Galatians 3 - Introduction
(Second Division of the Epistle.) The Doctrine of Justification by Faith discussed and illustrated... [ Continue Reading ]
(Second Division of the Epistle.) The Doctrine of Justification by Faith discussed and illustrated... [ Continue Reading ]
Galatians 3:1-9. Justification by Faith, the dispensation of the Spirit 1. In the concluding verses of the preceding chapter the Apostle has not been directly addressing the Galatians. He has rather been following up his rebuke to Peter by an argument a soliloquy ending in a _reductio ad absurdum_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the Apostle makes a personal appeal to their own experience. He might have adduced other arguments to shew the excellence of faith. But he confines himself to one question, which they alone could answer, and the answer to which is decisive. -Was it from (as the fruit of) the works of the Law th... [ Continue Reading ]
The contrast is still maintained in other terms. Here the -flesh" is used for that which is external and material, compliance with outward observances, as opposed to the spiritual principle of faith. These two "are contrary the one to the other". It is folly, having begun your Christian life spiritu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Have ye suffered so many things in vain?_ The reference is, as in Galatians 3:2, to persecutions experienced by them at the time of their conversion. Though we have no record of these, yet, as Bp. Lightfoot remarks, the history "is equally silent on all that relates to the condition of the Galatian... [ Continue Reading ]
_He therefore_ St Paul, after a digression in which he rebukes their folly in reversing the true order of the soul's progress (Galatians 3:3) and in relinquishing the truth which they had embraced at the cost even of persecution (Galatians 3:4) resumes the appeal of Galatians 3:2 in another form. -H... [ Continue Reading ]
Exemplified by the case of Abraham 6. We must supply the obvious answers to the question of Galatians 3:5. Assuredly those miraculous powers followed the preaching of _faith_; (comp. Mark 16:20) and so it was with Abraham; he _believed_and was justified. The quotation is from the LXX. version of G... [ Continue Reading ]
_Know ye_ Better indic. -Ye know then". So in Philippians 4:15, where the punctuation in some copies of A.V. perverts the sense. _they which are of faith_ This form of expression is common in Classical Greek. It means, -they who come from, and so belong to"; especially of persons who range themselv... [ Continue Reading ]
St Paul's appeal here and elsewhere to the authority of the O.T. as the unerring, irreversible decision is very instructive. This authority depends on an inspiration which is _verbal_, though not _mechanical_. The quotation combines a reference to two distinct promises, that in Genesis 12:3, "And in... [ Continue Reading ]
_faithful_ The original word, like its English equivalent, may mean either trustworthy or trusting, deserving confidence or exercising it. In the former sense it occurs 1Co 1:9; 1 Corinthians 4:2. In the latter (which is the sense here), John 20:27, where it is rendered -believing". The context will... [ Continue Reading ]
The Curse of the Law. No deliverance except by Faith 10. The mention of the blessing which comes by faith suggests the terrible alternative the curse which the Law pronounces and from which it provides no way of escape a curse from which, because of imperfect obedience, no man can possibly free him... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the sight of God_ Better, BEFORE GOD, i.e. at His bar. This _forensic_use of the preposition is common in Classical Greek. Comp. 2 Thessalonians 1:6; James 1:27; 1 Peter 2:20. _The just shall live by faith_ The quotation from Habakkuk 2:4, is also found, Romans 1:17; Hebrews 10:27. The literal r... [ Continue Reading ]
St Paul by reference to two other familiar passages of the O.T. confirms his assertion that justification cannot be by the Law. He has proved from Scripture that no man can be justified by a Law which pronounces a curse on all who fail to render a perfect obedience to its commands. He now from anoth... [ Continue Reading ]
_is not of faith_ -does not spring out of, or start from faith", but its principle is performance. This is clearly laid down in Revelation 18:5, -He that doeth them &c.". We observe that -justification" and -life" are almost convertible terms. He who by faith is made one with the Son of God, hath li... [ Continue Reading ]
-Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us". In Galatians 3:10 the Apostle has shewn that by the very terms of the Law, all who are under the Law (i.e. all who seek to be justified by their own obedience) are under the curse. To rescue us from that terrible malediction,... [ Continue Reading ]
Reverting to what he said, Galatians 3:10, the Apostle shews how complete this justification is. The curse has been borne, and the Law is silent. The curse has been removed, and the blessing remains; descending in all its fulness on the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, through faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
