Paring of Galatians 4: 1-11

Verse 4:1. Λέγω δέ, ἐφ᾽ ὅσον χρόνον ὁ κληρονόμος νήπιός ἐστιν, οὐδὲν διαφέρει δούλου
κύριος πάντων ὤν,
Λέγω: Root Word: λέγω, Parsing: Verb, 1st Person Singular, Present Indicative Active,
meaning: I say.
δὲ: Root Word: δέ, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: but, now.
ἐφ᾽: Root Word: ἐπί, Parsing: Preposition, meaning: as long as.
ὅσον: Root Word: ὅσος, Parsing: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative Singular, meaning: as long as.
χρόνον: Root Word: χρόνος, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Accusative Singular, meaning: time.
ὁ: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Masculine, Nominative Singular, meaning: the.
κληρονόμος: Root Word: κληρονόμος, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Nominative Singular,
meaning: heir.
νήπιός: Root Word: νήπιος, Parsing: Adjective, Masculine, Nominative Singular, meaning:
child.
ἐστιν: Root Word: εἰμί, Parsing: Verb, 3rd Person Singular, Present Indicative Active,
meaning: is.
οὐδὲν: Root Word: οὐδείς, Parsing: Pronoun, Neuter, Accusative Singular, meaning: nothing.
διαφέρει: Root Word: διαφέρω, Parsing: Verb, 3rd Person Singular, Present Indicative Active,
meaning: differs.
δούλου: Root Word: δοῦλος, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Genitive Singular, meaning: slave.
κύριος: Root Word: κύριος, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Nominative Singular, meaning: lord.
πάντων: Root Word: πᾶς, Parsing: Adjective, Masculine, Genitive Plural, meaning: all.
ὤν: Root Word: εἰμί, Parsing: Participle, Masculine, Nominative Singular, Present Active,
meaning: being.
Translation: Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave,
though he is lord of all.
Verse 4:2. 2. ἀλλ᾽ ὑπὸ ἐπιτρόπους ἐστὶν καὶ οἰκονόμους ἄχρι τῆς προθεσμίας τοῦ πατρός.
ἀλλ᾽: Root Word: ἀλλά, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: but.
ὑπὸ: Root Word: ὑπό, Parsing: Preposition, meaning: under.
ἐπιτρόπους: Root Word: ἐπίτροπος, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Accusative Plural, meaning:
guardians.
ἐστὶν: Root Word: εἰμί, Parsing: Verb, 3rd Person Singular, Present Indicative Active,
meaning: is.
καὶ: Root Word: καί, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: and.

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οἰκονόμους: Root Word: οἰκονόμος, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Accusative Plural, meaning:
stewards.
ἄχρι: Root Word: ἄχρι, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: until.
τῆς: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Feminine, Genitive Singular, meaning: the.
προθεσμίας: Root Word: προθεσμία, Parsing: Noun, Feminine, Genitive Singular, meaning:
appointed time.
τοῦ: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Masculine, Genitive Singular, meaning: the.
πατρός: Root Word: πατήρ, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Genitive Singular, meaning: father.
Translation: But he is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
Verse 4:3. οὕτως καὶ ἡμεῖς, ὅτε ἦμεν νήπιοι, ὑπὸ τὰ στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου ἤμεθα
δεδουλωμένοι·
οὕτως: Root Word: οὕτως, Parsing: Adverb, meaning: so, in the same way.
καὶ: Root Word: καί, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: and.
ἡμεῖς: Root Word: ἡμεῖς, Parsing: Pronoun, Nominative Plural, meaning: we.
ὅτε: Root Word: ὅτε, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: when.
ἦμεν: Root Word: εἰμί, Parsing: Verb, 1st Person Plural, Imperfect Indicative Active, meaning:
we were.
νήπιοι: Root Word: νήπιος, Parsing: Adjective, Masculine, Nominative Plural, meaning:
children.
ὑπὸ: Root Word: ὑπό, Parsing: Preposition, meaning: under.
τὰ: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Neuter, Accusative Plural, meaning: the.
στοιχεῖα: Root Word: στοιχεῖον, Parsing: Noun, Neuter, Accusative Plural, meaning:
elementary principles.
τοῦ: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Masculine, Genitive Singular, meaning: the.
κόσμου: Root Word: κόσμος, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Genitive Singular, meaning: world.
ἤμεθα: Root Word: εἰμί, Parsing: Verb, 1st Person Plural, Imperfect Indicative Passive,
meaning: we were enslaved.
δεδουλωμένοι: Root Word: δουλόω, Parsing: Participle, Masculine, Nominative Plural,
Perfect Passive, meaning: enslaved.
Translation: So also, we, when we were children, were enslaved under the elementary
principles of the world.
Verse 4:4. ὅτε δὲ ἦλθεν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ χρόνου, έξαπ- έστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ,
γενόμενον ἐκ γυναικός, γενό- μενον ὑπὸ νόμον, ὅτε: Root Word: ὅτε, Parsing: Conjunction,
meaning: when.

