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 2:8-9

2:8 (for he who empowered ⁷  Peter for his apostleship ⁸  to the circumcised ⁹  also empowered me for my apostleship to the Gentiles) ¹⁰  2:9 and when James, Cephas, ¹¹  and John, who had a reputation as ¹²  pillars, ¹³  recognized ¹⁴  the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me ¹⁵  the right hand of fellowship, agreeing ¹⁶  that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. ¹⁷ 

[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.”

[2:8]  ⁷ tn Or “worked through”; the same word is also used in relation to Paul later in this verse.

[2:8]  ⁸ tn Or “his ministry as an apostle.”

[2:8]  ⁹ tn Grk “to the circumcision,” i.e., the Jewish people.

[2:8]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “also empowered me to the Gentiles.”

[2:9]  ¹¹ sn Cephas. This individual is generally identified with the Apostle Peter (L&N 93.211).

[2:9]  ¹² 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]  ¹³ sn Pillars is figurative here for those like James, Peter, and John who were leaders in the Jerusalem church.

[2:9]  ¹⁴ 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]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “me and Barnabas.”

[2:9]  ¹⁶ 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]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “to the circumcision,” a collective reference to the Jewish people.