Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Galatians 5:6

ἐν γὰρ. Explaining St Paul’s reliance on πνεύματι and especially ἐκ πίστεως.

Χριστῷ [Ἰησοῦ]. Ἰησοῦ is omitted by B only. So Galatians 2:4; Galatians 3:26; Galatians 3:28, cf. Galatians 3:14. St Paul adds the dear personal name which recalls His life, death, and whole work of salvation. In Christ Jesus. Out of Christ they might avail something, but to a man who is in Christ they effect nothing. For the continuance and attainment of final righteousness the exercise of faith is necessary. Observe that St Paul is not speaking of how to become “in Christ,” but how to live when in Him. Thus the passage has no relation to the Roman Catholic doctrine of fides formata as necessary for justification in the forensic sense.

οὔτε κ.τ.λ., Galatians 6:15. Similarly it is not the colour of the soldier that makes the difference, but his skill in fighting (Theodoret after Chrysostom).

περιτομή … ἀκροβυστία. i.e. as such, Galatians 6:15 note. On the contrary, either may be of grievous hindrance if entered upon with a view to salvation thereby.

τι ἰσχύει. Cf. James 5:16; Matthew 5:13. If a man is in Christ the only thing that avails for Christian activity etc. is faith made operative by love. Moulton and Milligan understand it to mean “is valid,” as in Hebrews 9:17, comparing a passage in a papyrus of the 2nd cent. A.D. (Expositor, VII. 7, May 1909, p. 475).

ἀλλὰ πίστις διʼ ἀγάπης. Love, in its widest sense. St Paul is approaching the moral teaching of Galatians 5:13 sqq. (Beet). Observe “Cum. fide conjunxit spem Galatians 5:5, nunc amorem. In his stat novus Christianus” (Bengel). Chrysostom, perhaps rightly, sees here a hint to the Galatians that if their love to Christ had been right they would not have deserted Him for bondage.

ἐνεργουμένη, “being made operative.” Passive, and probably suggesting Divine action brought to bear upon faith (Colossians 1:29 notes). Thus in the true Christian life faith is wrought upon by God, who, using the means of our love to Himself and men, brings out our faith to its true productiveness.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Galatians 5:6

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