Galatians 3:7

3:7 so then, understand ¹  that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. ² 

Galatians 4:9

4:9 But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless ³  basic forces? ⁴  Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? ⁵ 

Galatians 2:9

2:9 and when James, Cephas, ⁶  and John, who had a reputation as ⁷  pillars, ⁸  recognized ⁹  the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me ¹⁰  the right hand of fellowship, agreeing ¹¹  that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. ¹² 

[3:7]  ¹ tn Grk “know.”

[3:7]  ² tn The phrase “sons of Abraham” is used here in a figurative sense to describe people who are connected to a personality, Abraham, by close nonmaterial ties. It is this personality that has defined the relationship and its characteristics (BDAG 1024-25 s.v. υἱός 2.c.α).

[4:9]  ³ tn Or “useless.” See L&N 65.16.

[4:9]  ⁴ tn See the note on the phrase “basic forces” in 4:3.

[4:9]  ⁵ tn Grk “basic forces, to which you want to be enslaved…” Verse 9 is a single sentence in the Greek text, but has been divided into two in the translation because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence.

[2:9]  ⁵ sn Cephas. This individual is generally identified with the Apostle Peter (L&N 93.211).

[2:9]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ sn Pillars is figurative here for those like James, Peter, and John who were leaders in the Jerusalem church.

[2:9]  ⁸ 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]  ⁹ tn Grk “me and Barnabas.”

[2:9]  ¹⁰ 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]  ¹¹ tn Grk “to the circumcision,” a collective reference to the Jewish people.