would not come (in 3:18b) and the way it actually came (in 3:18c). The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the conjunction but.

God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as freely granted means “graciously/kindly gave.” God kindly gave the inheritance to Abraham simply because he promised it to him. This truth proves that the inheritance does not depend on obeying the law.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

God kindly gave the blessing/gift to Abraham because he made a promise to give it to him
-or-
it was because of his promise that God gave that gift to Abraham (Good News Translation)
-or-
God was kind and gave Abraham a blessing because he promised it to him

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:21

Section 4:21–31

Because the Galatians are spiritual sons of Abraham they are free from slavery

In this section, Paul explained why the Galatians should return to freedom and reject the teaching of the false teachers. He contrasted two sons of Abraham: the son of the slave woman and the son of the free woman. The son of the slave woman represented slavery to the law. The son of the free woman represented the freedom of living in the grace of Christ. Living in slavery to the law is in conflict with living in the grace of Christ. Those who live in the grace of Christ must reject slavery to the law.

Some possible headings for this section are:

Hagar and Sarah
-or-
The covenant of the promise is better than the covenant of the law
-or-
Choose grace, not the law

Paragraph 4:21–23

In this paragraph, Paul explained the difference between Abraham’s two sons.

4:21a

Tell me: This is a command. Paul used this command to focus the Galatians’ attention on what he was going to say next.

Another way to translate this command is:

Listen to me (New Living Translation (1996))

you who want to be under the law: The clause want to be under the law means “want to obey the law of Moses.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

you who want to live under the law
-or-
those of you who want to obey the law
-or-
you who want to follow the law of Moses for your salvation

4:21b

do you not understand what the law says?: This is a rhetorical question. Paul used this rhetorical question to challenge the Galatians. He used this rhetorical question to tell the Galatians that they did not listen to and understand the law. They did not understand what they were doing.

Some ways to translate this rhetorical question are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

do you know what the law really says? (New Living Translation (1996))

• As a tag question. For example:

You do not understand what the law says, do you?

• As a statement. For example:

It must be that you do not understand what the law says.
-or-
You should understand what the law says.

the law: Here the phrase the law refers to the five books that Moses wrote. Some other ways to translate this are:

the Jewish law
-or-
the law of Moses
-or-
the law that Moses gave/wrote

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 5:22

Paragraph 5:22–23

In this paragraph, Paul reminded the Galatians that following the Spirit results in godly character. That godly character is in contrast to the works of the sinful nature.

5:22a

But: There is a contrast between 5:19–21 and 5:22. The contrast is between the “the acts of the flesh” and the “fruit of the Spirit.” The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the word But.

Some other ways to show this contrast are:

In contrast
-or-
However

the fruit of the Spirit is: Here the word fruit is used in a figurative sense. It refers to the characteristics of a person whom the Spirit leads. The Holy Spirit living in a person produces these characteristics. In most languages, it will not be possible to use the word fruit in this figurative way.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

the Spirit causes a person to
-or-
if a person is led by the Spirit, he is
-or-
what comes from the Spirit is
-or-
when the Spirit leads/guides a person, that person has the following behavior/characteristics:

5:22b–d

In this list, the focus is on Christian character. It is not a list of actions. In some languages, there are idioms for these characteristics.

Some of these words are similar, and some languages may have a term that covers two of these Greek words.

5:22b

love: Here the word love refers primarily to loving other people.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

to love others
-or-
he loves others

joy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as joy means “gladness” and “happiness” that come from the presence of the Holy Spirit in us.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

to rejoice
-or-
gladness
-or-
he is happy

peace: The Greek word that The Berean Standard Bible translates as peace refers to harmony and well-being.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

to be at peace
-or-
calmness
-or-
he lives in harmony with others

5:22c

patience: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as patience refers to endurance or longsuffering. It characterizes a person who does not easily become angry, even when he is insulted. He is ready to forgive other people when they do wrong to him. He does not complain.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

to be patient
-or-
tolerant with others
-or-
he endures whatever happens

kindness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as kindness refers to kind actions towards other people.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

to be kind to others
-or-
he is helpful/generous
-or-
to be considerate of people

goodness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as goodness is similar to kindness. This word refers to moral excellence, an upright character. Nothing bad can be said about such a person. It also includes generosity.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

uprightness
-or-
generosity
-or-
he does good to others

5:22d

faithfulness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as faithfulness refers to dependability and reliability.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

to be faithful
-or-
he is dependable/reliable
-or-
people can trust him
-or-
he does what he says he will do

See faith, Meaning 3 in the Glossary for more information.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2016

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:10

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 5:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:17

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2:7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:18

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:21

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 5:22

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