Galatians 1:23

1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

KJV

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but they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.”

But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preaches the faith which once he destroyed.

1:24 And they glorified God in me.

What does Galatians 1:23 mean?

Galatians 1:23 is a verse in the book of Galatians, in the New Testament. In the original Greek, key words include δέ (de), εἰμί (en), ἀκούω (akouo). It connects to 16 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Greek interlinear

Butδέde/deh/G1161a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).

they

hadεἰμίen/ane/G2258imperfect of 1510; I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were):--+ agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.

heardἀκούωakouo/ak-oo'-o/G191a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.

only,μόνοσι μόνοςmonon/mon'-on/G3440neuter of 3441 as adverb; merely:--alone, but, only.

Thatὅτιhoti/hot'-ee/G3754neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.

which

persecutedδιώκωdioko/dee-o'-ko/G1377a prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; compare the base of 1169 and 1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute:--ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute(-ion), press forward.

usἐγώhemas/hay-mas'/G2248accusative case plural of 1473; us:--our, us, we.

times

pastποτέpote/pot-eh'/G4218from the base of 4225 and 5037; indefinite adverb, at some time, ever:--afore-(any, some-)time(-s), at length (the last), (+ n- )ever, in the old time, in time past, once, when.

nowνῦνnun/noon/G3568a primary particle of present time; "now" (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or immediate:--henceforth, + hereafter, of late, soon, present, this (time). See also 3569, 3570.

preachethεὐαγγελίζωeuaggelizo/yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zo/G2097from 2095 and 32; to announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel:--declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).

the

faithπίστιςpistis/pis'-tis/G4102from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

whichὅς ἥ ὅhosG3739he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also 3757.

onceποτέpote/pot-eh'/G4218from the base of 4225 and 5037; indefinite adverb, at some time, ever:--afore-(any, some-)time(-s), at length (the last), (+ n- )ever, in the old time, in time past, once, when.

destroyed.πορθέωportheo/por-theh'-o/G4199prolongation from pertho (to sack); to ravage (figuratively):--destroy, waste.

Commentary on Galatians 1:23

HENRY_FULL · Galatians 1:23

.11" In this chapter the apostle goes on with his discourse, in opposition to the false apostles, who were very industrious to lessen his interest and reputation among the Corinthians, and had prevailed too much by their insinuations. I. He apologizes for going about to commend himself, and gives the reason for what he did, ver. 1-4 . II. He mentions, in his own necessary vindication, his equality with the other apostles, and with the false apostles in this particular of preaching the gospel to the Corinthians freely, without wages, ver. 5-15 . III. He makes another preface to what he was about further to say in his own justification, ver. 16-21 . And, IV. He gives a large account of his qualifications, labours, and sufferings, in which he exceeded the false apostles, ver. 22, to the end .

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 24:2

And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

Genesis 24:58

And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.

Psalms 45:10

Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;

Psalms 45:11

So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

Isaiah 54:5

For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Ezekiel 44:22

Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before. put: Heb. thrust forth that had: Heb. from a priest

Hosea 2:19

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.

Hosea 2:20

I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.

John 3:29

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

Romans 7:4

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

1 Corinthians 4:15

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Galatians 4:11

I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Galatians 4:17

They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. exclude you: or, exclude us

Philippians 1:8

For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:28

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

1 Thessalonians 2:11

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

Topics

Repentance

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Galatians 1:23.

Matthew 2:22

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

Matthew 2:9

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

Galatians 1:13

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

Matthew 1:18

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 2:18

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Matthew 2:3

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Matthew 3:4

And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Matthew 4:12

Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; cast: or, delivered up

Frequently asked questions

What does Galatians 1:23 say?

Galatians 1:23 (King James Version) reads: "But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed."

Is Galatians 1:23 in the Old or New Testament?

Galatians 1:23 is in the New Testament of the Bible, in the book of Galatians.

Reflect

As you read Galatians 1:23, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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