¹tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter
²tn Grk “Grace to you and peace.”
³tc ‡ The unusual order kaiV kurivou hJmw'n (kai kuriou Jhmwn), which produces the reading “our Lord Jesus Christ” instead of “God our Father,” is read by Ì^46,51vid B D F G H 1739 1881 Ï sy sa, while the more normal hJmw'n kaiV kurivou (Jhmwn kai kuriou) is found in Í A P Y 33 81 326 365 2464 pc. Thus, the reading adopted in the translation is more widespread geographically and is found in the two earliest witnesses, along with several good representatives of the Alexandrian, Western, and Byzantine texttypes. Internally, there would be a strong motivation for scribes to change the order: “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” is Paul’s normal greeting; here alone is the pronoun attached to “Jesus Christ” (except in the pastorals, though the greeting in these letters is nevertheless unlike the rest of the corpus Paulinum). Intrinsically, the chosen reading is superior as well: Scribes would be prone to emulate Paul’s regular style, while in an early letter such as this one his regular style was yet to be established (for a similar situation, cf. the text-critical discussion at 1 Thess 1:1). Hence, there is a strong probability that the reading in the translation is authentic. Although B. M. Metzger argues that “the apostle’s stereotyped formula was altered by copyists who, apparently in the interest of Christian piety, transferred the possessive pronoun so it would be more closely associated with ‘Lord Jesus Christ’” (TCGNT 520), one might expect to see the same alterations in other Pauline letters. That this is not the case argues for “our Lord Jesus Christ” as the authentic reading here.
⁴sn The one who called you is a reference to God the Father (note the mention of Christ in the following prepositional phrase and the mention of God the Father in 1:1).
⁵tc Although the majority of witnesses, including some of the most important ones (Ì⁵¹ Í A B F^c Y 33 1739 1881 Ï f vg sy^p bo), read “by the grace of Christ” (cavriti Cristou', cariti Cristou) here, this reading is not without variables. Besides alternate readings such as cavriti *Ihsou' Cristou' (cariti Ihsou Cristou, “by the grace of Jesus Christ”; D 326 1241^s pc sy^h**) and cavriti qeou' (cariti qeou, “by the grace of God”; 327 pc Thret^lem), a few mss (Ì^46vid F* G H^vid ar b Tert Cyp Ambst Pel) have simply cavriti with no modifier. Internally, the reading that seems best to explain the rise of the others is the shortest reading, cavriti. Indeed, the fact that three different adjuncts are found in the mss seems to be a natural expansion on the simple “grace.” At the same time, the witnesses for the shortest reading are not particularly impressive, being that they largely represent one textual strand (Western), and a less-than-reliable one at that. Further, nowhere else in the corpus Paulinum do we see the construction cavri" (cari", “grace”) followed by Cristou' without some other name (such as kurivou [kuriou, “Lord”] or *Ihsou'). The construction cavri" qeou' is likewise frequent in Paul. Thus, upon closer inspection it seems that the original wording here was cavriti Cristou' (for it is difficult to explain how this particular reading could have arisen from the simple cavriti, in light of Paul’s normal idioms), with the other readings intentionally or accidentally arising from it.
⁶tn Grk “deserting [turning away] to” a different gospel, implying the idea of “following.”
⁷tn Grk “another.”
⁸tn Grk “which is not another,” but this could be misunderstood to mean “which is not really different.” In fact, as Paul goes on to make clear, there is no other gospel than the one he preaches.
⁹tn Grk “except.”
¹⁰tn Or “trying.”
¹¹tc ‡ Most witnesses have uJmi'n (Jumin, “to you”) either after (Í2 A [D* uJma'"] 6 33 326 614 945 1881 Ï Tert^pt Ambst) or before (Ì^51vid B H 0278 630 1175 [1739* hJmi'n]) eujaggelivzhtai (euaggelizhtai, “should preach” [or some variation on the form of this verb]). But the fact that it floats suggests its inauthenticity, especially since it appears to be a motivated reading for purposes of clarification. The following witnesses lack the pronoun: Í* F G Y ar b g Cyp Mcion^T Tert^pt Lcf. The external evidence admittedly is not as weighty as evidence for the pronoun, but coupled with strong internal evidence the shorter reading should be considered original. Although it is possible that scribes may have deleted the pronoun to make Paul’s statement seem more universal, the fact that the pronoun floats suggests otherwise. NA27 has the pronoun in brackets, indicating doubt as to its authenticity.
¹²tn Or “other than the one we preached to you.”
¹³tn Grk “let him be accursed” (ajnavqema, anaqema). The translation gives the outcome which is implied by this dreadful curse.
