5:10a
I am confident in the Lord: In Greek, this clause is more literally “I have confidence in you in the Lord.” Paul had confidence in the Galatians that they would turn back to the truth. This confidence came from the Lord.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
I am confident in the Lord concerning you
-or-
The Lord gives me confidence (God’s Word)
-or-
I am trusting the Lord (New Living Translation (2004))
5:10b
that you will take no other view: This clause means that the Galatians will have the same point of view as Paul. This includes:
(a) They will agree with all that he has written in this letter.
(b) They will agree with what he has said in 5:8–9: the teaching of these other men about circumcision does not come from God, and this teaching is dangerous.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
that you will agree with what I am saying
-or-
that you will not think differently than I do about these issues
-or-
that you will not believe those different ideas (New Century Version)
5:10c
The one who is troubling you: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as The one who is troubling is singular. In 1:7b and 5:12, Paul spoke of people (plural) who were troubling the Galatians. These people were the false teachers. Because of these two previous verses, there are several ways to interpret to whom the phrase The one who is troubling refers:
(1) It refers to any one of the false teachers. According to this interpretation, Paul was saying that if anyone among the false teachers troubles you, he will be punished. For example:
anyone who makes trouble with you (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
whoever troubles you
(2) It refers to one particular individual. According to this interpretation, Paul was referring to the leader of the false teachers. So this phrase should be translated as:
the/that person who is troubling you
(3) It refers to the group of false teachers. According to this interpretation, Paul was referring to all the false teachers together as one group. So it should be translated as:
the group who are troubling you
-or-
the people who are troubling you
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
the one who is confusing you (God’s Word)
-or-
whoever upsets/disturbs you
The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as troubling also occurs in 1:7b.
will bear the judgment: Paul reminded the Galatians that God will judge those who lead believers astray. He has already stated this in 1:7–9.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
will be punished (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
will be judged/condemned
-or-
God will judge (New Living Translation (2004))
whoever he may be: There are two ways to interpret this clause:
(1) It means anyone who. According to this interpretation, this clause clarifies the phrase “the one who” in the first part of 5:10c. It can even be combined with it. For example:
Whoever is causing trouble for you will be punished. (Contemporary English Version)
(2) It means no matter how important he is. According to this interpretation, this clause is additional information about the phrase “the one who” in the first part of 5:10c. For example:
regardless of who he is (God’s Word)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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