Galatians 1:4

Gave himself for our sins. Comp. Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 5:25; 1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 2:14. Purposely added with reference to the Galatians' falling back on the works of the law as the ground of acceptance with God. For or with reference to sins [π ε ρ ι] expresses the general relation of Christ's mission to sin. The special relation, to atone for, to destroy, to save and sanctify its victims, is expressed by uJper on behalf of. The general preposition, however, may include the special Out of this present evil world [ε κ τ ο υ α ι ω ν ο ς τ ο υ ε ν ε σ τ ω τ ο ς π ο ν η ρ ο υ]. Lit. out of the world, the present (world which is) evil. For aijwn age or period, see John 1:9, and additional note on 2 Thessalonians 1:9. Here it has an ethical sense, the course and current of this world's affairs as corrupted by sin. Comp. 2 Corinthians 4:4. Enestwtov, present, as contrasted with the world to come. Elsewhere we have oJ nun aijwn the now world (1 Timothy 6:17); oJ aijwn toukosmou the period of this world (Ephesians 2:2); oJ aijwn outov= this world or age (Romans 7:2). Enestwtov, not impending, as some expositors, - the period of wickedness and suffering preceding the parousia (2 Thessalonians 2:3), which would imply a limitation of Christ's atoning work to that period. Comp. 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Timothy 3:1; 1 Corinthians 7:26. The sense of present as related to future is clear in Romans 8:38; 1 Corinthians 3:22; Hebrews 9:9. For the evil character of the present world as conceived by Paul, see Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:6; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2.