GALATIANS 1:22-24 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God in me.
Unknown By Face; The word face here denotes the countenance," lit., "the part towards the eyes" (from pros, "towards," ops, "the eye"), and is used of the person himself in this instance. The Greek word is πρόσωπον prosopon. Vine's (1d), Strong's G4383.
My notes- so Paul is saying here that the churches in Judea he is referring to had never met him.
My notes- so Paul is saying here that the churches in Judea he is referring to had never met him.
Judea; Thayer denotes: 1) in a narrower sense, to the southern portion of Palestine lying on this side of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, to distinguish it from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, and Idumaea
2) in a broader sense, referring to all Palestine Literal: Judaea = "he shall be praised". The Greek word is Ἰουδαία Ioudaia. Strong's G2449.
Moving to Verse 23.
Galatians 1:23 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.”
Hearing; The King James just uses the word "heard" here, so it reads, "but they had heard only..." Dodson notes for the definition of hear - I hear, listen I hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. The Greek word is ἀκούω akouō. Strong's G191.
Thayer's expands quite a bit definition-wise:
1) to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf
Thayer's expands quite a bit definition-wise:
1) to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf
2) to hear
2b) to attend to, consider what is or has been said
2c) to understand, perceive the sense of what is said
3) to hear something
3a) to perceive by the ear what is announced in one's presence
3b) to get by hearing learn
3c) a thing comes to one's ears, to find out, learn
3d) to give ear to a teaching or a teacher
3e) to comprehend, to understand
My Notes - Paul is saying here that all the churches in Judea had really heard was that Saul (Paul) was trying to spread the faith he had once despised to the point of trying to destroy it.
Persecuted; "to pursue," whence the meaning "to persecute,". The Greek word for persecute is διώκω dioko. Vines (def A-1b), Strong's G1377.
Tried To Destroy; Portheo, "to ruin by laying waste, to make havock of," is translated "destroyed" in Acts 9:21, of the attacks upon the church in Jerusalem by Saul of Tarsus; "wasted," in Galatians 1:13, with reference to the same; "destroyed" in Galatians 1:23, where "the faith" is put by metonymy (one thing being put for another associated with it), for those who held the faith. In each of these places the RV consistently translates by "made havock of." The Greek word used here is πορθέω portheō. Vine's lists this under "havoc" (Def 1). Strong's G4199.
Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
Moving to Verse 24
Galatians 1:24 And they glorified God in me.
Glorified; to render (or esteem) glorious (in a wide application). The Greek word is δοξάζω doxazō. Strong's G1392.
My Notes - Paul is saying that people rendered esteem to God in him because they could see God had done a work in him and he was now reflecting that.
Takeaway: There isn't a direct teaching here for us today, but we can glean from this that God can change anyone and that once Jesus Christ is our Lord and savior there absolutely ought to be a visible or tangible change in our behaviors. In this case, Paul stopped persecuting the church and began to build it up. This took a complete reversal of his previous persona by the renewing of his mind, will, and emotions through the Holy Spirit.
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