Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. New Living Translation And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.) English Standard Version And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. Berean Standard Bible But as for the highly esteemed—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—those leaders added nothing to me. Berean Literal Bible Now of those esteemed to be something, whatsoever they were formerly makes no difference to me. God does not accept the person of a man--for the esteemed added nothing to me. King James Bible But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: New King James Version But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. New American Standard Bible But from those who were of considerable repute (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism)—well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me. NASB 1995 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)— well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. NASB 1977 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. Legacy Standard Bible But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. Amplified Bible But from those who were of high reputation (whatever they were—in terms of individual importance—makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality—He is not impressed with the positions that people hold nor does He recognize distinctions such as fame or power)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me [that is, they had nothing to add to my gospel message nor did they impose any new requirements on me]. Christian Standard Bible Now from those recognized as important (what they once were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism )—they added nothing to me. Holman Christian Standard Bible Now from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism)—they added nothing to me. American Standard Version But from those who were reputed to be somewhat ( whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth not man's person)?they, I say, who were of repute imparted nothing to me: Contemporary English Version Some of them were supposed to be important leaders, but I didn't care who they were. God doesn't have any favorites! None of these so-called special leaders added anything to my message. English Revised Version But from those who were reputed to be somewhat (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth not man's person)--they, I say, who were of repute imparted nothing to me: GOD'S WORD® Translation Those who were recognized as important people didn't add a single thing to my message. (What sort of people they were makes no difference to me, since God doesn't play favorites.) Good News Translation But those who seemed to be the leaders--I say this because it makes no difference to me what they were; God does not judge by outward appearances--those leaders, I say, made no new suggestions to me. International Standard Version Now those who were reputed to be important added nothing to my message. (What sort of people they were makes no difference to me, since God pays no attention to outward appearances.) Majority Standard Bible But as for the highly esteemed?whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism?those leaders added nothing to me. NET Bible But from those who were influential (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people)--those influential leaders added nothing to my message. New Heart English Bible But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people)--they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me, Webster's Bible Translation But of these, who seemed to be somewhat, (whatever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat, in conference added nothing to me: Weymouth New Testament From those leaders I gained nothing new. Whether they were men of importance or not, matters nothing to me--God recognizes no external distinctions. To me, at any rate, the leaders imparted nothing new. World English Bible But from those who were reputed to be important—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man—they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd from those who were esteemed to be something—whatever they were then, it makes no difference to me. God does not accept the face of man, for to me those esteemed added nothing, Berean Literal Bible Now of those esteemed to be something, whatsoever they were formerly makes no difference to me. God does not accept the person of a man--for the esteemed added nothing to me. Young's Literal Translation And from those who were esteemed to be something -- whatever they were then, it maketh no difference to me -- the face of man God accepteth not, for -- to me those esteemed did add nothing, Smith's Literal Translation And from them seeming to be something, (whatever they were, it concerns me nothing: God receives not man's face:) for they seeming entrusted nothing to me: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut of them who seemed to be some thing, (what they were some time, it is nothing to me, God accepteth not the person of man,) for to me they that seemed to be some thing added nothing. Catholic Public Domain Version and away from those who were pretending to be something. (Whatever they might have been once, it means nothing to me. God does not accept the reputation of a man.) And those who were claiming to be something had nothing to offer me. New American Bible But from those who were reputed to be important (what they once were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those of repute made me add nothing. New Revised Standard Version And from those who were supposed to be acknowledged leaders (what they actually were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those leaders contributed nothing to me. