THEN AFTER THE SPACE OF FOURTEEN YEARS I WENT UP AGAIN (επειτα δια δεκατεσσαρων ετων παλιν ανεβην) This use of δια for interval between is common enough. Paul is not giving a recital of his visits to Jerusalem, but of his points of contact with the apostles in Jerusalem. As already observed, he he... [ Continue Reading ]
BY REVELATION (κατα αποκαλυψιν). In Acts 15:2 the church sent them. But surely there is no inconsistency here.I LAID BEFORE THEM (ανεθεμην αυτοις). Second aorist middle indicative of old word ανατιθημ, to put up, to place before, with the dative case. But who were the "them" (αυτοις)? Evidently... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING A GREEK (Hελλην ων). Concessive participle, though he was a Greek.WAS COMPELLED TO BE CIRCUMCISED (ηναγκασθη περιτμηθηνα). First aorist passive indicative of αναγκαζω and first aorist passive infinitive of περιτεμνω. Curiously enough some scholars interpret this language to mean that Paul... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BECAUSE OF THE FALSE BRETHREN PRIVATELY BROUGHT IN (δια δε τους παρεισακτους ψευδαδελφους). Late verbal adjective παρεισακτος from the double compound verb παρεισαγω, found in papyri in the sense of brought in by the side or on the sly as here. Evidently some of the Judaizers or sympathizers... [ Continue Reading ]
NO, NOT FOR AN HOUR (ουδε προς ωραν). Pointed denial that he and Barnabas yielded at all "in the way of subjection" (τη υποταγη, in the subjection demanded of them). The compromisers pleaded for the circumcision of Titus "because of the false brethren" in order to have peace. The old verb εικω, t... [ Continue Reading ]
SOMEWHAT (τ). Something, not somebody. Paul refers to the Big Three (Cephas, James, and John). He seems a bit embarrassed in the reference. He means no disrespect, but he asserts his independence sharply in a tangled sentence with two parentheses (dashes in Westcott and Hort).WHATSOEVER THEY WERE... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT CONTRARIWISE (αλλα τουναντιον). But on the contrary (accusative of general reference, το εναντιον). So far from the three championing the cause of the Judaizers as some hoped or even the position of the compromisers in verses Galatians 2:4, they came boldly to Paul's side after hearing the ca... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT WROUGHT FOR PETER UNTO THE APOSTLESHIP OF THE CIRCUMCISION (ο γαρ ενεργησας Πετρω εις αποστολην της περιτομης). Paul here definitely recognizes Peter's leadership (apostleship, αποστολην, late word, already in Acts 1:25; 1 Corinthians 9:2) to the Jews and asserts that Peter acknowledges h... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WHO WERE REPUTED TO BE PILLARS (ο δοκουντες στυλο εινα). They had that reputation (δοκουντες) and Paul accepts them as such. Στυλο, old word for pillars, columns, as of fire (Revelation 10:1). So of the church (1 Timothy 3:15). These were the Pillar Apostles.GAVE TO ME AND BARNABAS THE RIGHT... [ Continue Reading ]
ONLY (μονον). One item was emphasized.WE SHOULD REMEMBER (μνημονευωμεν). Present active subjunctive, "that we should keep on remembering."WHICH VERY THING (ο--αυτο τουτο). Repetition of relative and demonstrative, tautology, "which this very thing." In fact Barnabas and Saul had done it befor... [ Continue Reading ]
I RESISTED HIM TO THE FACE (κατα προσωπον αυτω αντεστην). Second aorist active indicative (intransitive) of ανθιστημ. "I stood against him face to face." In Jerusalem Paul faced Peter as his equal in rank and sphere of work. In Antioch he looked him in the eye as his superior in character and cou... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BEFORE THAT CERTAIN CAME FROM JAMES (προ του γαρ ελθειν τινας απο Ιακωβου). The reason (γαρ) for Paul's condemnation of Peter. Articular infinitive in the genitive after προ with the accusative of general reference (τινας), "for before the coming as to some from James." Does Paul mean to say t... [ Continue Reading ]
DISSEMBLED LIKEWISE WITH HIM (συνυπεκριθησαν αυτω κα). First aorist passive indicative of the double compound verb συνυποκρινομα, a late word often in Polybius, only here in N.T. One example in Polybius means to pretend to act a part with. That idea here would help the case of the rest of the Jew... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN I SAW (Αλλ' οτε ειδον). Paul did see and saw it in time to speak.THAT THEY WALKED NOT UPRIGHTLY (οτ ορθοποδουσιν). Present active indicative retained in indirect discourse, "they are not walking straight." Ορθοποδεω (ορθος, straight, πους, foot). Found only here and in later ecclesiast... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT SINNERS OF THE GENTILES (ουκ εξ εθνων αμαρτωλο). The Jews regarded all Gentiles as "sinners" in contrast with themselves (cf. Matthew 26:45 "sinners" and Luke 18:32 "Gentiles"). It is not clear whether verses Galatians 2:15-21 were spoken by Paul to Peter or whether Paul is now simply address... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT JUSTIFIED (ου δικαιουτα). Present passive indicative of δικαιοω, an old causative verb from δικαιος, righteous (from δικε, right), to make righteous, to declare righteous. It is made like αξιοω, to deem worthy, and κοινοω, to consider common. It is one of the great Pauline words along with... [ Continue Reading ]
WE OURSELVES WERE FOUND SINNERS (ευρεθημεν κα αυτο αμαρτωλο). Like the Gentiles, Jews who thought they were not sinners, when brought close to Christ, found that they were. Paul felt like the chief of sinners.A MINISTER OF SIN (αμαρτιας διακονος). Objective genitive, a minister to sin. An illog... [ Continue Reading ]
A TRANSGRESSOR (παραβατην). Peter, by his shifts had contradicted himself helplessly as Paul shows by this condition. When he lived like a Gentile, he tore down the ceremonial law. When he lived like a Jew, he tore down salvation by grace.... [ Continue Reading ]
I THROUGH THE LAW DIED TO THE LAW (εγω δια νομου νομω απεθανον). Paradoxical, but true. See Romans 7:4; Romans 7:6 for picture of how the law waked Paul up to his real death to the law through Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST (Χριστω συνεσταυρωμα). One of Paul's greatest mystical sayings. Perfect passive indicative of συσταυροω with the associative instrumental case (Χριστω). Paul uses the same word in Romans 6:6 for the same idea. In the Gospels it occurs of literal crucifixion about... [ Continue Reading ]
I DO NOT MAKE VOID THE GRACE OF GOD (ουκ αθετω την χαριν του θεου). Common word in LXX and Polybius and on, to make ineffective (α privative and τιθημ, to place or put). Some critic would charge him with that after his claim to such a close mystic union with Christ.THEN CHRIST DIED FOR NOUGHT ... [ Continue Reading ]