῞Οτε δὲ εὐδόκησεν ὁ θεὸς ὁ ἀφορίσας με ἐκ κοιλίας μητρός μου καὶ καλέσας διὰ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ
ὁτε - when
δε - connecting word, if translated should be but or and
εὐδοκησεν - he was pleased
ὁ θεος - God
ὁ - the
ἀφορισας - having separated
με - me
ἐκ - out of
κοιλιας -cavity or hollow, here it means womb
μητρος - of mother
μου - my
και - and
καλεσας - having called
δια - through (when followed by the genitive case)
της χαριτος αὐτου - his grace
With my very literal understanding of Greek the word ἀφορισας 'having separated' seems to refer to the process of giving birth and to me implies that God brought Paul into the world. Translators seem to take the separation as being a calling ie that God separated Paul for his work from the time of the womb. Perhaps this shows the Calvinistic, predestination bent of some translators? Or perhaps it shows a better understanding common Greek usage!
My preferred translation for the moment:
When God was pleased (the one having separated me out of my mother's womb and having called through his grace)
Wednesday 7 March 2012
Tuesday 6 March 2012
Galatians 1:14
καὶ προέκοπτον ἐν τῷ ᾿Ιουδαϊσμῷ ὑπὲρ πολλοὺς συνηλικιώτας ἐν τῷ γένει μου, περισσοτέρως ζηλωτὴς ὑπάρχων τῶν πατρικῶν μου παραδόσεων.
και - even, and, also
προεκοπτον - I was progressing
ἐν τῳ Ἰουδαισμῳ - in Judaism
ὑπερ - above
πολλους - many
συνηλικιωτας - same-aged ones
ἐν τῳ γενει - in the kin, nation
μου - my
so far: I was even progressing in Judaism beyond many of those my age amongst my people
περισσοτερως - a word denoting a very large amount, more than more
ζηλοωτης - zealous (from zealot)
ὑπαρχων - becoming
των πατρικων - of the fathers
μου - my
παραδωσεων - of traditions, that which has been passed on
so: becoming exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
the whole verse:
I was even progressing in Judaism beyond many of those my age amongst my people, becoming exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
και - even, and, also
προεκοπτον - I was progressing
ἐν τῳ Ἰουδαισμῳ - in Judaism
ὑπερ - above
πολλους - many
συνηλικιωτας - same-aged ones
ἐν τῳ γενει - in the kin, nation
μου - my
so far: I was even progressing in Judaism beyond many of those my age amongst my people
περισσοτερως - a word denoting a very large amount, more than more
ζηλοωτης - zealous (from zealot)
ὑπαρχων - becoming
των πατρικων - of the fathers
μου - my
παραδωσεων - of traditions, that which has been passed on
so: becoming exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
the whole verse:
I was even progressing in Judaism beyond many of those my age amongst my people, becoming exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Friday 2 March 2012
Galatians 1:13
There are few words in this verse that I don't know and in this case I am trusting to Strong's definitions.
᾿Ηκούσατε γὰρ τὴν ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε τῷ ᾿Ιουδαϊσμῷ, ὅτι καθ᾿ ὑπερβολὴν ἐδίωκον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ἐπόρθουν αὐτήν,
Ἠκουσατε - You (pl) heard or the imperative 'Hear!'
γαρ - for, timid word
την ἐμην ἀναστροφην - my behaviour
ποτε - once, or may be some other indication of time
τῳ Ἰουδαισμῳ - to or for Judaism
ὁτι - that
καθ' ὑπεβολην - with excess or with abundance
ἐδιωκον - I was persecuting
την ἐκκλεσιαν - the church
του Θεου - of God
και - and or even or also
ἐπορθουν - I was destroying
αὐτην - it
The whole verse (and being a bit rebellious and choosing to use the imperative, even if the past tense fits better!)
For hear my what my behaviour towards Judaism once was. That I was persecuting the church severely and I was destroying it.
᾿Ηκούσατε γὰρ τὴν ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε τῷ ᾿Ιουδαϊσμῷ, ὅτι καθ᾿ ὑπερβολὴν ἐδίωκον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ ἐπόρθουν αὐτήν,
Ἠκουσατε - You (pl) heard or the imperative 'Hear!'
γαρ - for, timid word
την ἐμην ἀναστροφην - my behaviour
ποτε - once, or may be some other indication of time
τῳ Ἰουδαισμῳ - to or for Judaism
ὁτι - that
καθ' ὑπεβολην - with excess or with abundance
ἐδιωκον - I was persecuting
την ἐκκλεσιαν - the church
του Θεου - of God
και - and or even or also
ἐπορθουν - I was destroying
αὐτην - it
The whole verse (and being a bit rebellious and choosing to use the imperative, even if the past tense fits better!)