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleNow those who were considered to be important (what they are makes no difference to me, for God does not discriminate among men), even these very persons did not contribute additional knowledge to me. Aramaic Bible in Plain English But those who were esteemed to be something (but who they were does not concern me) for God does not accept the persons of men, but those who are such have not added anything to me. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentBut from those who were supposed to be something; (what they were is a matter of no importance to me: God does not accept the person of man;) they, indeed, who were supposed to be something, communicated no additional truth to me; Godbey New Testament But of those seeming to be something what they were at that time makes no difference to me: God does not receive the face of man: for those seeming to me to be prominent added nothing extra: Haweis New Testament But from those who appeared men of the greatest importance, (what sort of men soever they were it maketh no difference to me: God accepteth not a man?s person;) for these important personages in conference added nothing to me; Mace New Testament But as for those who were men of real eminency, how considerable soever they were heretofore, it does not any ways affect me; God accepts not the person of any man: for they who were of note, in conference with me, had nothing new to add. Weymouth New Testament From those leaders I gained nothing new. Whether they were men of importance or not, matters nothing to me--God recognizes no external distinctions. To me, at any rate, the leaders imparted nothing new. Worrell New Testament But from those reputed to be something (whatever they were, it matters not to me: God does not accept man's person): to me, in fact, those of repute added nothing; Worsley New Testament And as to those who seemed to be men of note, whatever they were, it is all one to me, (God accepteth no man's person) for even these eminent persons added nothing more to me. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Council at Jerusalem…5We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. 6But as for the highly esteemed — whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism — those leaders added nothing to me. 7On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.… Cross References Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, / but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. Romans 2:11 For God does not show favoritism. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” Deuteronomy 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe. 2 Chronicles 19:7 And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.” Job 34:19 who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands. Ephesians 6:9 And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him. Colossians 3:25 Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. James 2:1-4 My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism. / Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. / If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,” ... 1 Peter 1:17 Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners. Matthew 22:16 They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance. Luke 20:21 “Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. John 7:24 Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.” 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. / My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me. / Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 2 Corinthians 5:16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Treasury of Scripture But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatever they were, it makes no matter to me: God accepts no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: those who. Galatians 2:2,9 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain… Galatians 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 2 Corinthians 11:5,21-23 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles… it maketh. Galatians 2:11-14 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed… Job 32:6,7,17-22 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion… Matthew 22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. God. Job 34:19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. in. Galatians 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. Acts 15:6-29 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter… 2 Corinthians 12:11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. Jump to Previous Accepteth Account Added Conference Conspicuous Contributed Difference Distinctions External Gained High Imparted Importance Important Judge Leaders Makes Maketh Matter Message New Partiality Recognizes Reputation Repute Reputed Respected Seemed Show Shows Something Somewhat Weight Whatever Whatsoever WhetherJump to Next Accepteth Account Added Conference Conspicuous Contributed Difference Distinctions External Gained High Imparted Importance Important Judge Leaders Makes Maketh Matter Message New Partiality Recognizes Reputation Repute Reputed Respected Seemed Show Shows Something Somewhat Weight Whatever Whatsoever WhetherGalatians 2 1. He shows when he went up again to Jerusalem, and for what purpose;3. and that Titus was not circumcised; 11. and that he resisted Peter, and told him the reason; 14. why he and others, being Jews, believe in Christ to be justified by faith, and not by works; 20. and that they live not in sin, who are so justified. But as for the highly esteemed The phrase "highly esteemed" refers to the apostles and leaders in the early church, particularly those in Jerusalem. In the Greek, the term used is "δοκοῦντες" (dokountes), which implies those who are considered to be of high reputation or standing. Paul acknowledges their status but emphasizes that human accolades do not influence his mission. This reflects a biblical principle that true worth is not determined by human standards but by God's calling and purpose. whatever they were makes no difference to me God does not show favoritism Those leaders added nothing to my message But of these who seemed to be somewhat.