Galatians 1:15

But when the one ¹  who set me apart from birth ²  and called me by his grace was pleased

But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased

But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased

But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and call me, even before I was born! What undeserved mercy!

Even then God had designs on me. Why, when I was still in my mother's womb he chose and called me out of sheer generosity!

But when it was the good pleasure of God, by whom I was marked out even from my mother’s body, through his grace,

But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace,

But when the one ¹  who set me apart from birth ²  and called me by his grace was pleased

¹ tc ‡ Several important witnesses have ὁ θεός (Jo qeos) after εὐδόκησεν (eudokhsen; so א A D Ψ 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.

² tn Grk “from my mother’s womb.”