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δὲ: Root Word: δέ, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: but.
ἦλθεν: Root Word: ἔρχομαι, Parsing: Verb, 3rd Person Singular, 2nd Aorist Indicative Active,
meaning: came.
τὸ: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Neuter, Nominative Singular, meaning: the.
πλήρωμα: Root Word: πλήρωμα, Parsing: Noun, Neuter, Nominative Singular, meaning:
fullness.
τοῦ: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Masculine, Genitive Singular, meaning: of the.
χρόνου: Root Word: χρόνος, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Genitive Singular, meaning: time.
ἐξαπέστειλεν: Root Word: ἐξαποστέλλω, Parsing: Verb, 3rd Person Singular, 1st Aorist
Indicative Active, meaning: sent forth.
ὁ: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Masculine, Nominative Singular, meaning: the.
θεὸς: Root Word: θεός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Nominative Singular, meaning: God.
τὸν: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Masculine, Accusative Singular, meaning: the.
υἱὸν: Root Word: υἱός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Accusative Singular, meaning: Son.
αὐτοῦ: Root Word: αὐτός, Parsing: Pronoun, Masculine, Genitive Singular, meaning: His.
γενόμενον: Root Word: γίνομαι, Parsing: Participle, Masculine, Accusative Singular, 2nd
Aorist Middle, meaning: having been born.
ἐκ: Root Word: ἐκ, Parsing: Preposition, meaning: of.
γυναικός: Root Word: γυνή, Parsing: Noun, Feminine, Genitive Singular, meaning: woman.
γενόμενον: Root Word: γίνομαι, Parsing: Participle, Masculine, Accusative Singular, 2nd
Aorist Middle, meaning: having been born.
ὑπὸ: Root Word: ὑπό, Parsing: Preposition, meaning: under.
νόμον: Root Word: νόμος, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Accusative Singular, meaning: law.
Translation: But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman,
born under the law.
Verse 4:5. ἵνα τοὺς ὑπὸ νόμον ἐξαγοράσῃ, ἵνα τὴν υιοθεσίαν ἀπολάβωμεν.
ἵνα: Root Word: ἵνα, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: so that.
τοὺς: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Masculine, Accusative Plural, meaning: those.
ὑπὸ: Root Word: ὑπό, Parsing: Preposition, meaning: under.
νόμον: Root Word: νόμος, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Accusative Singular, meaning: law.
ἐξαγοράσῃ: Root Word: ἐξαγοράζω, Parsing: Verb, 3rd Person Singular, 1st Aorist Subjunctive
Active, meaning: might redeem.
ἵνα: Root Word: ἵνα, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: so that.
τὴν: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Feminine, Accusative Singular, meaning: the.