For hear my what my behaviour towards Judaism once was. That I was persecuting the church severely and I was destroying it.
Wednesday 29 February 2012
Galatians 1:12
οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐγὼ παρὰ ἀνθρώπου παρέλαβον αὐτό οὔτε ἐδιδάχθην, ἀλλὰ δι᾿ ἀποκαλύψεως ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
οὐδε - neither. this forms a pair with οὐτε nor.
γαρ - for, timid word
ἐγω - I. The pronoun is used for emphasis.
παρα - from beside. the meaning is slightly different from the meaning in verses 8 and 9, because here the word is followed by the genitive case. παρα plus accusative is 'alongside', παρα plus genitive 'from beside'
ἀνθροπου - a person
παρελαβον - I took or received
αὐτο - it
οὐτε - nor
ἐδιδαχθην - I was taught
ἀλλα - but
δι' - short for δια, when followed by genitive it means 'through'
ἀποκαλυψεως - a revelation
Ἰησου Χριστου - of Jesus Christ.
The verse:
As for me, neither did I obtain it from a person, nor was I taught, but through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
οὐδε - neither. this forms a pair with οὐτε nor.
γαρ - for, timid word
ἐγω - I. The pronoun is used for emphasis.
παρα - from beside. the meaning is slightly different from the meaning in verses 8 and 9, because here the word is followed by the genitive case. παρα plus accusative is 'alongside', παρα plus genitive 'from beside'
ἀνθροπου - a person
παρελαβον - I took or received
αὐτο - it
οὐτε - nor
ἐδιδαχθην - I was taught
ἀλλα - but
δι' - short for δια, when followed by genitive it means 'through'
ἀποκαλυψεως - a revelation
Ἰησου Χριστου - of Jesus Christ.
The verse:
As for me, neither did I obtain it from a person, nor was I taught, but through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Tuesday 28 February 2012
Galatians 1:11
Γνωρίζω δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τὸ εὐαγγελισθὲν ὑπ᾿ ἐμοῦ ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι κατὰ ἄνθρωπον·
Γνωριζω - I declare, I make it known
δε - and or but, a connecting word, timid
ὑμιν - to you, plural, dative case
ἀδελφοι - brothers
το εὐαγγελιον - the gospel
το εὐαγγελισθεν - the one which was preached
ὑπ' ἐμου - by me
ὁτι - that
οὐκ - not
ἐστι - it is
κατα - according to, perhaps in sympathy with. The opposite would be 'against'.
ἀνθρωπoν - a person
Thus:
I declare to you, brothers, the gospel, the one which was preached by me, that it is not from a person.
Γνωριζω - I declare, I make it known
δε - and or but, a connecting word, timid
ὑμιν - to you, plural, dative case
ἀδελφοι - brothers
το εὐαγγελιον - the gospel
το εὐαγγελισθεν - the one which was preached
ὑπ' ἐμου - by me
ὁτι - that
οὐκ - not
ἐστι - it is
κατα - according to, perhaps in sympathy with. The opposite would be 'against'.
ἀνθρωπoν - a person
Thus:
I declare to you, brothers, the gospel, the one which was preached by me, that it is not from a person.
Friday 24 February 2012
Galatians 1:10
ἄρτι γὰρ ἀνθρώπους πείθω ἢ τὸν Θεόν; ἢ ζητῶ ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκειν; εἰ γὰρ ἔτι ἀνθρώποις ἤρεσκον, Χριστοῦ δοῦλος οὐκ ἂν ἤμην.
ἀρτι - now
γαρ - for or because (timid word that avoids starting a sentence, but logically should be there)
ἀνθρωπους - people, accusative case which tells us it is the object of the sentence
πειθω - I persuade
ἠ - or
τον Θεον - God, accusative case and thus an object of the sentence
; - ? So this must be phrased as a question
For now, is it people that I am persuading or God?
ἠ - or
ζητω - I seek (do I seek?)
ἀνθροποις - to/for people (dative case, indirect object)
ἀρεσκειν - to please, to be agreeable to. This is the verb that is taking indirect object, not 'seek'.
Or am I seeking to be pleasing to people?
εἰ γαρ - for if
ἐτι - still, yet
ἀνθροποις - people, dative case, thus indirect object
ἠρεσκον - I was pleasing (imperfect tense)
Χριστου - of Christ
δουλος - a servant, slave
οὐκ - no, not
ἀν - this sort of word is called a 'particle'. It expresses uncertainty and is followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood.
