Galatians 1:19

Galatians 1:19

But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

a. NLT: The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother.

b. NIV: I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.

c. YLT: And other of the apostles I did not see, except James, the brother of the Lord.

d. Amplified Bible: But I did not see any of the other apostles (the special messengers of Christ) except James the brother of our Lord.

e. Worrell Translation: But other of the apostles I saw not, except James, the brother of the Lord.

f. Wuest Translation: But another of the apostles I did not see except James the brother of our Lord.

1. “But other of the apostles saw I none…”

a. But [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. other [Strong: 2087 heteros het'-er-os of uncertain affinity; (an-, the) other or different:--altered, else, next (day), one, (an-)other, some, strange.]

c. of the [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.]

d. 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.]

e. saw I [Strong: 1492 eido i'-do a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know:--be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot.]

f. none [Strong: 3756 ou oo, also (before a vowel) ouk ook, and (before an aspirate) ouch ookh a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

1). Though James was not one of the 12 original apostles, he was an apostle. Many in the church mistakenly believe there are only 12 apostles. There were only 12 original apostles, but the term “apostle” is actually one of the five fold ministry gifts that God established in the church to prepare the church for ministry.

a). Ephesians 4:7-13 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

b). As the Ephesians passage reveals, the office of apostle was to continue with in the church as long as the other offices of pastor, evangelist, teacher and prophet.

2. “…save James the Lord’s brother.”

a. save [Strong: 1508 ei me i may from 1487 and 3361; if not:--but, except (that), if not, more than, save (only) that, saving, till.]

b. James [Strong: 2385 Iakobos ee-ak'-o-bos the same as 2384 Graecized; Jacobus, the name of three Israelites:--James.]

c. the [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.]

d. Lord’s [Strong: 2962 kurios koo'-ree-os from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

e. brother [Strong: 80 adephos ad-el-fos' from 1 (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1):--brother.]

1). James was the half brother to the Lord and here referred to as an apostle. Scripture shows that during the last three and one half years of Jesus life, his brothers did not believe in him.

a). John 7:2-5 Now the Jew's feast of tabernacles was at hand.

7:3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

7:4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

2). Scripture lists at least four brothers and probably at least two sisters.

a). Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

3). Although probably during most of his ministry years his brothers did not believe in him, after his resurrection they did come to receive him as the Messiah. As recorded here in Galatians 1:18, James not only became an apostle, but also wrote the Book of James. His other brother Jude, also listed in the Mark 6:3 verse is the same Jude who wrote the Book of Jude.