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υἱοθεσίαν: Root Word: υἱοθεσία, Parsing: Noun, Feminine, Accusative Singular, meaning:
adoption as sons.
ἀπολάβωμεν: Root Word: ἀπολαμβάνω, Parsing: Verb, 1st Person Plural, 2nd Aorist
Subjunctive Active, meaning: we might receive.
Translation: So that He might redeem those who were under the law, so that we might
receive adoption as sons.
Verse 4: 6. Ὅτι δέ ἐστε υἱοί, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὰς καρδίας
ἡμῶν' κρᾶζον, Αββα ὁ πατήρ.
Ὅτι: Root Word: ὅτι, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: because.
δὲ: Root Word: δέ, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: but.
ἐστε: Root Word: εἰμί, Parsing: Verb, 2nd Person Plural, Present Indicative Active, meaning:
you are.
υἱοί: Root Word: υἱός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Nominative Plural, meaning: sons.
ἐξαπέστειλεν: Root Word: ἐξαποστέλλω, Parsing: Verb, 3rd Person Singular, 1st Aorist
Indicative Active, meaning: sent forth.
ὁ: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Masculine, Nominative Singular, meaning: the.
θεὸς: Root Word: θεός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Nominative Singular, meaning: God.
τὸ: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Neuter, Accusative Singular, meaning: the.
πνεῦμα: Root Word: πνεῦμα, Parsing: Noun, Neuter, Accusative Singular, meaning: Spirit.
τοῦ: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Masculine, Genitive Singular, meaning: of the.
υἱοῦ: Root Word: υἱός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Genitive Singular, meaning: Son.
αὐτοῦ: Root Word: αὐτός, Parsing: Pronoun, Masculine, Genitive Singular, meaning: His.
εἰς: Root Word: εἰς, Parsing: Preposition, meaning: into.
τὰς: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Feminine, Accusative Plural, meaning: the.
καρδίας: Root Word: καρδία, Parsing: Noun, Feminine, Accusative Plural, meaning: hearts.
ἡμῶν: Root Word: ἡμεῖς, Parsing: Pronoun, Genitive Plural, meaning: our.
κρᾶζον: Root Word: κράζω, Parsing: Participle, Neuter, Nominative Singular, Present Active,
meaning: crying out.
Αββα: Root Word: Αββα, Parsing: Aramaic Noun, meaning: Abba.
ὁ: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Masculine, Nominative Singular, meaning: the.
πατήρ: Root Word: πατήρ, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Nominative Singular, meaning: Father.
Translation: Because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts,
crying out, “Abba! Father!”
Verse 4:7. ὥστε οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος ἀλλ' υἱός· εἰ δὲ υἱός, καὶ κληρονόμος διὰ θεοῦ,

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ὥστε: Root Word: ὥστε, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: so that.
οὐκέτι: Root Word: οὐκέτι, Parsing: Adverb, meaning: no longer.
εἶ: Root Word: εἰμί, Parsing: Verb, 2nd Person Singular, Present Indicative Active, meaning:
you are.
δοῦλος: Root Word: δοῦλος, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Nominative Singular, meaning:
slave.
ἀλλ᾽: Root Word: ἀλλά, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: but.
υἱός: Root Word: υἱός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Nominative Singular, meaning: son.
εἰ: Root Word: εἰ, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: if.
δὲ: Root Word: δέ, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: but.
υἱός: Root Word: υἱός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Nominative Singular, meaning: son.
καὶ: Root Word: καί, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: and.
κληρονόμος: Root Word: κληρονόμος, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Nominative Singular,
meaning: heir.
διὰ: Root Word: διά, Parsing: Preposition, meaning: through.
θεοῦ: Root Word: θεός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Genitive Singular, meaning: God.
Translation: Therefore, you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir
through God.
Verse 4:8. Ἀλλὰ τότε μὲν οὐκ εἰδότες θεὸν ἐδουλεύσατε τοῖς φύσει μὴ οὖσιν θεοῖς .
Ἀλλὰ: Root Word: ἀλλά, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: but.
τότε: Root Word: τότε, Parsing: Adverb, meaning: then.
μὲν: Root Word: μέν, Parsing: Particle, meaning: indeed.
οὐκ: Root Word: οὐ, Parsing: Adverb, meaning: not.
εἰδότες: Root Word: οἶδα, Parsing: Participle, Masculine, Nominative Plural, Perfect Active,
meaning: knowing.
θεὸν: Root Word: θεός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Accusative Singular, meaning: God.
ἐδουλεύσατε: Root Word: δουλεύω, Parsing: Verb, 2nd Person Plural, 1st Aorist Indicative
Active, meaning: you served.
τοῖς: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Masculine, Dative Plural, meaning: the.
φύσει: Root Word: φύσις, Parsing: Noun, Feminine, Dative Singular, meaning: by nature.
μὴ: Root Word: μή, Parsing: Adverb, meaning: not.
οὖσιν: Root Word: εἰμί, Parsing: Participle, Masculine, Dative Plural, Present Active,
meaning: being.
θεοῖς: Root Word: θεός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Dative Plural, meaning: gods.

