Galatians 1:17

Galatians 1:17

Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

a. NLT: Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.

b. NIV: I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

c. YLT: Nor did I go up to Jerusalem unto those who were apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia, and again returned to Damascus,

d. Amplified Bible Classic:  Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles (special messengers of Christ) before I was, but I went away and retired into Arabia, and afterward I came back again to Damascus.

e. Worrell Translation: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and again returned to Damascus.

f. Wuest Translation: Neither did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and again returned to Damacus.

1. “Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me…”

a. neither [Strong: 3761 oude oo-deh' from 3756 and 1161; not however, i.e. neither, nor, not even:--neither (indeed), never, no (more, nor, not), nor (yet), (also, even, then) not (even, so much as), + nothing, so much as.]

b. went I up [Strong: 424 anerchomai an-erkh'-om-ahee from 303 and 2064; to ascend:--go up.]

c. to [Strong: 1519 eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

d. Jerusalem [Strong: 2414 Hierosoluma hee-er-os-ol'-oo-mah of Hebrew origin (3389); Hierosolyma (i.e. Jerushalaim}, the capitol of Palestine:--Jerusalem.]

e. to [Strong: 4314 pros pros a strengthened form of 4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.]

f. them [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

g. [who were] apostles [Strong: 652 apostolos ap-os'-tol-os from 649; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers):--apostle, messenger, he that is sent.]

h. before [Strong: 4253 pro pro a primary preposition; "fore", i.e. in front of, prior (figuratively, superior) to:--above, ago, before, or ever. In the comparative, it retains the same significations.]

i. me [Strong: 1700 emou em-oo' a prolonged form of 3449; of me:--me, mine, my.

1). Paul is still referring to where he received the revelation of the Gospel. He didn’t get it from flesh and blood. He purposely did not go up to Jerusalem to meet with those who walked with Jesus during his ministry. No, he wanted to get it straight from God. The impact of his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus jarred his very existence.  

2. “…but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.”

a. but [Strong: 235 alla al-lah' neuter plural of 243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.]

b. I went [Strong: 565 aperchomai ap-erkh'-om-ahee from 575 and 2064; to go off (i.e. depart), aside (i.e. apart) or behind (i.e. follow), literally or figuratively:--come, depart, go (aside, away, back, out, ways), pass away, be past.]

c. into [Strong: 1519 eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

d. Arabia [Strong: 688 Arabia ar-ab-ee'-ah of Hebrew origin (6152); Arabia, a region of Asia:--Arabia.]

e. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

f. returned [Strong: 5290 hupostrepho hoop-os-tref'-o from 5259 and 4762; to turn under (behind), i.e. to return (literally or figuratively):--come again, return (again, back again), turn back (again).]

g. again [Strong: 3825 palin pal'-in probably from the same as 3823 (through the idea of oscillatory repetition); (adverbially) anew, i.e. (of place) back, (of time) once more, or (conjunctionally) furthermore or on the other hand:--again.]

h. unto [Strong: 1519 eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

i. Damascus [Strong: 1154 Damaskos dam-as-kos' of Hebrew origin (1834); Damascus, a city of Syria:--Damascus.]

1). Why would Paul go into Arabia instead of going to Jerusalem and meet with those who walked with him for three and one half years? I am fully persuaded that Paul went to Mount Sinai where the Mosaic Covenant was given and there waited for a revelation from God about the New Covenant. The Apostle Paul wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost that Mount Sinai was in Arabia.

a). Galatians 4:25 “For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia…”

b). The giving of the New Covenant in the same place as the Mosaic Covenant was given, would be, I believe, so fitting.

2). If verses 15 through 17 are read without stopping, it is easy to see that the revelation of the Gospel is the focus, and the place of Arabia is where it occurred. After the revelation of the Covenant, Paul then returned to Damascus.