SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2016 – Page 17

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:29

4:29

In 4:29, Paul used a story from the Old Testament to represent what was happening in Galatia. The story from the Old Testament is about Abraham’s two sons Ishmael and Isaac. He called Ishmael “the son born according to the flesh.” Ishmael represents the false teachers. Ishmael persecuted Isaac, who was born “by the Spirit.” In the same way, the false teachers were persecuting the believers in Galatia.

In some languages, it may be more natural to make parts of this verse explicit. Compare the Berean Standard Bible and the New Living Translation (2004) below.

a At that time, however, b the son born by the flesh c persecuted the son born by the Spirit. d It is the same now. (Berean Standard Bible)

d But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, a just as Ishmael, b the child born by human effort, c persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit. (New Living Translation (2004))

4:29a

At that time: This phrase introduces a comparison between what happened at the time of Isaac and what was happening in Galatia.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

Just like at that time
-or-
And what happened then
-or-
just as at that time (English Standard Version)

however: There is some contrast between 4:28 and 4:29. The contrast is between the way we would expect people to treat the children of promise and the way they actually treat them. The Greek indicates this contrast with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as however.

Another way to introduce 4:29 is:

But

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

4:29b

the son born by the flesh: This clause refers to Abraham’s son Ishmael. He was the son of Hagar. Here Ishmael represents the false teachers.

The phrase by the flesh refers to the fact that the child was conceived and born in the normal, human way. Abraham tried to fulfill God’s promise on his own. He did that by taking the slave woman Hagar and having a child with her. It is the same phrase that Paul used in 4:23a.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

The son who was born in the normal way (New Century Version)
-or-
he who was born in a human attempt to fulfill God’s promise
-or-
the son of Hagar who was born because of the plan of people
-or-
the one who had only a natural birth

See flesh, Meaning 5 in the Glossary for more information.

4:29c

persecuted: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as persecuted means “cause to suffer.”

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

made trouble (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
treated…badly (New Century Version)
-or-
caused to suffer
-or-
was cruel to

This verb also occurs in 1:13b

the son born by the Spirit: This clause refers to Isaac. Here Isaac represents the believers in Galatia.

The phrase by the Spirit refers to the fact that Isaac was born because of God’s promise to Abraham. God’s Spirit allowed the elderly Sarah to become pregnant. Believers, who are also children of the promise, receive life through God’s Spirit.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

him who was born because of the work of the Spirit
-or-
him who was born by means of the power/help of God’s Spirit
-or-
Isaac, the one who came by means of the Spirit fulfilling God’s promise

the Spirit: This phrase refers to the Spirit of God.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

the Holy Spirit
-or-
the Spirit of God

See Spirit, Meaning 1 in the Glossary.

4:29d

It is the same now: This clause states that the situation between Ishmael and Isaac was similar to the situation in Galatia. The Galatian believers, like Isaac, were persecuted by those who were slaves to the law.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

That’s exactly what’s happening now. (God’s Word)
-or-
The same thing is happening today. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
It is the same today. (New Century Version)
-or-
It’s just like that now.

In some languages, it will be more natural to put this phrase with 4:29a. For example:

a What happened then d is like what is happening now.

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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.
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:4

6:4a

There is a contrast here. The contrast is between the person who deceives himself into thinking that he is something (6:3) and the person who tests his own work and accurately knows whether he has done something well. Paul introduced this contrast with a Greek conjunction that many English versions translate as “but.” The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this conjunction, and some other versions, such as the New International Version and NET Bible, also do not translate it. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either. Connect 6:4a to 6:3b in a way that is natural in your language.

Each one should test his own work: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as test also means “examine” or “judge” in the sense of “evaluate.” The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as work means “deeds” or “actions.” This means that each person should evaluate his own actions to see if they are good or bad. He should not compare his actions with other people’s actions.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Each of you must examine your own actions. (God’s Word)
-or-
Let every man learn to assess properly the value of his own work. (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
Each person should test/evaluate his own deeds to see if they are good .
-or-
Each person must look at his own deeds and see if they are good.

6:4b

There is some implied information here. It is “if he has seen that his deeds are good.” For example:

If it is good, then (Good News Translation)
-or-
If his deeds are good, then

Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reason to boast means “the thing of which one is proud” or “that in which one rejoices.” The Bible often mentions that “boasting” and “pride” are sins. But here the Greek word is used in a good sense.