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Translation: But at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which
by nature are not gods.
Verse 4:9. νῦν δὲ γνόντες θεόν, μᾶλλον δὲ γνωσθέντες ὑπὸ θεοῦ, πῶς ἐπιστρέφετε πάλιν ἐπὶ
τὰ ἀσθενῆ καὶ πτωχὰ στοιχεῖα οἷς πάλιν ἄνωθεν δουλεύειν θέλετε;
νῦν: Root Word: νῦν, Parsing: Adverb, meaning: now.
δὲ: Root Word: δέ, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: but.
γνόντες: Root Word: γινώσκω, Parsing: Participle, Masculine, Nominative Plural, 2nd Aorist
Active, meaning: knowing.
θεόν: Root Word: θεός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Accusative Singular, meaning: God.
μᾶλλον: Root Word: μᾶλλον, Parsing: Adverb, meaning: rather.
δὲ: Root Word: δέ, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: but.
γνωσθέντες: Root Word: γινώσκω, Parsing: Participle, Masculine, Nominative Plural, 2 nd
Aorist Passive, meaning: being known.
ὑπὸ: Root Word: ὑπό, Parsing: Preposition, meaning: by.
θεοῦ: Root Word: θεός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Genitive Singular, meaning: God.
πῶς: Root Word: πῶς, Parsing: Interrogative Adverb, meaning: how.
ἐπιστρέφετε: Root Word: ἐπιστρέφω, Parsing: Verb, 2nd Person Plural, Present Indicative
Active, meaning: are you turning back.
πάλιν: Root Word: πάλιν, Parsing: Adverb, meaning: again.
ἐπὶ: Root Word: ἐπί, Parsing: Preposition, meaning: to.
τὰ: Root Word: ὁ, Parsing: Article, Neuter, Accusative Plural, meaning: the.
ἀσθενῆ: Root Word: ἀσθενής, Parsing: Adjective, Neuter, Accusative Plural, meaning: weak.
καὶ: Root Word: καί, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: and.
πτωχὰ: Root Word: πτωχός, Parsing: Adjective, Neuter, Accusative Plural, meaning:
worthless.
στοιχεῖα: Root Word: στοιχεῖον, Parsing: Noun, Neuter, Accusative Plural, meaning:
elementary principles.
οἷς: Root Word: ὅς, Parsing: Relative Pronoun, Neuter, Dative Plural, meaning: to which.
πάλιν: Root Word: πάλιν, Parsing: Adverb, meaning: again.
ἄνωθεν: Root Word: ἄνωθεν, Parsing: Adverb, meaning: from the beginning.
δουλεύειν: Root Word: δουλεύω, Parsing: Verb, Present Infinitive Active, meaning: to be
enslaved.
θέλετε: Root Word: θέλω, Parsing: Verb, 2nd Person Plural, Present Indicative Active,
meaning: you want.

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Translation: But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how
is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles, to which you
desire to be enslaved all over again?
Verse 4:10. ἡμέρας παρατηρεῖσθε καὶ μῆνας καὶ καιροὺς καὶ ἐνιαυτούς,
ἡμέρας: Root Word: ἡμέρα, Parsing: Noun, Feminine, Accusative Plural, meaning: days.
παρατηρεῖσθε: Root Word: παρατηρέω, Parsing: Verb, 2nd Person Plural, Present Indicative
Middle, meaning: you observe.
καὶ: Root Word: καί, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: and.
μῆνας: Root Word: μήν, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Accusative Plural, meaning: months.
καὶ: Root Word: καί, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: and.
καιροὺς: Root Word: καιρός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Accusative Plural, meaning: seasons.
καὶ: Root Word: καί, Parsing: Conjunction, meaning: and.
ἐνιαυτούς: Root Word: ἐνιαυτός, Parsing: Noun, Masculine, Accusative Plural, meaning:
years.
Translation: You observe days and months and seasons and years.
Verse 4: 11. φοβοῦμαι ὑμᾶς μή πως εἰκῇ κεκοπίακα εἰς ὑμᾶς.
φοβοῦμαι: Root Word: φοβέομαι, Parsing: Verb, 1st Person Singular, Present Indicative
Middle, meaning: I fear.
ὑμᾶς: Root Word: σὺ, Parsing: Pronoun, 2nd Person Plural, Accusative, meaning: you.
μή: Root Word: μή, Parsing: Particle, meaning: lest.
πως: Root Word: πως, Parsing: Particle, meaning: somehow.
εἰκῇ: Root Word: εἰκῇ, Parsing: Adverb, meaning: in vain.
κεκοπίακα: Root Word: κοπιάω, Parsing: Verb, 1st Person Singular, Perfect Indicative Active,
meaning: I have labored.
εἰς: Root Word: εἰς, Parsing: Preposition, meaning: for.
ὑμᾶς: Root Word: σὺ, Parsing: Pronoun, 2nd Person Plural, Accusative, meaning: you.
Translation: I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
Galatians 4:6 {A} ἡμῶν 𝔓46 ‫ א‬A B C D* F G P 104 459 1175 1241 1739 1881 1912 1962
Lectpt itar itb itd ite itf itg itm ito itr its vgww vgst syrpal copsa copbo(pt) arm geo slav Marcionaccording to
Tertullian
Origenlat Athanasius2/4 Basil Ambrose Didymusdub(2/3) Marcus Eremita Cyril2/11;
Ambrosiaster Hilary Priscillian Ambrose Chromatius Niceta Jerome Pelagius Augustine 7/11
Speculum Ps-Vigilius2/2// ὑμῶν] D2 Ψ 075 0150 6 33 81 181 256 263 326 330 365 424 436
1319 1573 1852 1877 2127 2200 2464 Byz [K L] Lectpt, AD vgcl syrp syrh copbo(pt) eth

