Wednesday 7 March 2012

Galatians 1:15

῞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) 

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.

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.