In many languages, the word boast is only used in a negative sense of excessive bragging. These languages may have to use a word or phrase such as “be glad” or “be happy about himself.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

then you can be proud of what you yourself have done (Good News Translation)
-or-
Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments (God’s Word)
-or-
then he can be glad/happy because of what he himself has done

6:4c

and not in someone else: This phrase means that a person’s reason for happiness should not be in comparing himself with someone else. He should not compare himself to other people and be happy only if he is better than they are.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

without having to compare it with what someone else has done (Good News Translation)
-or-
He should not be happy that what he has done is better than what someone else has done.
-or-
But don’t compare yourself with others. (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:18

Paragraph 1:18–20

In this paragraph, Paul stated that even though he eventually went to Jerusalem, he stayed there only fifteen days. He wrote about this short visit to show that he did not receive his message and authority from the apostles in Jerusalem.

Although he chose not go to Jerusalem when God first revealed the gospel to him, he did meet with the leaders later.

1:18a

Only after three years: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Only introduces the next event that Paul wrote about. Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

Then after three years (New International Version)
-or-

Next, three years later

Paul also used this same conjunction in 1:21 and 2:1, where the Berean Standard Bible translates it as “later.”

after three years: This phrase refers to three years from the time when God revealed Jesus to Paul. It does not refer to three years from the time when he returned to Damascus from Arabia.

If your language requires you to identify which event the three years was counted from, you could say something like:

Three years after God revealed his Son to me …

1:18b

did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to confer means “to visit for the purpose of getting to know someone.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas (English Standard Version)
-or-
I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I went to Jerusalem to meet Peter (New Century Version)
-or-
I went to Jerusalem to become personally acquainted with Cephas (God’s Word)

Cephas: Here Paul used the Aramaic (Jewish) name Cephas instead of the Greek name “Peter.” Both names mean “rock,” and both names refer to the same man. Several English versions, including the Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, New International Version, and New Living Translation (2004), say “Peter” here.

If the major language version in your area says “Cephas,” then you may want to use the name Cephas. You should then use a footnote to explain that this is another name for Peter. Otherwise, you should say “Peter” here.

1:18c

and I stayed with him fifteen days: The phrase fifteen days can also be translated as:

two weeks (Good News Translation)

Compared with three years (1:18a), fifteen days is a very short period of time. Paul emphasized that he only visited with Peter for a short time. He wanted the Galatians to know that he met with Peter, but he did not receive the gospel from Peter.

If, in your language, fifteen days is regarded as a long time, you may want to translate this phrase as:

and stayed with him only two weeks.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:5

3:5

In Greek, this verse begins with a conjunction that makes it clear this verse is Paul’s conclusion or summary of this paragraph.

Some ways to translate this conjunction to introduce this conclusion are:

So then (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
So tell me
-or-
Therefore (King James Version)

Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?: In this verse, Paul again used a rhetorical question. This rhetorical question emphasized something that the Galatians already knew, that they had received the Spirit by faith. This question is similar to the rhetorical question in 3:2.

Paul began the rhetorical question by summarizing two things that God did for the Galatians:

(a) he gave them his Holy Spirit

(b) he worked miracles among them

Paul continued the rhetorical question by asking the Galatians two questions: had they received these things:

(a) by obeying the law or

(b) by faith in Jesus Christ?

Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

• As one or two rhetorical questions. For example:

Does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you because you do what the Law requires or because you hear the gospel and believe it? (Good News Translation)
-or-
Does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you because you do what the Law requires? Or is it because you hear the gospel and believe it?

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

Does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you because you follow the law? No, he does these things because you heard the Good News and believed it. (New Century Version)

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

God gives you his Spirit and works miracles in you. But does he do this because you obey the Law of Moses or because you have heard about Christ and have faith in him? (Contemporary English Version)

• As a statement. For example:

God gives you his Spirit and works miracles in you. He does not do it by means of your obedience to the law. Instead it is by means of your faith in what you heard.

3:5a

lavish His Spirit on you: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as lavish means “give.” God gave the Holy Spirit to the Galatians. For example:

give you the Holy Spirit (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
gives you his Spirit (Contemporary English Version)

work miracles among you: This clause means that God did miracles among the Galatians. These miracles were things such as healing people or causing them to prophesy and speak in other languages. The miracles were also giving people spiritual qualities such as faith, hope, and love.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

does miracles in your midst
-or-
does amazing things among you

3:5b

because you practice the law: In Greek, this is the same phrase as in 3:2b. You should translate it in the same way. For example:

by obeying the Law (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
through keeping the law
-or-
because of keeping the law
-or-
following the law that God gave to Moses

because you hear and believe: In Greek, this is the same phrase as in 3:2c. You should translate it in the same way. For example:

by means of your faith in the gospel you heard
-or-
because of trusting in Christ when you heard the Good News.

