1:12a
This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “for.” Some English versions, such as the English Standard Version and NET Bible, translate it that way. Some other ways to represent this conjunction and connect this verse to 1:11b are:
?It is not man’s gospel? , because
-or-
In other words
The Berean Standard Bible has not translated this conjunction, and some other versions, such as the New International Version and New Living Translation (2004), also do not translate it. In some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this conjunction either. Connect 1:12a to 1:11b in a way that is natural in your language.
I did not receive it from any man: This clause means that Paul did not receive/get the gospel from a human. The gospel that he preached was not something that he learned from a human being.
This clause is similar to the clause in 1:11b, but it is more specific.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
I did not receive it from any human being (Good News Translation)
-or-
I did not learn it from someone.
-or-
No one told/showed it to me.
1:12b
nor was I taught it: This clause means that a human teacher did not teach Paul the gospel. Paul did not learn the gospel from a human.
This clause is passive. Some ways to translate this clause are:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
nor was I taught the gospel
-or-
I was not taught the gospel ?by a human teacher?
• Use an active verb. For example:
nor did ?a human teacher? teach/show me the gospel
-or-
I did not learn the gospel ?from a human teacher?
1:12c
Verse 1:12c is Paul’s main point in paragraph 1:11–12. To make this clear, it may be necessary in some languages to put 1:12c earlier in this verse. See the General Comment below for an example.
rather: There is a contrast between 1:12a–b and 1:12c. The contrast is between where Paul did not get the gospel, and where he got it. Languages have different ways to indicate this negative-positive type of contrast. Some of the ways are:
• With the conjunction “but.”
• With a conjunction other than “but.” This is a common way in English to show this type of contrast. For example:
rather (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version)
-or-
on the contrary
-or-
Instead (Good News Translation)
• With no conjunction. For example:
a I did not receive it from any human being, b nor did anyone teach it to me. c It was Jesus Christ himself who revealed it to me. (Good News Translation)
I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ: This clause means that Jesus Christ revealed/showed the gospel to Paul. For example:
Jesus Christ revealed it to me (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus Christ showed it to me (New Century Version)
Jesus Christ: In the phrase Jesus Christ, Jesus is a personal name, and Christ is his title. Christ is not the surname of Jesus.
One way to show this is:
Jesus the Christ/Messiah
In some languages, the title is put before the name. For example:
Christ Jesus
This same phrase occurs in 1:1c. You should translate it here as you did there.
General Comment on 1:11–12
The main point of 1:11–12 is 1:12c. In some languages, it may be more natural to show this by changing the order of the clauses in 1:12. For example:
11a I want you to know, brothers, that 11b the gospel that I preach is not something that a human being made up. 12c It was Jesus Christ himself who revealed this gospel to me. 12a I did not receive it from any human being, 12b nor did any human teach it to me.
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