Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Galatians 1:11

γνωρίζω γὰρ ὑμῖν. The δέ of the Received Text and W.H. margin is perhaps taken from 1 Corinthians 15:1. γὰρ. I have suggested that a great change came over me; I say so for I will now tell you more fully of it and the nature of the Gospel entrusted then to me. The direct personal statement γνωρίζω (-ομεν) ὑμῖν is found only in the nearly contemporary letters 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Corinthians 15:1; 2 Corinthians 8:1, in each case introducing matter of grave importance.

ἀδελφοί. St Paul uses this appeal no less than nine times in this epistle. Its absence from “Eph.” Col. suggests that, besides meaning “brethren in Christ,” it had also the connotation of personal and individual acquaintance. Its frequency in Rom. is more an apparent than a real exception, in view of the number of his friends at Rome (c. 16). It is also not found in the Pastoral Epistles, for Timothy and Titus were rather his sons.

τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τὸ εὐαγγελισθὲν ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ. Cf. Galatians 2:2. The gospel for the preaching of which among them he himself had been responsible. For the form of the sentence cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:1. He appears to mean not the historical facts (1 Corinthians 15:1), but the Gospel as it essentially is, including (but not confined to) the freedom of Gentile converts from the Law.

ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν κατὰ ἄνθρωπον. Not after the standard and measure of man. The phrase is stronger than κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν τ. ἀνθρώπων Colossians 2:8, and even than διδασκαλίαι τῶν� Colossians 2:22. It is above man’s devising, to be received and handed on in its integrity, neither diminished nor increased. Compare Galatians 3:15 note.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Galatians 1:11

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