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

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:8

Section 4:8–20

Paul begged the Galatians not to turn away from the true gospel

In this section, Paul again rebuked the Galatians for turning to the law and turning away from the true gospel. He begged them to change their thinking and their actions. He said that turning to the law put them back into the slavery that they were in before they knew Christ. He equated obeying the law with paganism. This is a startling and shocking comparison.

Paul appealed to the Galatians on the basis of the emotional bond between him and them. He reminded them of how that bond had developed and that it had resulted in their full acceptance of the true gospel. But now their turning away from the true gospel had perplexed him. He said that they were now like enemies because they followed the false teachers and had turned away from the true gospel.

But the false teachers were the real enemies. For selfish reasons, they taught the Galatians to add something to their faith. They taught them to obey the law. They were not working for the good of the Galatians.

Some possible headings for this section are:

The folly of turning to the law
-or-
Paul’s concern for the Galatians

Paragraph 4:8–11

In Greek this paragraph begins with a conjunction that introduces a contrast. The contrast is between the Galatians’ position as adopted sons in the family of God and their pre-Christian past. Some ways to begin this paragraph are:

But
-or-
However, (New American Standard Bible)

Many English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate it either.

4:8a

Formerly, when you did not know God: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Formerly also means “then” or “back then.” This word, together with the clause when you did not know God, refers to the time before the Galatians were believers.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

In the past, before you knew God
-or-
Back then, when you did not know God

4:8b

you were slaves to: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you were slaves to can also be translated as “you were slaves of.” Paul reminded the Galatians that before they believed in Christ, they were not free. They were like slaves.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

it was as if you were in slavery to
-or-
you were controlled by
-or-
you served

those who by nature are not gods: This clause refers to:

• The idols that the Galatians worshiped. In the books of Romans and 1 Corinthians, Paul taught that idols in themselves are not gods/spirits. Their nature is wood and stone, and men carve them.

• The spirits/beings that the Galatians worshiped. These spirits are fallen angels or demons, and their nature is evil. They are false gods. They do not merit worship.

Some challenges in translating this verse are:

• In some languages, the word for “idols/fetishes” is the same as the word for gods. So it is not possible to say that these things are not really gods when people can see them. If that is true in your language, you may need to translate this as:

idols that should not be worshiped

• In others languages, the word “God” cannot be made plural. If that is true in your language, you may need to translate this as:

those spirits/idols that are not God

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

things which are really not gods at all (God’s Word)
-or-
things/beings that are only false gods

by nature: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by nature means “has the character of.”

Another way to translate this word is:

really/truly

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 5:9

5:9

A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough: This is a proverb. People used this proverb to refer to a small amount of something having a large effect. Paul used this proverb to warn the Galatians about the false teaching.

The word leaven refers to a product like yeast that makes bread rise. It only takes a small amount of yeast to make a large amount of bread dough rise. In the Bible, leaven is almost always a symbol of evil. So here it means that just as leaven affects bread, a small amount of false teaching will affect the churches throughout Galatia and do great harm to them.

Some ways to translate this proverb are:

• Make it explicit that it is a proverb. For example:

“It takes only a little yeast to make the whole batch of dough rise,” as they say. (Good News Translation)

• Make it explicit that it is a warning. For example:

Be careful! “Just a little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise.” (New Century Version)

• Make it explicit that the proverb refers to the false teaching. For example:

This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! (New Living Translation (2004))

• Make it explicit that it is a proverb, a warning, and refers to false teaching. For example:

The teaching that is not true is spreading. As the proverb warns, “Even a little bit of leaven affects the whole lump of dough.”
-or-
Watch out. Remember the proverb that says: “A little yeast makes a lot of flour rise.” And this false teaching is like yeast.

leaven: The Greek noun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as leaven refers to a product that makes bread dough rise. The most common type of leaven is yeast. Most of the more modern English versions translate this word as “yeast.”

This word also occurs in Matthew 13:33, Mark 8:15, and Luke 13:21. If you have translated any of these passages, you should use the same word here.

