Galatia 1:15-16

1:15 But when the one ¹  who set me apart from birth ²  and called me by his grace was pleased 1:16 to reveal his Son in ³  me so that I could preach him ⁴  among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from ⁵  any human being, ⁶ 

Galatia 3:16

3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. ⁷  Scripture ⁸  does not say, “and to the descendants,” ⁹  referring to many, but “and to your descendant,” ¹⁰  referring to one, who is Christ.

Galatia 4:4

4:4 But when the appropriate time ¹¹  had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Galatia 4:6

4:6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls ¹²  “Abba! ¹³  Father!”

[1:15]  ¹ tc ‡ Several important witnesses have ὁ θεός (Jo qeos) after εὐδόκησεν (eudokhsen; so א A D Ψ 0278 33 1739 1881 Ï co) while the shorter reading is supported by Ì⁴⁶ B F G 629 1505 pc lat. There is hardly any reason why scribes would omit the words (although the Beatty papyrus and the Western text do at times omit words and phrases), but several reasons why scribes would add the words (especially the need to clarify). The confluence of witnesses for the shorter reading (including a few fathers and versions) adds strong support for its authenticity. It is also in keeping with Paul’s style to refrain from mentioning God by name as a rhetorical device (cf. ExSyn 437 [although this section deals with passive constructions, the principle is the same]). NA²⁷ includes the words in brackets, indicating some doubts as to their authenticity.

[1:15]  ² tn Grk “from my mother’s womb.”

[1:16]  ³ tn Or “to me”; the Greek preposition ἐν (en) can mean either, depending on the context.

[1:16]  ⁴ tn This pronoun refers to “his Son,” mentioned earlier in the verse.

[1:16]  ⁵ tn Or “I did not consult with.” For the translation “I did not go to ask advice from” see L&N 33.175.

[1:16]  ⁶ tn Grk “from flesh and blood.”

[3:16]  ⁷ tn Grk “his seed,” a figurative extension of the meaning of σπέρμα (sperma) to refer to descendants (L&N 10.29).

[3:16]  ⁸ tn Grk “It”; the referent (the scripture) has been specified in the translation for clarity. The understood subject of the verb λέγει (legei) could also be “He” (referring to God) as the one who spoke the promise to Abraham.

[3:16]  ⁹ tn Grk “to seeds.” See the note on “descendant” earlier in this verse. Here the term is plural; the use of the singular in the OT text cited later in this verse is crucial to Paul’s argument.

[3:16]  ¹⁰ tn See the note on “descendant” earlier in this verse.

[3:16]  sn A quotation from Gen 12:7; 13:15; 17:7; 24:7.

[4:4]  ¹¹ tn Grk “the fullness of time” (an idiom for the totality of a period of time, with the implication of proper completion; see L&N 67.69).

[4:6]  ¹² tn Grk “calling.” The participle is neuter indicating that the Spirit is the one who calls.

[4:6]  ¹³ tn The term “Abba” is the Greek transliteration of the Aramaic אַבָּא (’abba’), literally meaning “my father” but taken over simply as “father,” used in prayer and in the family circle, and later taken over by the early Greek-speaking Christians (BDAG 1 s.v. ἀββα).