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Athanasius2/4 Didymus Didymusdub(1/3) Chrysostom Severian Theodorelat Cyril9/11 Hesychius
Theodotus-Ancyra Theodoret; Victorinus-Rome Augustine4/11 BTH

1. Textual Criticism Under this section, we will examine both external and internal
evidences.
1.1. External Evidence 1.1.1. Characterization of Manuscripts
VARIANTS TEXTS MANUSCRIPTS
𝔓46 ‫ א‬A B C D* F G P 104 459 1175 1241 1739 1881 1912
1962 Lectpt itar itb itd ite itf itg itm ito itr its vgww vgst syrpal copsa
copbo(pt) arm geo slav Marcionaccording to Tertullian Origenlat
V-1 ἑμῳν Athanasius2/4 Basil Ambrose Didymusdub(2/3) Marcus Eremita
Cyril2/11; Ambrosiaster Hilary Priscillian Ambrose
Chromatius Niceta Jerome Pelagius Augustine7/11 Speculum
Ps-Vigilius2/2/
D2 Ψ 075 0150 6 33 81 181 256 263 326 330 365 424 436
V-2 ὑμῳν 1319 1573 1852 1877 2127 2200 2464 Byz [K L] Lectpt, AD
vgcl syrp syrh copbo(pt) eth

1.1.2. Characterization of Kind

VARIANTS PAPYRI UNCIALS MINUSCULES OTHERS
itar itb itd ite itf itg itm ito itr
𝔓⁴⁶
‫א‬ABC
V-1 FG its vgww vgst syrpal copsa
D*
copbo(pt) arm geo slav
075 6 33 81 256 365 1175
Byz [K L] Lectpt, AD vgcl
V-2 D² Θ Ψ 1241 1319 1573 1739 1852
syrp syrh copbo(pt) eth
1881 1912 1962

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1.1.3. Characterization of Time

VARIANTS III IV V VI VII VIII IX X OTHERS

𝔓⁴ ‫א‬ 459
V-1 A C P 104 1241 1739 vg syr cop slav
⁶ B 1175
256 365 Byz vgcl syrp syrh
V-2 D² Θ Ψ 6 33 81 181
1175 copbo(pt)

1.1.4. Geographical Classification

VARIANTS Alexandria Western Byzantine
V-1 ‫א‬BC D* F G Byz
V-2 D² Θ Ψ Byz

1.1.5. Genealogical Solidarity

VARIANTS PRIMARY SECONDARY
𝔓⁴⁶ ‫ א‬B C
V-1 FG
D*
V-2 D² ΘΨ

2. Internal Evidence
2.1. Evaluation of Transcriptional Probability We observe two major variants: “ἑμῳν” and
“ὑμῳν.” The former reading, supported by early and diverse witnesses (𝔓⁴⁶ ‫ א‬A B C
D*), suggests a stronger tradition with broader geographical distribution. The latter
variant, though significant in Byzantine texts, reflects a later standardization.
2.2. Evaluation of Intrinsic Probability Given the context of Galatians 4:6 and its
emphasis on personal relationship and communal identity in Christ, “ἑμῳν” (“our”) aligns
better with Paul's theological intent of inclusivity and divine adoption. Therefore, V-1,
preferred by critical editions such as NA28 and UBS5, is likely the original reading. This
conclusion is consistent with the analysis of leading textual critics including Metzger, Aland,
and Ehrman
Reason for {A} Rating
The {A} rating signifies virtually no doubt about ἡμῶν being the original text. The
combination of 𝔓46, major uncials (‫ א‬A B C), and early versions makes this variant
decisively strong.