¹⁴tn See the note on this phrase in the previous verse.
¹⁵tn Grk “of men”; but here ajnqrwvpou" (anqrwpou") is used in a generic sense of both men and women.
¹⁶tn Grk “men”; but here ajnqrwvpoi" (anqrwpoi") is used in a generic sense of both men and women.
¹⁷tn The imperfect verb has been translated conatively (ExSyn 550).
¹⁸tn Grk “men”; but here ajnqrwvpoi" (anqrwpoi") is used in a generic sense of both men and women.
¹⁹tn Traditionally, “servant” or “bondservant.” Though dou'lo" (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for dou'lo"), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.
sn Undoubtedly the background for the concept of being the Lord’s slave or servant is to be found in the Old Testament scriptures. For a Jew this concept did not connote drudgery, but honor and privilege. It was used of national Israel at times (Isa 43:10), but was especially associated with famous OT personalities, including such great men as Moses (Josh 14:7), David (Ps 89:3; cf. 2 Sam 7:5, 8) and Elijah (2 Kgs 10:10); all these men were “servants (or slaves) of the Lord.”
²⁰tc ‡ The conjunction dev (de) is found in Ì⁴⁶ Í*^,2 A D¹ Y 1739 1881 Ï sy bo, while gavr (gar) is the conjunction of choice in ͹ B D*^,c F G 33 pc lat sa. There are thus good representatives on each side. Scribes generally tended to prefer gavr in such instances, most likely because it was more forceful and explicit. gavr is thus seen as a motivated reading. For this reason, dev is preferred.
²¹tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ajdelfov" 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ajdelfoiv [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).
²²tn Grk “is not according to man.”
²³tn Or “I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it.”
²⁴tn The words “I received it” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
²⁵tn It is difficult to determine what kind of genitive *Ihsou' Cristou' (Ihsou Cristou) is. If it is a subjective genitive, the meaning is “a revelation from Jesus Christ” but if objective genitive, it is “a revelation about Jesus Christ.” Most likely this is objective since the explanation in vv. 15-16 mentions God revealing the Son to Paul so that he might preach, although the idea of a direct revelation to Paul at some point cannot be ruled out.
²⁶tn Or “lifestyle,” “behavior.”
²⁷tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation. Here kaiv (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
²⁸tn Or “among my race.”
²⁹tn Grk “was advancing beyond…nation, being.” The participle uJpavrcwn (Juparcwn) was translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
³⁰sn The traditions of my ancestors refers to both Pharisaic and popular teachings of this time which eventually were codified in Jewish literature such as the Mishnah, Midrashim, and Targums.
³¹tc ‡ Several important witnesses have oJ qeov" (Jo qeos) after eujdovkhsen (eudokhsen; so Í A D Y 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.
³²tn Grk “from my mother’s womb.”
³³tn Or “to me”; the Greek preposition ejn (en) can mean either, depending on the context.
³⁴tn This pronoun refers to “his Son,” mentioned earlier in the verse.
³⁵tn Or “I did not consult with.” For the translation “I did not go to ask advice from” see L&N 33.175.
³⁶tn Grk “from flesh and blood.”
³⁷map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
³⁸sn As a geographical region Arabia included the territory west of Mesopotamia, east and south of Syria and Palestine, extending to the isthmus of Suez. During the Roman occupation, some independent kingdoms arose like that of the Nabateans south of Damascus, and these could be called simply Arabia. In light of the proximity to Damascus, this may well be the territory Paul says he visited here. See also C. W. Briggs, “The Apostle Paul in Arabia,” Biblical World 41 (1913): 255-59.
³⁹map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
⁴⁰sn Cephas. This individual is generally identified with the Apostle Peter (L&N 93.211).
⁴¹tn Although often translated “to get acquainted with Cephas,” this could give the impression of merely a social call. L&N 34.52 has “to visit, with the purpose of obtaining information” for the meaning of iJstorevw (Jistorew), particularly in this verse.
⁴²tn Grk “But another of the apostles I did not see, except…” with “another” in emphatic position in the Greek text. Paul is determined to make the point that his contacts with the original twelve apostles and other leaders of the Jerusalem church were limited, thus asserting his independence from them.
⁴³tn Grk “behold.”
⁴⁴tn Grk “What things I am writing to you, behold, before God [that] I am not lying.”
⁴⁵tn Or “by sight”; Grk “by face.”
⁴⁶tn The Greek verb here is eujaggelivzetai (euangelizetai).
⁴⁷tn Here kaiv (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the result of the report about Paul’s conversion.
⁴⁸tn The prepositional phrase ejn emoiv (en emoi) has been translated with a causal force.