Galatians 1:24

1:24 So ¹  they glorified God because of me. ² 

Galatians 2:9

2:9 and when James, Cephas, ³  and John, who had a reputation as ⁴  pillars, ⁵  recognized ⁶  the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me ⁷  the right hand of fellowship, agreeing ⁸  that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. ⁹ 

Galatians 2:15

Jews and Gentiles are Justified by Faith

2:15 We are Jews by birth ¹⁰  and not Gentile sinners, ¹¹ 

Galatians 5:12

5:12 I wish those agitators ¹²  would go so far as to ¹³  castrate themselves! ¹⁴ 

Galatians 5:25

5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with ¹⁵  the Spirit.

[1:24]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the report about Paul’s conversion.

[1:24]  ² tn The prepositional phrase ἐν εμοί (en emoi) has been translated with a causal force.

[2:9]  ³ sn Cephas. This individual is generally identified with the Apostle Peter (L&N 93.211).

[2:9]  ⁴ tn Or “who were influential as,” or “who were reputed to be.” See also the note on the word “influential” in 2:6.

[2:9]  ⁵ sn Pillars is figurative here for those like James, Peter, and John who were leaders in the Jerusalem church.

[2:9]  ⁶ tn The participle γνόντες (gnontes) has been taken temporally. It is structurally parallel to the participle translated “when they saw” in v. 7.

[2:9]  ⁷ tn Grk “me and Barnabas.”

[2:9]  ⁸ tn Grk “so,” with the ἵνα (Jina) indicating the result of the “pillars” extending the “right hand of fellowship,” but the translation “they gave…the right hand of fellowship so that we would go” could be misunderstood as purpose here. The implication of the scene is that an agreement, outlined at the end of v. 10, was reached between Paul and Barnabas on the one hand and the “pillars” of the Jerusalem church on the other.

[2:9]  ⁹ tn Grk “to the circumcision,” a collective reference to the Jewish people.

[2:15]  ⁵ tn Grk “by nature.”

[2:15]  ⁶ tn Grk “and not sinners from among the Gentiles.”

[5:12]  ⁷ tn Grk “the ones who are upsetting you.” The same verb is used in Acts 21:38 to refer to a person who incited a revolt. Paul could be alluding indirectly to the fact that his opponents are inciting the Galatians to rebel against his teaching with regard to circumcision and the law.

[5:12]  ⁸ tn Grk “would even.”

[5:12]  ⁹ tn Or “make eunuchs of themselves”; Grk “cut themselves off.” This statement is rhetorical hyperbole on Paul’s part. It does strongly suggest, however, that Paul’s adversaries in this case (“those agitators”) were men. Some interpreters (notably Erasmus and the Reformers) have attempted to soften the meaning to a figurative “separate themselves” (meaning the opponents would withdraw from fellowship) but such an understanding dramatically weakens the rhetorical force of Paul’s argument. Although it has been argued that such an act of emasculation would be unthinkable for Paul, it must be noted that Paul’s statement is one of biting sarcasm, obviously not meant to be taken literally. See further G. Stählin, TDNT 3:853-55.

[5:25]  ⁹ tn Or “let us also follow,” “let us also walk by.”