Discovery BoxGalatians 1:17-18 
Context1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem 1 to see those who were apostles before me, but right away I departed to Arabia, 2 and then returned to Damascus.
1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem 3 to visit Cephas 4 and get information from him, 5 and I stayed with him fifteen days.
Galatians 2:17
Context2:17 But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages 6 sin? Absolutely not!
Galatians 2:21
Context2:21 I do not set aside 7 God’s grace, because if righteousness 8 could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing! 9
Galatians 3:5
Context3:5 Does God then give 10 you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law 11 or by your believing what you heard? 12
Galatians 4:7
Context4:7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are 13 a son, then you are also an heir through God. 14
Galatians 5:1
Context5:1 For freedom 15 Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke 16 of slavery.
Galatians 6:4
Context6:4 Let each one examine 17 his own work. Then he can take pride 18 in himself and not compare himself with 19 someone else.
Galatians 6:10
Context6:10 So then, 20 whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith. 21
1 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
2 sn 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.
3 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
4 sn Cephas. This individual is generally identified with the Apostle Peter (L&N 93.211).
5 tn 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 ἱστορέω (Jistorew), particularly in this verse.
6 tn Or “does Christ serve the interests of sin?”; or “is Christ an agent for sin?” See BDAG 230-31 s.v. διάκονος 2.
7 tn Or “I do not declare invalid,” “I do not nullify.”
8 tn Or “justification.”
9 tn Or “without cause,” “for no purpose.”
10 tn Or “provide.”
11 tn Grk “by [the] works of [the] law” (the same phrase as in v. 2).
12 tn Grk “by [the] hearing of faith” (the same phrase as in v. 2).
13 tn Grk “and if a son, then also an heir.” The words “you are” have been supplied twice to clarify the statement.
14 tc The unusual expression διὰ θεοῦ (dia qeou, “through God”) certainly prompted scribes to alter it to more customary or theologically acceptable ones such as διὰ θεόν (dia qeon, “because of God”; F G 1881 pc), διὰ Χριστοῦ (dia Cristou, “through Christ”; 81 630 pc sa), διὰ ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ (dia Ihsou Cristou, “through Jesus Christ”; 1739c), θεοῦ διὰ Χριστοῦ (“[an heir] of God through Christ”; א2 C3 D [P] 0278 [6 326 1505] Ï ar sy), or κληρονόμος μὲν θεοῦ, συγκληρονόμος δὲ Χριστοῦ (klhronomo" men qeou, sugklhronomo" de Cristou, “an heir of God, and fellow-heir with Christ”; Ψ pc [cf. Rom 8:17]). Although it is unusual for Paul to speak of God as an intermediate agent, it is not unprecedented (cf. Gal 1:1; 1 Cor 1:9). Nevertheless, Gal 4:7 is the most direct statement to this effect. Further testimony on behalf of διὰ θεοῦ is to be found in external evidence: The witnesses with this phrase are among the most important in the NT (Ì46 א* A B C* 33 1739*vid lat bo Cl).
15 tn Translating the dative as “For freedom” shows the purpose for Christ setting us free; however, it is also possible to take the phrase in the sense of means or instrument (“with [or by] freedom”), referring to the freedom mentioned in 4:31 and implied throughout the letter.
16 sn Here the yoke figuratively represents the burdensome nature of slavery.
17 tn Or “determine the genuineness of.”
18 tn Grk “he will have a reason for boasting.”
19 tn Or “and not in regard to.” The idea of comparison is implied in the context.
20 tn There is a double connective here that cannot be easily preserved in English: “consequently therefore,” emphasizing the conclusion of what Paul has been arguing.
21 tn Grk “to those who are members of the family of [the] faith.”
