Galatia 1:12-13

1:12 For I did not receive it or learn it from any human source; ¹  instead I received it ²  by a revelation of Jesus Christ. ³ 

1:13 For you have heard of my former way of life ⁴  in Judaism, how I was savagely persecuting the church of God and trying to destroy it.

Galatia 1:17

1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem ⁵  to see those who were apostles before me, but right away I departed to Arabia, ⁶  and then returned to Damascus.

Galatia 4:19

4:19 My children – I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you! ⁷ 

[1:12]  ¹ tn Or “I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it.”

[1:12]  ² tn The words “I received it” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

[1:12]  ³ tn It is difficult to determine what kind of genitive ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ (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.

[1:13]  ⁴ tn Or “lifestyle,” “behavior.”

[1:17]  ⁵ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[1:17]  ⁶ 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.

[4:19]  ⁷ tn Grk “My children, for whom I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you.” The relative clauses in English do not pick up the emotional force of Paul’s language here (note “tone of voice” in v. 20, indicating that he is passionately concerned for them); hence, the translation has been altered slightly to capture the connotative power of Paul’s plea.

[4:19]  sn That is, until Christ’s nature or character is formed in them (see L&N 58.4).