--Translate rather, But from those who are reputed to be somewhat. The phrase corresponds to "them which are of reputation" in Galatians 2:2; and here, as there, it is important to keep the present tense. It is not only "those who were of authority at the Council," but "those who are the great authorities with you Galatians now." The Apostle speaks with a certain amount of irony. "From these very great authorities, these persons of such especial reputation [I got nothing]." Whatsoever they were.--We shall, perhaps, not be wrong in keeping to the Authorised version, though some of the best commentators translate rather, What they (once) were, with a stress on "were," and referring to the advantage which they possessed over St. Paul in having "known Christ after the flesh" through their early call to the Apostleship. God accepteth no man's person.--This phrase is a curious instance of a Greek expression framed after the analogy of the Hebrew, and yet in the process contracting a different signification, through the influence of the idiomatic use of one of the Greek expressions involved. "To accept the face" in the Old Testament is used in a good sense of "showing favour" to any one, but without any imputation of partiality. "To accept the face" (or person) in the New Testament always carries with it the idea of partiality; the word for "face" being idiomatically used for "a mask," and hence coming to mean "the outward, assumed, accidental characteristics of a man" as opposed to his real and inward character. (Comp. Matthew 22:16; Luke 20:21; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; James 2:1; James 2:9; Jude 1:16.) The meaning here is that even if the elder Apostles had "seen with their eyes," and "looked upon and handled the Word of Life" (1John 1:1), God would not regard the advantages implied in this more than any other external advantage of birth, position, natural gifts, &c. . . . Verse 6. - But of these who seemed to be somewhat (ἀπὸ δὲ τῶν δοκούντων εϊναί τι); now from those who were reputed to be somewhat. The conjunction δὲ does not seem to be adversative here, but simply introductory of a new particular. The writer is about to introduce, which he does in the next five verses (6-10), a fresh illustration of the independent position, which in point both of doctrine and of ministerial footing he held in relation to the first apostles and to the heads of the Jerusalemite Church, and at the same time of the full recognition which in both respects these had accorded to him. The construction of this sentence, as it proceeds, is interrupted and changed. When St. Paul wrote, from those who were reputed to be somewhat, he would seem to have meant to add, "I received nothing fresh either in knowledge of the gospel or in authority as Christ's minister," or some-tiring to that effect; but in his indignant parenthesis asserting his independence with respect to those whom his gainsayers in Galatia would seem to have pronounced his superiors, both in knowledge and in office, he loses sight of the beginning of the sentence, and begins it afresh in another form with the words (ἐμοὶ γὰρ οἱ δοκοῦντες), for they who were of repute, etc. Reputed to be somewhat; that is, thought highly cf. The phrase is of frequent occurrence, both in Greek and in Latin authors. It is obvious that he refers to the twelve and the leaders of the mother Church of Jerusalem. Whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me (ὁποῖοί ποτε η΅σαν οὐδέν μοι διαφέρει); of what sort they at any time were maketh no matter to me. The ὁποῖοι (of what sort) is suggested by the preceding τι (somewhat), and the η΅σαν (they were) by the δοκούντων (reputed); from those reputed to be somewhat whatever they really were. The comparison of the usage of ὁποῖος in other passages (Acts 26:29; 1 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; James 1:24) hardly favours the specific interpretation, "how great." In respect to the ποτέ, in a classical author, as Bishop Light foot observes, we should have no hesitation in taking it as equivalent to cunque. But the word occurs in the New Testament in thirty-one ether places, and in not one is it eunque, but always the adverb of time, either "sometime," "in time past," as above, Galatians 1:13, 23; John 9:13; or "any time," as 1 Corinthians 9:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:5. The latter shade of meaning seems the more appropriate here. The any time, though not to be limited to, would, however, cover the time when the twelve were in personal attendance upon our Lord - a circumstance which St. Paul's detractors were no doubt wont to hold up as a mark of distinction not possessed by him. It seems best to take of what sort as dependent upon the following words, maketh no matter to me. This last clause is not exactly equivalent to "I care not," as if it were an almost supercilious waving aside of the consideration; it is rather a grave assertion of a matter of fact. Whatever were the gifts of knowledge and spiritual insight which the twelve or other heads of the Jerusalemite Church possessed, or whatever their ministerial privileges or authority, whether derived from personal intercourse with the Lord Jesus when upon earth