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Galatians 4:7 {A}διὰ θεοῦ 𝔓46 ‫ *א‬A B C* 33 1739*vid itb itf itg itr ito its vg copbogeo1 Clement
Basil Ambrose Didymusdub(2/3) Cyril Victorinus-Rome Ambrosiaster Niceta Pelagius
Augustine //διὰ θεόν F G 1881 // διὰ Χριστοῦ 81 2464 (1739c l592 l593 l1439 Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ)
syrpal copsa Eusebius-Emesa; Jerome // θεοῦ 1962 arm// θεοῦ διὰ Χριστοῦ 2‫ א‬C3 D 075 0150
104 256 365 424 436 459 1175 1241 1319 1573 1852 1877 1912 2200 Byz [K L] Lect itar itd
geo2 slavms Athanasius Didymusdub(1/3) Chrysostom Theodorelat Theodoret1/2 John-Damascus //
θεοῦ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ P 6 263 2127 l422 l591 l597 l884 l1154 l1298 l1356 l1443 l1590 syrp syrh eth slavms
Theodoret1/2 //μὲν θεοῦ, συγκληρονόμος δὲ Χριστοῦ (see Romans 8:17) Ψ Ps-Athanasius
1. Textual Criticism
Under this section, we examine two types of evidence: External and Internal.
1.1 External Evidence
1.1.1 Characterization of Manuscripts
Variants Text Manuscripts
𝔓46 ‫ *א‬A B C* 33 1739*vid itb itf itg itr ito its
vg copbogeo1 Clement Basil Ambrose
V-1 διὰ θεοῦ
Didymusdub(2/3) Cyril Victorinus-Rome
Ambrosiaster Niceta Pelagius Augustine
V-2 διὰ θεόν F G 1881
81 2464 (1739c l592 l593 l1439 Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ)
V-3 διὰ Χριστοῦ
syrpal copsa Eusebius-Emesa; Jerome
V-4 θεοῦ 1962 arm
2
‫ א‬C3 D 075 0150 104 256 365 424 436
459 1175 1241 1319 1573 1852 1877 1912
V-5 θεοῦ διὰ Χριστοῦ 2200 Byz [K L] Lect itar itd geo2 slavms
Athanasius Didymusdub(1/3) Chrysostom
Theodorelat Theodoret1/2 John-Damascus
P 6 263 2127 l422 l591 l597 l884 l1154 l1298 l1356
V-6 θεοῦ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
l1443 l1590 syrp syrh eth slavms Theodoret1/2
μὲν θεοῦ, συγκληρονόμος δὲ Χριστοῦ Ψ Ps-Athanasius
V-7
(see Romans 8:17)

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1.1.2 Characterization of Kind
Variants Papyri Uncials Minuscules Others
V-1 𝔓46 ‫ *א‬A B C* 33 1739*vid vg copbo geo1 Clement, etc.
V-2 FG 1881
V-3 81 2464 syrpal copsa Eusebius-Emesa
V-4 1962 arm
2
V-5 ‫ א‬C3 D 075 0150, 1175, etc. Byz Lect, etc.
V-6 P syrp syrh eth, etc.
V-7 Ψ Ps-Athanasius

1.1.3 Characterization of Time

Variants III IV V VI VII VIII IX X Others
𝔓4
V-1 A B Clement, etc.
6

V-2 F G
V-3 81 2464 Jerome, etc.
V-5 2‫א‬ Byz Lect, etc.
V-6 P syrp syrh eth, etc.
V-7 Ψ Ps-Athanasius

1.1.4 Geographical Classification

Variants Alexandria Western Byzantine
𝔓46 ‫ *א‬A
V-1 33
B
V-2 FG
V-3

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 Variants Alexandria Western Byzantine
V-5 Byz
V-6

1.1.5 Genealogical Solidarity

Variants Primary Secondary
𝔓46 ‫*א‬
V-1 A
B
V-2 FG
2
V-5 ‫א‬ Byz
V-6 P

2. Internal Evidence
2.1 Evaluation of Transcriptional Probability
The variation between διὰ θεοῦ (V-1) and διὰ Χριστοῦ (V-3) reflects differing theological
emphases but does not alter the core message.
2.2 Evaluation of Intrinsic Probability
Variant V-1 (διὰ θεοῦ) is considered original due to strong external manuscript support from
early witnesses like 𝔓46, ‫*א‬, A, and B. Scholars including Bruce Metzger favor this reading
for its simplicity and attestation.
The {A} rating signifies virtually no doubt about διὰ θεοῦ being the original text. The
combination of 𝔓46, major uncials (‫ *א‬A B C*), early versions, and citations from prominent
church fathers makes this variant decisively strong.

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