23–4:7. _The contrast between our former state of pupillage under the Law, and our present state in Christ, full sonship_ This is brought out under two aspects: I. Galatians 3:23-29. The preparative character of the Law; faith in Christ makes us Abraham’s seed, (_a_) Galatians 3:23-24. We were prot... [ Continue Reading ]
ΛΈΓΩ ΔῈ. Elsewhere in St Paul’s writings only in Galatians 5:16, where, as here, it introduces a sharp contrast; here to heirship (Galatians 3:29) and what it seems to imply; there to a wrong means of success. Contrast τοῦτο δὲ λέγω, Galatians 3:17; ἴδε ἐγὼ Παῦλος λέγω ὑμῖν, Galatians 5:2; and ἀλλὰ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΛΛʼ ὙΠῸ ἘΠΙΤΡΌΠΟΥΣ ἘΣΤῚ, Matthew 20:8; Luke 8:3[114]. See Appendix, note C. ἐπ. = any person to whom authority is committed, whether a Procurator, e.g. Cumanus in Joseph. _Ant._ xx. 6. 2 (§ 132), or only a bailiff over labourers, Matthew 20:8. In Luke 8:3 Chuza may have been Herod’s “agent “or “fac... [ Continue Reading ]
ἬΜΕΘΑ אD*G. ἦμεν ABC etc. 3. ΟὝΤΩΣ ΚΑῚ ἩΜΕΙ͂Σ. We Jews primarily, though not exclusively, for the restraints were felt by all until Christ came. ὍΤΕ ἮΜΕΝ ΝΉΠΙΟΙ, Galatians 4:1. What a claim for the greatness of the change brought by the Gospel! ὙΠῸ ΤᾺ ΣΤΟΙΧΕΙ͂Α ΤΟΥ͂ ΚΌΣΜΟΝ. The full phrase is foun... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΤΕ ΔῈ ἮΛΘΕΝ κ.τ.λ. The coming of Christ marks the beginning of the change in our personal relation to God. ΤῸ ΠΛΉΡΩΜΑ ΤΟΥ͂ ΧΡΌΝΟΥ. On πλήρωμα see Colossians 1:19 note. The full phrase occurs here only in the Greek Bible. Compare Ephesians 1:10 τοῦ πληρώματος τῶν καιρῶν; and especially Mark 1:15 πεπ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἽΝΑ. Probably to be taken with the whole of the preceding words from ἐξαπέστειλεν, of which indeed γενόμ.… νόμον are in a sense epexegetic. ΤΟῪΣ ὙΠῸ ΝΌΜΟΝ, i.e. Jews, and, if them, much more others who were not under the same strict discipline. There may also be the further thought that if Jews wer... [ Continue Reading ]
6. With this and Galatians 4:7 cf. Romans 8:15-17. Sonship implies privileges, in this case spiritual, yes, the possession of the Spirit of God’s Son with His utterance within us of dependence on the Father. In Galatians 3:26-27 sonship is connected with putting on Christ, here with receiving His Sp... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙᾺ ΘΕΟΥ͂ א*ABC* vulg. διὰ θεόν Ggr. θεοῦ armen. aeth. θεοῦ διὰ χριστοῦ Text. Rec. with אcC3D etc. θεοῦ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ 39. syrr. διὰ χριστοῦ Jerome. 7. ὭΣΤΕ. “So that,” after God’s work in sending His Son for you and His Spirit within you, with the effect of the latter on your very language. ΟΥ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟΙ͂Σ ΦΎΣΕΙ ΜῊ ΟΥ̓͂ΣΙ ΘΕΟΙ͂Σ אABCD*cP vulg. τοῖς μὴ φύσει οὖσι θεοῖς Text. Rec. with DbGKL etc. syrHarcl; omitting φύσει K d aeth. Irenint. 8. This and the following verses are a “sad and startling contrast to Galatians 4:7” (Beet), seen in their turning back to the weak and beggarly elements. ἈΛΛ... [ Continue Reading ]
8–11. _Appeal; after so great a change how can you go back!_ (Galatians 4:8) But—before your conversion, when you knew not God, ye were slaves to them which by origin are not gods; (Galatians 4:9) and now when you have come to know God, or rather were known by God!—how are ye turning again to the po... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΟΥΛΕΥ͂ΣΑΙ אB. δουλεύειν Text. Rec. with ACD etc. 9. ΝΥ͂Ν ΔῈ. Since your conversion; answering to τότε μέν. ΓΝΌΝΤΕΣ ΘΕΌΝ. For the contrast with εἰδέναι see 2 Corinthians 5:16. Having learned, having come to know by personal acquaintance. Compare the quotation on προέκοπτον, Galatians 1:14. St Paul... [ Continue Reading ]
Epexegetic of the way in which they are already showing their slavery to pre-Christian customs. Only the observance of times is mentioned here; in Colossians 2:16 this is preceded by that of foods. Notice also that here the times ascend from days to years; there they descend from yearly feasts to da... [ Continue Reading ]