The twofold result of our Lord's obedience unto death, the justification of the Gentiles, and the gift of the Spirit, through faith. Christ having satisfied the Law in its most minute demands, has abolished it as a condition of salvation, and has thus removed the wall of separation between Jew and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Brethren_ Commentators note the softened tone of this address, as compared with the previous severity of rebuke. It is due to the influence on the Apostle's mind of the thought expressed in Galatians 3:14. Realising the share which the Gentiles enjoyed in Abraham's blessing and in the promise of th... [ Continue Reading ]
The Gospel a Covenant of Promise (15 18); to which the Law was at once subordinate and preparatory (Galatians 3:19-29) 15 18. The Gospel a covenant of Promise The Apostle proceeds to shew the _certainty_of the blessing, i.e. of justification, to all who believe. It is secured by the promise of God... [ Continue Reading ]
-Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed". _and his seed_ These words are emphatic. Had the promise been made to Abraham only, it would have determined with his own life. But it was the precious heritage of his descendants, not disannulled or superseded by the law given on Mount Si... [ Continue Reading ]
_And this I say_ This is what I mean. St Paul here reverts to, and continues the argument of Galatians 3:15, which had been interrupted by the explanatory words, -He saith not … is Christ". _confirmed before of God_ Confirmed by oath (see Hebrews 6:17-18). This does not refer to the _repetition_of t... [ Continue Reading ]
The concluding words of the previous verse suggest the thought -Yes, the promise would be at once invalidated, if the inheritance were dependent on the law". _Law_and _promises, works_and _faith_, are opposing principles, of which the antagonism is most clearly seen in their issues _condemnation_and... [ Continue Reading ]
The Purpose and Use of the Law in relation to the Justification of the Sinner 19. If then the promise is not affected by the law, so that no new condition of justification is imposed by it, the question naturally arises, -Why was the law given?" To this the Apostle has an answer ready. It was not gi... [ Continue Reading ]
Probably no verse of Scripture has more exercised the ingenuity of commentators. Certainly of none other can it be said that it -has received 430 interpretations" (Jowett), if by that expression contrariant or different interpretations are meant. Some notice of these is reserved for an Appendix (App... [ Continue Reading ]
Having thus sharply contrasted the two covenants, the Apostle anticipates an objection -You say that God is One. He is the Author both of the law and of the promises. How then can there be the opposition between them which your argument would imply?" To this the answer is decisive. The difference is... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the Scripture_, &c. The impossibility (Theod. Mops.) of obtaining righteousness by legal obedience is proved by the plain testimony of Scripture. It is noteworthy that in this momentous argument St Paul appeals not to conscience or experience, but to God's Word written. _the Scripture hath con... [ Continue Reading ]
_But before faith came_ Better, -before this faith", i.e. in Jesus Christ, -came"; and so nearly = before Christ came. _we were kept_ KEPT IN WARD. The same word occurs 1 Peter 1:5. _shut up_ The passive of the same verb which is rendered -hath concluded" in Galatians 3:22. _the faith which shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
Translate, SO THAT THE LAW HAS PROVED TO US A TUTOR UNTO CHRIST. _our schoolmaster_ The Greek word, -paidagogos" (from which Engl. pedagogue) does not mean a _teacher_, but a confidential slave, who had the general charge of boys, watching over their conduct and exercising discipline sometimes, tho... [ Continue Reading ]
_But after that faith is come_ See note on Galatians 3:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye are_ The change from the first person -we are" Galatians 3:25 to the second -ye are" marks a transition from an argument to an appeal. The converse is found 2Co 6:14; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:6. _all_ Both Jews and Gentiles an indirect confirmation of the stateme... [ Continue Reading ]
The selection of the metaphor of Galatians 3:24 is by no means accidental. It suggests and leads up to the grand revelation of Gospel blessedness contained in the peroration to this chapter. The very fact that we were under tutelage proves that our true relation to God is that of sons, a relationshi... [ Continue Reading ]
The connexion seems to be, - I SAY, it is by faith in _Christ_, that you are sons of God a faith professed in your Baptism, by which you put on Christ. In Him all the old distinctions of race, condition and sex disappear, so far as the inheritance of the promise is concerned". The doctrine of Holy... [ Continue Reading ]
The unity here predicated results from the putting on of the Lord Jesus Christ. Comp. Colossians 3:10-11, where the train of thought is the same and the language very similar. _male nor female_ Lit. -male _and_female", possibly with reference to Genesis 1:27. The rite of circumcision was limited to... [ Continue Reading ]
_If ye be Christ's_ If ye are by faith incorporated into Christ, the promised Seed, then by virtue of that living union ye are yourselves Abraham's seed. The paraphrase of Theod. Mops. is remarkable: -If ye are Christ's by reason of regeneration in Baptism, typifying your future likeness to Him, and... [ Continue Reading ]