Galatians 3:1

Justification by Law or by Faith?

3:1 You ¹  foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell ²  on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed ³  as crucified!

Galatians 5:11

5:11 Now, brothers and sisters, ⁴  if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? ⁵  In that case the offense of the cross ⁶  has been removed. ⁷ 

[3:1]  ¹ tn Grk “O” (an interjection used both in address and emotion). In context the following section is highly charged emotionally.

[3:1]  ² tn Or “deceived”; the verb βασκαίνω (baskainw) can be understood literally here in the sense of bewitching by black magic, but could also be understood figuratively to refer to an act of deception (see L&N 53.98 and 88.159).

[3:1]  ³ tn Or “publicly placarded,” “set forth in a public proclamation” (BDAG 867 s.v. προγράφω 2).

[5:11]  ⁴ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11.

[5:11]  ⁵ sn That is, if Paul still teaches observance of the Mosaic law (preaches circumcision), why is he still being persecuted by his opponents, who insist that Gentile converts to Christianity must observe the Mosaic law?

[5:11]  ⁶ sn The offense of the cross refers to the offense to Jews caused by preaching Christ crucified.

[5:11]  ⁷ tn Or “nullified.”