Galatians 2:9

2:9 and when James, Cephas, ¹  and John, who had a reputation as ²  pillars, ³  recognized ⁴  the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me ⁵  the right hand of fellowship, agreeing ⁶  that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. ⁷ 

Galatians 5:17

5:17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires ⁸  that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to ⁹  each other, so that you cannot do what you want.

[2:9]  ¹ sn Cephas. This individual is generally identified with the Apostle Peter (L&N 93.211).

[2:9]  ² 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]  ³ sn Pillars is figurative here for those like James, Peter, and John who were leaders in the Jerusalem church.

[2:9]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ tn Grk “me and Barnabas.”

[2:9]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn Grk “to the circumcision,” a collective reference to the Jewish people.

[5:17]  ⁸ tn The words “has desires” do not occur in the Greek text a second time, but are repeated in the translation for clarity.

[5:17]  ⁹ tn Or “are hostile toward” (L&N 39.1).