Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. A B Delta C read no "wherewith." [G, Vulgate, have ee (G2228) in the beginning; but the position of stekete oun below is against it]. There is no Greek for "in" or "the," a... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. BEHOLD - i:e., mark what I say. I PAUL. However you disparage me, I give my personal authority as enough by itself to refute all opposition. IF YE BE CIRCUMCISED. - `if ye still suffer yourselves to be ci... [ Continue Reading ]
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. FOR, [ de (G1161)] - 'Yea, not only "Christ shall profit you nothing," BUT you will be debtors to the whole law.' I TESTIFY AGAIN TO EVERY MAN - as well as "unto you" (Galatians 5:2). THAT IS CIRCU... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. [ Kateergeetheete (G2673) apo (G575)] (a word frequent in Paul's letters: only in his companion's gospel (Luke 13:7) besides in the New Testament. Its presence, Hebrews 2:14, supports Paul... [ Continue Reading ]
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. FOR - proof of the assertion, "fallen from grace," by contrasting with the legalists the Christian's "hope." THROUGH THE SPIRIT, [ Pneumati (G4151)] - rather, 'by the Spirit' (the absence of the Greek article does not hinde... [ Continue Reading ]
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. FOR - confirming the truth that it is 'from faith' (Galatians 5:5) that the 'waiting hope' springs. IN JESUS CHRIST - Greek, 'in Christ Jesus.' In union with Christ (the ANOINTED)... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? [ Etrechete (G5143)] 'Ye were running well' in the Gospel race (1 Corinthians 9:24; 1 Corinthians 9:26; Philippians 3:13). WHO ... - none whom ye ought to have listened to: the Judaizers (cf. Galatians 3:1). HINDER, [ Eneko... [ Continue Reading ]
This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. THIS PERSUASION - `The persuasion;' a play on words akin in sound and in root [ peismonee (G3988), persuasion: peithesthai (G3982), "obey," Galatians 5:7 ]. The readiness to obey those who oppose truth. COMETH NOT OF - from Him, but from the... [ Continue Reading ]
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. A LITTLE LEAVEN - the false teaching of the Judaizers. A little legalism, mixed with the Gospel, corrupts its purity. To add ordinances and works in the least degree to justification by faith, is to undermine 'the whole.' So "leaven," false doctrines (; cf.... [ Continue Reading ]
I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. Greek, 'I (emphatic: "I on my part") have confidence IN [ en (G1722)] the Lord (the ground of confidence) with regard to [ eis (G1519)] you (2 Thes... [ Continue Reading ]
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 'If I am still preaching (as I did before conversion) circumcision, why am I still persecuted?' The Judaizing troubler said, 'Paul himself preaches circumcision,' as is shown b... [ Continue Reading ]
I would they were even cut off which trouble you. THEY ... WHICH TROUBLE YOU, [ anastatountes (G387)] - turning upside down (Acts 17:6): setting up what ought to be down, and down what ought to be up: different from [ ho (G3588) tarassoon (G5015)] Galatians 5:10, 'they who are subverting you.'... [ Continue Reading ]
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Natural transition to the hortatory part. FOR - I wish their excision (Galatians 5:12): not that I would emancipate you from law; FOR your "liberty" from legalism is... [ Continue Reading ]
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ALL THE LAW, [ ho (G3588) pas (G3956) nomos (G3551)] - 'the whole law.' Love to God is pre-supposed as the root from which love to our neighbour springs. In this sense the latter precept ('word') is... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. BITE - backbite the character. DEVOUR - the substance, by extortion, etc. (; ; .) Bite, the act of one enraged: devour, of one persevering in malice (Chrysostom). CONSUMED ... Strength of soul, health, c... [ Continue Reading ]
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. THIS I SAY THEN - explaining Galatians 5:13, 'What I mean is this.' WALK IN THE SPIRIT - `By [ Pneumati (G4151)] the (Holy) Spirit' (as your governing principle, rule) (Acts 15:1; Galatians 6:16; Philippians 3:1... [ Continue Reading ]
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. FOR - the reason why walking by the Spirit will exclude fulfilling the lasts of the flesh; namely, their mutual contrariety. T... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 'But if ye are led (give yourselves up to be led; in contrast to the previous struggle, , the Spirit now prevailing) by the Spirit, ye are not under the law,' because it finds in you no ground of condemnation. For ye are then not working t... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Confirming Galatians 5:18 by the contrariety between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. MANIFEST - the hidden fleshly principle betrays itself palpably by its works: th... [ Continue Reading ]
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. AND - Greek, 'But.' There is no law against love, etc. But Christians crucify the flesh, which is contrary to the Spirit, whose fruit love is; therefore they are led by the Spirit, and yield its fruit, and are not... [ Continue Reading ]
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. IN ... IN - rather, 'If we live (note, Galatians 5:24) BY the Spirit, let us also walk [ stoichoomen (G4448): studiously and with measured step] (Galatians 5:16; Galatians 6:16) BY the Spirit.' Let our practice correspond to the ideal prin... [ Continue Reading ]
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 'Let us not BECOME' [ ginometha (G1096)]. While not asserting that the Galatians are "vain-glorious" now, he says they are liable to become so. PROVOKING, [ prokaloumenoi (G4292 ): CHALLENGING] ONE ANOTHER - an ef... [ Continue Reading ]