1.
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
apostle . App-189 .
not , Greek. ou . App-105 .
of . Greek. ape . App-104 .
men . Greek. anthropos . App-123 .
neither = nor yet. Gk. oude . Compare verses: Galatians 1:11 , Galatians 1:12 .
by . Greek. dia . App-104 .Galatians 1:1 .
Jesus Christ . App-98 ,
God . App-98 .
Father . App-98 .
raised . Greek. egeiro . App-178 .
from . Greek. ek . App-104 .
the dead . App-139 .
2.
And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
all . Probably including Timothy,
with . Greek. sun . App-104 .
unto = to.
churches . App-186 . The only Epistle addressed to a group of churches. Compare 1 Corinthians 16:1 .
Galatia . See Introduction Notes. In all his other epistles Paul adds some commendatory words, "Beloved of God", Romans 1:7 "of God", 1 Corinthians 1:2 ; "saints", &c, Ephesians 1:1 ; Philippians 1:1 , Philippians 1:1 ; Colossians 1:2 "in God", 1 Thessalonians 1:1 . The omission shows how great was their apostasy.
3.
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Grace . Greek. charis . App-184 .
from. Greek. apo . App-104 .
Lord , App-98 . Compare Romans 1:7 .
4.
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
for . Greek. huper , but the texts read peri . App-104 .
sins . Greek. hamartia . App-128 .
that = so that.
deliver . Greek. exaireo . See Acts 7:10 .
this = the.
evil . Greek. poneros . App-128 .
world . Greek. aion . App-129 . Compare Romans 12:2 . 2Co 4:4 . 1 John 5:19 ( kosmos ).
according to . Greek. kata , App-104 .
will . Greek. thelema . App-102 .
of God, &c. = of our God and Father.
5.
To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
for ever , &c. App-151 .
6.
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
removed . Read "removing". Greek. metatithemi . The Mid. and Pass. with apo , mean "to desert". Him. i.e. God. Compare Romans 8:30 . 1Th 2:12 . 2 Thessalonians 2:14 .
into . Greek. en . App-104 .
Christ . App-98 .
unto . Greek. eis . App-104 .
another . Greek. heteros . App-124 .
gospel . See App-140 .
7.
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
another . Greek. allos . App-124 .
but . Greek. ei me .
some . Greek. tines , App-124 :4. Compare Galatians 2:12 . 1Co 4:18 . 2 Corinthians 3:1 , 2 Corinthians 10:2 .
trouble = are troubling. Compare Galatians 5:10 . Acts 15:24 .
and would = wishing to. Greek. thelo . App-102 .
pervert . Greek. metastrepho . See Acts 2:20 .
8.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
though = even if (Greek. ean . App-118 . b).
heaven . See Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 ,
preach , &c. = preach a gospel (Greek. evangelizo . App-121 .)
beside (Greek. para . App-104 .), or than, that.
have . Omit.
accursed . Greek. anathema . See Acts 23:14 and Compare Galatians 3:10 , Galatians 3:13 .
9.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
before . i.e. at his second visit (Acts 18:23 ).
so = and.
If . Greek. ei. App-118 .2. a.
any man . = any one. App-123 .
preach , &c. Same expression as Galatians 1:8 .
10.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
do I, &c. = am I persuading. Greek., peitho . App-150 .
do I seek = am I seeking.
pleased = were pleasing.
servant . Greek. doulos. App-190 .
11.
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
certify = make known or declare to, as 1 Corinthians 15:1 . Greek. gnorizo .
or Greek. hupo . App-104 .
after . Same as "according to", Galatians 1:4 .
12.
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
neither. Greek. oude.
of = from. Greek. para . App-104 .
revelation . Greek. apokalupsis . App-106 . Compare Acts 9:15 ; Acts 26:16-18 ,
13.
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
conversation = manner of life. Greek. anastrophe . Occurs thirteen times, always translated conversation.
in time past. Literally at one time. Greek. pote .
in . Greek. en . App-1 .
the Jews' religion , Greek. Ioudaismos . Only here and Galatians 1:14 . Compare Galatians 2:14 . As the worship of the Father (Jehovah) at the time of Christ had degenerated into "the Jews' religion", so now the worship of Christ has become the religion "of Christendom.
beyond measure according to (Greek. kata) excess (Greek. hyperbole) . See Romans 7:13 .
persecuted = was persecuting.
wasted = was wasting. Greek. portheo . See Acts 9:21 .
14.
And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
profited . Greek. prokopto . See Romans 13:12 .
above . Greek. huper . App-104 .
equals = of my own age. Greek. sunelikiotes . Only here.
nation . Literally race.
being . Greek. huparcho . See Luke 9:48 .
zealous . Greek. zelotes . See Acts 21:10 .
of my fathers . Greek. patrikos . Only here.
15.
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
separated . Greek. aphorizo . Compare Romans 1:1 .
womb . Compare Isaiah 49:1 , Isaiah 49:5 .Jeremiah 1:5 . Note the steps:
(1) Separation before birth; (2) calling, Acts 9 ;
(3) setting apart for the ministry, Gal 13:2 , Gal 13:3 in fulfilment of Acts 9:15 .
16.
To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
reveal. Greek. apokalupto . App-106 ,
Son . Greek. huios . App-108 .
that = in order that. Greek. hina .
among . Greek. en . App-104 .
heathen = Gentiles. Greek. ethnos .
conferred . Greek. prosanatithemi . Only here and Galatians 2:6 .
flesh and blood . See on Matthew 16:17 .
17.
Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
to . Greek. eis . App-104 .
to , Greek. pros. App-109 .
before. Gr pro . App-104 .
into . Greek. eis. App-104 .
Arabia . See App-180 and App-181 .
Damascus . Whence he escaped as recorded in Acts 9:25 . 2 Corinthians 11:33 .
18.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
after . Greek. meta , App-104 . This was three years from his conversion, viz. A D. 37. See App-180 .
see. Greek. historeo . App-133 .
Peter . The texts read Kephas , also in Galatians 2:11 , Galatians 2:14 . See John 1:42 .
abode . Greek. epimeno . See Acts 10:48 .
with . Greek. pros . App-104 . This first visit was cut short by the murder plot of Acts 9:29 , and the command in the trance of Acts 22:17-21 .
19.
But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
other . Greek. heteros , as in Galatians 1:6 .
saw . Greek. eidon . App-133 .
none . Greek. ou .
save = except. Greek. ei me .
the Lord's brother. See App-182 .
20.
Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
behold . Greek. idou . App-193 .:
21.
Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
Afterwards = Then, as Galatians 1:18 .
regions. Greek. klima . See Romans 15:23 .
Syria and Cilicia. The only references to this journey and sojourn are found in Acts 9:30 ; Acts 11:25 .
22.
And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
was unknown = continued unknown Compare 2 Corinthians 6:9 .
23.
But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
had heard = were hearing: i.e. kept hearing. These are strong Imperfects.
the faith. Greek. pistis App-150 .
destroyed. Same as "wasted", Galatians 1:13 .
24.
And they glorified God in me.
glorified , &c. = were glorifying (Greek. doxazo , See p. 1511) God in me, i.e. finding in Paul cause for glorifying God,