or in any other way, Paul's knowledge of the gospel and Paul's apostolic authority were neither of them at all affected by them. Now, at the time that he is writing this Epistle, he was just the same in respect to the possession of the essential truth of the gospel and to his apostolic authority as if he had had no intercourse with the spiritual rulers of the Jewish Church. God accepteth no man's person (πρόσωπον Θεὸς ἀνθρώπου οὐ λαμβάνει). The order of the words in the Greek throws especial emphasis upon "person:" person of man God accepteth not; that is, it is never on account of his person that God accepteth a man. This phrase, "accept a man's person," is of frequent occurrence in the Bible. In the New Testament it is always used in a bad sense, which in the Old is by no means the case. This difference is due, as Bishop Lightfoot observes, to the secondary sense of actor's mask attaching to the Greek noun, the actor on the Greek stage, as also on the Roman, being wont to wear a mask suited to the character in which he appeared; whence also πρόσωπον got to signify this character itself. The corresponding technical term among the Romans was persona, a word never used of the natural face, as πρόσωπον was. This explains the adoption of this last term in its Anglicized form by our English translators in the phrase now before us. With the like metaphorical application of the idea as that which was so common among the Romans, the word "person" seemed well fitted to denote the part, or certain accessories of the part, which a man plays on the stage, so to speak, of human life, in contradistinction to his more interior and essential character. The phrase denotes accepting a man, for example, for his worldly rank or position, for his office, for his nationality, even for his Church status (see James 2:1, 9; Acts 10:34; 1 Peter 1:17). The special adjuncts of a man's person referred to in the present passage are those of the outward call aforetime to be apostles and personal attendants upon the Lord Jesus while upon earth, and, in the case of St. James the Lord's brother, personal relationship to him. And St. Paul means to intimate that his knowledge of Divine truth and his ministerial fidelity and efficiency might be as real and as great, if God's will were so, as the knowledge and ministerial fidelity and efficiency of the twelve and St. James, whom his gainsayers were honouring so far above him merely for their person's sake. God made no such difference between him and them, but wrought with him just as much. For they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me (ἐμοὶ γὰρ οἱ δοκοῦντες οὐδὲν προσανέθεντο); for to me they who were of repute in conference added nothing. The verb προσανέθεντο, as it stands here, appears related to the ἀνεθέμην of ver. 2. I laid before them my gospel; they imparted to me nothing fresh (πρός). Thus Chrysostom and Theodoret. In Galatians 1:16, where the same verb occurs (see note), there is nothing to accentuate the πρός, as there is here. The "for" appears related to the foregoing clause. That God does not respect man for his person was evidenced by the fact that Paul's knowledge of the gospel was already so complete and his work was so honoured by God, that those whose person seemed to many so markedly superior to his, found that all they had to do was to frankly recognize his teaching as already adequate and complete, and his work as standing on a perfectly equal footing with their own.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Butδὲ (de) Conjunction Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc. as for Ἀπὸ (Apo) Preposition Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses. the τῶν (tōn) Article - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. highly esteemed, δοκούντων (dokountōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 1380: A prolonged form of a primary verb, doko dok'-o of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem. whatever ὁποῖοί (hopoioi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3697: Of what kind or manner, of what sort. From hos and poios; of what kind that, i.e. How great. they were ἦσαν (ēsan) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. makes no difference διαφέρει (diapherei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1308: From dia and phero; to bear through, i.e. transport; usually to bear apart, i.e. to toss about; subjectively, to 'differ', or surpass. to me; μοι (moi) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. God Θεὸς (Theos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very. does not show favoritism. λαμβάνει (lambanei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. For γὰρ (gar) Conjunction Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason. those οἱ (hoi) Article - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. [leaders] δοκοῦντες (dokountes) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 1380: A prolonged form of a primary verb, doko dok'-o of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem. added προσανέθεντο (prosanethento) Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 4323: To consult with, communicate, impart. From pros and anatithemai; to lay up in addition, i.e. to impart or to consult. nothing οὐδὲν (ouden) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing. to my [message]. ἐμοὶ (emoi) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. Links Galatians 2:6 NIVGalatians 2:6 NLT Galatians 2:6 ESV Galatians 2:6 NASB Galatians 2:6 KJV Galatians 2:6 BibleApps.com Galatians 2:6 Biblia Paralela Galatians 2:6 Chinese Bible Galatians 2:6 French Bible Galatians 2:6 Catholic Bible NT Letters: Galatians 2:6 But from those who were reputed (Gal. Ga) |
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