ἠμην - I was (subjunctive)
I'm not sure how to express this last bit. I need to show past tense without using an English perfect tense which comes more naturally.
For if I was still pleasing to people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
The whole verse:
For, now, is it people that I am persuading or God? Or am I seeking to be pleasing to people? For if I was still pleasing to people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
This translation does raise questions, because I also want it to make sense. 'Persuade' doesn't seem a good translation of πειθω. And theologically the last part presents an either/or that doesn't make sense. The NIV has 'seeking approval of'' rather than 'persuading'.
In the absence of a good dictionary, Wikipedia offers 'appease' as another meaning for πειθω.
I can also translate the imperfect tense with 'I began to please'.
So here is a better version, I think.
For now, is it people whom I am appeasing or God? Or am I seeking to be pleasing to people? For if I ever began to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
ἀρτι - now
γαρ - for or because (timid word that avoids starting a sentence, but logically should be there)
ἀνθρωπους - people, accusative case which tells us it is the object of the sentence
πειθω - I persuade
ἠ - or
τον Θεον - God, accusative case and thus an object of the sentence
; - ? So this must be phrased as a question
For now, is it people that I am persuading or God?
ἠ - or
ζητω - I seek (do I seek?)
ἀνθροποις - to/for people (dative case, indirect object)
ἀρεσκειν - to please, to be agreeable to. This is the verb that is taking indirect object, not 'seek'.
Or am I seeking to be pleasing to people?
εἰ γαρ - for if
ἐτι - still, yet
ἀνθροποις - people, dative case, thus indirect object
ἠρεσκον - I was pleasing (imperfect tense)
Χριστου - of Christ
δουλος - a servant, slave
οὐκ - no, not
ἀν - this sort of word is called a 'particle'. It expresses uncertainty and is followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood.
ἠμην - I was (subjunctive)
I'm not sure how to express this last bit. I need to show past tense without using an English perfect tense which comes more naturally.
For if I was still pleasing to people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
The whole verse:
For, now, is it people that I am persuading or God? Or am I seeking to be pleasing to people? For if I was still pleasing to people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
This translation does raise questions, because I also want it to make sense. 'Persuade' doesn't seem a good translation of πειθω. And theologically the last part presents an either/or that doesn't make sense. The NIV has 'seeking approval of'' rather than 'persuading'.
In the absence of a good dictionary, Wikipedia offers 'appease' as another meaning for πειθω.
I can also translate the imperfect tense with 'I began to please'.
So here is a better version, I think.
For now, is it people whom I am appeasing or God? Or am I seeking to be pleasing to people? For if I ever began to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Galatians 1:9
ὡς προειρήκαμεν, καὶ ἄρτι πάλιν λέγω· εἴ τις ὑμᾶς εὐαγγελίζεται παρ᾿ ὃ παρελάβετε, ἀνάθεμα ἔστω.
ὡς -just as
προειρηκαμεν - we said previously
και ἀρτι παλιν - even now again
λεγω - I say
εἰ τις - if someone
ὑμας - you (pl, accusative case)
εὐαγγελιζεται - will preach
παρ' - alongside (παρα)
ὁ - relative, that which
παρελαβετε - you received, or you took (plural, second aorist form as a matter of interest)
ἀναθεμα - anathema, curse, rejected state
ἐστω - let it be or let him/her be (3rd person imperative of to be)
Just as we said previously, even now again I say, "if someone in the future proclaims to you alongside that which you received, let it be rejected."
When you have to struggle through the Greek to read the text, the fact that this verse almost duplicates the previous verse is noted. When reading quickly I skip over the repetition! Now I see that Paul is making a strong point here.
ὡς -just as
προειρηκαμεν - we said previously
και ἀρτι παλιν - even now again
λεγω - I say
εἰ τις - if someone
ὑμας - you (pl, accusative case)
εὐαγγελιζεται - will preach
παρ' - alongside (παρα)
ὁ - relative, that which
παρελαβετε - you received, or you took (plural, second aorist form as a matter of interest)
ἀναθεμα - anathema, curse, rejected state
ἐστω - let it be or let him/her be (3rd person imperative of to be)
Just as we said previously, even now again I say, "if someone in the future proclaims to you alongside that which you received, let it be rejected."
When you have to struggle through the Greek to read the text, the fact that this verse almost duplicates the previous verse is noted. When reading quickly I skip over the repetition! Now I see that Paul is making a strong point here.
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