This article argues on the basis of semantic and syntactical observations that the verb διαφέρω in Gal 4.1 is best translated as “be superior to” (rather than “be different from”). An alternative is proposed for the most prevalent translation of the verb in contemporary editions of the Bible and commentaries on Galatians alike.
AricheaDaniel C.NidaEugene A.1975. Translator’s Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. New York: United Bible Societies.
2.
BauerW.DankerF. W.ArndtW. F.GingrichF. W.1999. Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed.Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
3.
BurtonErnest de Witt. 1921. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
4.
ByronJohn. 2003. Slavery Metaphors in Early Judaism and Pauline Christianity. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck.
5.
de BoerMartinus C.2011. Galatians. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.
6.
GoodrichJohn K.2010. “Guardians, Not Taskmasters: The Cultural Resonances of Paul’s Metaphor in Galatians 4.1-21.”Journal for the Study of the New Testament32: 251–84.
7.
LiddellH. G.ScottR.JonesH. S.1968. A Greek–English Lexicon. 9th ed. with supplement. Oxford: Clarendon.
8.
LongeneckerRichard. 1990. Galatians. Waco: Word.
9.
LouwJohannes P.NidaEugene A., eds. 1989. Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains. 2 vols. New York: United Bible Societies.
10.
LührmannDieter. 1978. Der Brief an die Galater. Zürich: Theologischer Verlag.
11.
MartynJ. Louis. 1998. Galatians. New York: Doubleday.
12.
MoultonJames HopeMilliganGeorge. 1915. The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament: Illustrated from the Papyri and Other Non-literary Sources. London: Hodder and Stoughton.
13.
RohdeJoachim. 1989. Der Brief des Paulus an die Galater. Berlin: Evangelische Verlagsanstalt.
14.
SchlierHeinrich. 1965. Der Brief an die Galater. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.
15.
ThayerJoseph Henry. 1890. A Greek–English Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
16.
VougaFrançois. 1998. An die Galater. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck.