ΦΟΒΟΥ͂ΜΑΙ ὙΜΑ͂Σ. Not “I fear for you,” for φοβ. with an accusative of the person never has this meaning in the Greek Bible, and very seldom if ever (cf. Soph. _Oed. R._ 760 [767]) elsewhere; but “I fear you,” i.e. you cause me dread from the effect that your action will have on my work. ΜΉ ΠΩΣ, “le... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓΊΝΕΣΘΕ ὩΣ ἘΓΏ, i.e. in my freedom from the Law. St Paul is addressing Gentile Christians, as the majority of the Galatian converts undoubtedly were. Quite improbable is the explanation: Resemble me in affection; I love you, therefore do ye love me. ὍΤΙ ΚἈΓῺ ὩΣ ὙΜΕΙ͂Σ. For I was, or became, like yo... [ Continue Reading ]
12–20. _A further appeal, based on his own behaviour among them, and their treatment of him_ (Galatians 4:12) Become, as I became, free from the Law, like you Gentiles, as you saw me when I was among you first. I plead this, brethren, for I never had ought but kindness at your hands. (Galatians 4:13... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἼΔΑΤΕ ΔῈ. δὲ contrasts the supposition of ἠδικήσατε. So far from unkindness was your treatment of me that even when it might have been unkind, it was not. ὍΤΙ ΔΙʼ ἈΣΘΈΝΕΙΑΝ ΤΗ͂Σ ΣΑΡΚῸΣ, “that because of infirmity of the flesh.” Illness was the cause of St Paul’s first evangelistic efforts among th... [ Continue Reading ]
14 ΤῸΝ ΠΕΙΡΑΣΜῸΝ ὙΜΩ͂Ν א*ABD*G vulg. τὸν πειρασμόν μου τὸν Text. Rec. with DbcKL etc. syrHarcl. τὸν πειρασμὸν τὸν אcC* (ut videtur) syrpesh. τὸν πειρασμὸν ὑμῶν τὸν C2 Orig. (ut videtur). 14. ΚΑῚ ΤῸΝ ΠΕΙΡΑΣΜῸΝ ὙΜΩ͂Ν. See notes on Textual Criticism. “And this which was a trial to you, I mean in my fl... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΟΥ͂ אABCGP vulg. syrpesh. Harcl. marg. τίς Text. Rec. with DKL etc. SyrHarcl. text. 15. ΠΟΥ͂. See notes on Textual Criticism. What has become of it now? Romans 3:27. ΟΥ̓͂Ν. Logically it should still continue. Ὁ ΜΑΚΑΡΙΣΜῸΣ ὙΜΩ͂Ν. Romans 4:6; Romans 4:9[125]. Cf. μακαρίζε, Luke 1:48; James 5:11. No... [ Continue Reading ]
ὭΣΤΕ. He argues from the fact of the change in their feelings towards him that there must be a reason for it. Has my faithful speech shown that I am an enemy to you? ἘΧΘΡῸΣ ὙΜΩ͂Ν ΓΈΓΟΝΑ. From my second visit, when I warned you (Galatians 1:9), up to now. The phrase means an enemy towards you, not “... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΚΚΛΕΙ͂ΣΑΙ ὙΜΑ͂Σ אABCD etc. ἐκκλεῖσαι ἡμᾶς The editions of Beza and the Elzevirs, with only a few cursives. 17. ΖΗΛΟΥ͂ΣΙΝ ὙΜΑ͂Σ ΟΥ̓ ΚΑΛΩ͂Σ. In contrast to my plain speaking and apparent enmity, the false teachers pay court to you. The close connexion of thought with Galatians 4:16 makes Ramsay’s oth... [ Continue Reading ]
ΖΗΛΟΥ͂ΣΘΑΙ. for -αι אB read -ε, probably by mere indifference to spelling, but it is read as an imperative by Jerome and the Vulgate (aemulamini). 18. ΚΑΛῸΝ ΔῈ ΖΗΛΟΥ͂ΣΘΑΙ ἘΝ ΚΑΛΩ͂Ι ΠΆΝΤΟΤΕ. “It is good to be paid court to in a good cause always”: see notes on Textual Criticism. ζηλοῦσθαι must be pas... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΕΚΝΊΑ אcACDbc vulg. (filioli) Text. Rec. only here in St Paul’s writings. τέκνα א*BD*G. ΜΈΧΡΙΣ ΟΥ̓͂ א*B 37. 116. ἄχρις οὖ Text. Rec. with אcACD etc.; cf. Galatians 3:19 W.H. marg. 19. ΤΕΚΝΊΑ ΜΟΥ. τέκνα W.H. marg. See notes on Textual Criticism. The phrase, 1 John 2:1[129]; τεκνία, John 13:33; 1 J... [ Continue Reading ]
ἬΘΕΛΟΝ ΔῈ. “The δέ catches up the passing thought of παρεῖναι (Galatians 4:18) before it escapes” (Lightfoot); “but I would (if it were possible).” ἤθελον in itself may express a practicable or an impracticable wish (see Blass, _Gram._ § 63. 5). The context alone decides. Here it seems to be impract... [ Continue Reading ]