If you have not yet translated the word “leaven” or “yeast”, here are some ways to translate it:

• Use an expression that describes the yeast. For example:

what spreads to make bread rise
-or-
bread-expanding substance

• Use a term from the national language and indicate its meaning. For example:

yisti that spreads to make bread swell

• Borrow a word and explain it in a footnote. Here is an example of a possible footnote:

Yeast is something that spreads in flour dough and causes it to rise so that after the dough is baked it is soft to eat.

works through the whole batch of dough: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as works through is more literally “leavens.” The word “leavens” is the verb form of the noun “leaven.” This verb refers to the process whereby leaven/yeast makes bread rise.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as batch of dough refers to an amount of clay or dough.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

to make the whole batch of dough rise (Good News Translation)
-or-
spreads through the whole batch of dough (God’s Word)
-or-
makes a lot of flour rise/swell

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:15

6:15a

For: Verse 6:15 further explains what Paul said in 6:14. Paul explained that being dead to the world means that the things of the world, such as circumcision, are no longer important. The Greek introduces this explanation with a conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For.

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

neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything: In Greek, this clause is more literally “neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision.” The Berean Standard Bible adds the word means to make the meaning clearer. It does not matter whether a person is circumcised or not. Paul had said this in 5:6 as well.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

It is not important if a man is circumcised or uncircumcised. (New Century Version)
-or-
Certainly, it doesn’t matter whether a person is circumcised or not. (God’s Word)
-or-
Circumcision is of no value, neither is not being circumcised of any value.

6:15b

What counts is a new creation: The phrase a new creation refers to the new creatures/people that God makes. God completely changes a person when he becomes a believer. The important thing is the change that God makes in believers. They live their lives through the power of the Spirit.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

All that matters is that you are a new person. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
what does matter is being a new creature (Good News Translation)
-or-
The important thing is being the new people God has made. (New Century Version)
-or-
What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people. (New Living Translation (1996))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2:5

2:5a

We did not give in to them for a moment: This clause means that Paul and some other people did not at all agree with the false teachers who wanted Gentile believers to be circumcised. They did not ask Gentile believers such as Titus to get circumcised.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

we did not yield/submit to them even a little bit
-or-
we refused to give in to them for even a minute
-or-
we did not at all accept what they wanted to do
-or-
we did not agree with them at all

In some languages, it may be natural to state this without using the word not. For example:

we completely disagreed with them
-or-
we were completely against them
-or-
we were absolutely opposed to them

not…for a moment: This phrase means “never” or “not at all.” Paul never accepted the teaching of the false brothers.

to them: The pronoun them refers to the false brothers in 2:4a.

2:5b

so that: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that indicates that 2:5b is the purpose for 2:5a. Paul refused to yield to the false teachers (2:5a) so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved (2:5b).

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

We wanted the truth of the Good News to continue for you. (New Century Version)
-or-

We did that because we wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel for you.

the truth of the gospel: This phrase refers to the “true gospel” as opposed to the “false gospel” that the false brothers taught. It means “the message of the true gospel” or “the truth that is the gospel.”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the true gospel
-or-
the true Good News
-or-
the true teaching that is the good news about Jesus

would remain: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as would remain means “might remain” or “might continue.” Paul did not want any false doctrines added to the true gospel. He did not want the true gospel changed in any way. He wanted the gospel to remain or “continue to be” the only message.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

continue (New Century Version)
-or-
should be maintained (Revised English Bible)
-or-
would not be changed/distorted
-or-
would not be mixed with false teaching

with you: Certain Gentiles had already received the true gospel. The Berean Standard Bible translates this phrase as with you to indicate that Paul wanted the true gospel to remain “with them.”

This phrase can also mean “for the sake/benefit of Gentile believers” like the Galatians. Paul did not want the good news of salvation by faith to be changed. He did not want the church to require Gentile believers to be circumcised. He fought hard to keep the gospel pure and unchanged for the benefit of Gentile believers like the Galatians. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

for you (English Standard Version)

General Comment on 2:5

The most prominent part of this verse is that the truth of the gospel be preserved for the Galatians. In some languages, it may be more natural to put 2:5b before 2:5a to show that prominence. For example:

5b We wanted the true gospel to be preserved for you, 5a so we never gave in to them.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2016

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:29

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:4

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 1:18

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 3:5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 5:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 6:15

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2:5

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