Gal 1:22-23 | PNT | STEP | And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea . The churches of Judea had heard of him, but few had seen him.

Galatians 1:22-23

And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea. The churches of Judea had heard of him, but few had seen him. They had heard. Rather, "they kept hearing". That he was busy planting churches in Syria and Cilicia at this time we know from the fact that we find them in existence soon after (Ac 15:41).

The faith. In the study of this Letter, it is well to keep in mind that the term "faith" is used by Paul often in a sense that means more than the act of belief. When it is put in contrast with the law, it is used in the sense of "The Faith", that is, The Gospel. It comprehends what is believed, believing, and the results of believing. The fact that the apostles so often places the definite article before the word "faith", so that in the Greek he speaks of "The Faith", leaves no doubt of his meaning. It is unfortunate that the translators have obscured the meaning by omitting the article. Thus in this chapter the Greek gives the definite article before the word ("the faith") five times where it is omitted in the Common Version. The examples are Ga 3:14,23,25,26.