Although St Paul is at a loss about the Galatians (Galatians 4:20) he will try yet another method. He appeals to the very Law itself under which they were wishing to be. The argument of the following verses is subtle, and to us seems to insist unduly on mere words, but to readers more or less accust... [ Continue Reading ]
21–5:1. _Another appeal, based upon the principles underlying the history of Hagar and Sarah, and the birth of Isaac. Christ set us free; stand fast therefore in this freedom_ (Galatians 4:21) You wish to be under the Law? Listen then to the teaching of the Law itself, (Galatians 4:22) For it stands... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΣΧΕΝ, “got,” not εἷχεν. ἘΚ ΤΗ͂Σ ΠΑΙΔΊΣΚΗΣ, “of the maidservant.” As apparently there were no free servants in early days she would necessarily be a δουλή. The article = the one mentioned in Scripture.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙʼ ἘΠΑΓΓΕΛΊΑΣ אAC. διὰ τῆς ἐπ. Text. Rec. and W.H. marg. with BDG etc. 23. ἈΛΛʼ. There was a further difference between the two sons of the one father. ΚΑΤᾺ ΣΆΡΚΑ. In accordance with the natural impulses of the flesh. ΓΕΓἘΝΝΗΤΑΙ. The perfect means either “stands in Scripture as so horn,” or, bet... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΎΟ ΔΙΑΘΗ͂ΚΑΙ אcABCD etc. αἱ is prefixed in Text. Rec. with א*. 24. ἍΤΙΝΆ, “now this class of things,” Colossians 2:23 note. ἘΣΤΙΝ�[133], “are written with another meaning.” For the thought cf. 1 Corinthians 10:11. For the word compare Chrysostom οὐ τοῦτο δὲ μόνον παραδηλοῖ, ὄπερ φαίνεται, ἀλλὰ κα... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸ ΔῈ ἍΓΑΡ ΣΙΝᾺ ὌΡΟΣ ἘΣΤῚΝ ABDgr syrHarcl. marg. Σινὰ omitted by d and Ambrosiaster Com. (ut videtur). τὸ γὰρ Σινὰ ὄρος ἐστὶν אCG vulg. Orig. and so Lightfoot, W.H. margin, and Westcott in notes on select readings. Observe that the first two readings “differ only by the presence or absence of Δεα.”... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΉΤΗΡ ἩΜΩ͂Ν א*BC*DG latt. Syrpesh. Harclean marg. μήτηρ πάντων ἡμῶν Text. Rec. with אCACcKLP etc. syrHarclean text, cf. Genesis 3:20 of Eve, and Polycarp, § 3, εἰς τὴν δοθεῖσαν ἡμῖν πίστιν, ἤτις ἐστὶν μήτηρ πάντων ἡμῶν. 26. Ἡ ΔῈ. Corresponding to the μἑν of Galatians 4:24, but imperfectly in form,... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓΈΓΡΑΠΤΑΙ ΓᾺΡ. γὰρ. I say that not the visible, but the invisible Jerusalem is our mother, for this stands prophesied of her, in Isaiah 54:1. The quotation is taken verbally from the LXX., which represents the Hebrew accurately, save that for the simple ῥῆξον the latter has “break forth into singing... [ Continue Reading ]
ἩΜΕΙ͂Σ … ἘΣΜΈΝ (cf. Galatians 4:31) Text. Rec. with אACDcKLP etc. ὑμεῖς … ἐστέ W.H. margin with BD*G. 28. Having shown in Galatians 4:23-27 that we as believers are like Isaac, children of the free woman, indeed the Jerusalem above, St Paul in this one verse recalls the fact that we, also like Isaa... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΛΛʼ. In contrast to what we might have expected as God’s chosen, Why wonder at persecution? Isaac had to bear it at Ishmael’s hands. It should be observed that by this further evidence of the applicability of the narrative to present circumstances St Paul justifies afresh his interpretation of the... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΛΛᾺ. In contrast to the domineering action of Ishmael, and the present circumstances of believers in the world. ΤΊ ΛΈΓΕΙ Ἡ ΓΡΑΦΉ, The question makes the contrast all the sharper. On ἡ γραφή see Galatians 3:8 note. ἜΚΒΑΛΕ Κ.Τ.Λ. Sarah’s words in Genesis 21:10, verbally from the LXX. which = Hebr. T... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙΌ. Always of practical result rather than argumentative inference (οὖν); a deduction from the preceding Galatians 4:21-30, which must be carried out in daily life (thus forming the transition to the next section); we are therefore free. ἈΔΕΛΦΟΊ. Once more, see Galatians 4:28 note. ΠΑΙΔΊΣΚΗΣ, “a... [ Continue Reading ]