The main design of Paul in this chapter, is to show that he had received his call to the apostleship, not from man, but from God. It had been alleged (see the introduction to Galatians) that the apostles at Jerusalem possessed the most elevated rank, and the highest authority in the Christian church... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL AN APOSTLE - See the note at Romans 1:1. This is the usual form in which he commences his epistles; and it was of special importance to commence the Epistle in this manner, because it was one design to vindicate his apostleship, or to show that he had received his commission directly from the L... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE BRETHREN WHICH ARE WITH ME - It was usual for Paul to associate with him the ministers of the gospel, or other Christians who were with him, in expressing friendly salutations to the churches to which he wrote, or as uniting with him, and concurring in the sentiments which he expressed.... [ Continue Reading ]
GRACE BE UNTO YOU ... - This is the usual apostolic salutation, imploring for them the blessing of God. See it fully explained in the notes at Romans 1:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR OUR SINS - The reason why Paul so soon introduces this important doctrine, and makes it here so prominent, probably is, that this was the cardinal doctrine of the Christian religion, the great truth which was ever to be kept before the mind, and because this truth had been in fa... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM BE GLORY ... - Let Him have all the praise and honor of the plan and its execution. It is not uncommon for Paul to introduce an ascription of praise in the midst of an argument: see the note at Romans 1:25. It results from the strong desire which he had, that all the glory should be given to... [ Continue Reading ]
I MARVEL - I wonder. It is remarked by Luther (his commentary at the place) that Paul uses as mild a word as possible here. He does not employ the language of severe reproof, but he expresses his astonishment that the thing should have occurred. He was deeply affected and amazed, that such a thing c... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IS NOT ANOTHER - There is also a great variety of views in regard to the meaning of this expression. Tyndale translates it: “which is nothing else but there be some that trouble you.” Locke, “which is not owing to anything else but only this, that ye are troubled with a certain sort of people... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOUGH WE - That is, we the apostles. Probably, he refers particularly to himself, as the plural is often used by Paul when speaking of himself. He alludes here, possibly, to a charge which was brought against him by the false teachers in Galatia, that he had changed his views since he came amon... [ Continue Reading ]
AS WE SAID BEFORE - That is, in the previous verse. It is equivalent to saying, “as I have just said;” see 2 Corinthians 7:3. It cannot be supposed that he had said this when he was with them, as it cannot be believed that he then anticipated that his doctrines would be perverted, and that another g... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR DO I NOW PERSUADE MEN, OR GOD? - The word “now” (ἄρτι arti) is used here, evidently, to express a contrast between his present and his former purpose of life. Before his conversion to Christianity, he impliedly admits, that it was his object to conciliate the favor of people; that he derived h... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I CERTIFY YOU - I make known to you; or, I declare to you; see 1 Corinthians 15:1. Doubtless this had been known to them before, but he now assures them of it, and goes into an extended illustration to show them that he had not received his authority from man to preach the gospel To state and pr... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I NEITHER RECEIVED IT OF MAN - This is very probably said in reply to his opponents, who had maintained that Paul had derived his knowledge of the gospel from other people, since he had not been personally known to the Lord Jesus, or been of the number of those whom Jesus called to be his apostl... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE HAVE HEARD OF MY CONVERSATION - My conduct, my mode of life, my deportment; see the note at 2 Corinthians 1:12. Probably Paul had himself made them acquainted with the events of his early years. The reason why he refers to this is, to show them that he had not derived his knowledge of the Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PROFITED - Made advances and attainments. Paul made advances not only in the knowledge of the Jewish religion, but he also surpassed others in his zeal in defending its interests. He had had better advantages than most of his countrymen; and by his great zeal and characteristic ardor he had been... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN IT PLEASED GOD - Paul traced all his hopes of eternal life, and all the good influences which had ever borne upon his mind, to God. WHO SEPARATED ME ... - That is, who destined me; or who purposed from my very birth that I should be a preacher and an apostle. The meaning is, that God had i... [ Continue Reading ]
TO REVEAL HIS SON IN ME - This is to be regarded as connected with the first part of Galatians 1:15, “When it pleased God to reveal his Son in me,” that is, on the way to Damascus. The phrase evidently means, to make me acquainted with the Lord Jesus, or to reveal his Son to me; compare the Greek in... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER WENT I UP TO JERUSALEM - That is, I did not go there at once. I did not go to consult with the apostles there, or to be instructed by them in regard to the nature of the Christian religion. The design of this statement is to show that, in no sense, did he derive his commission from man. TO... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN AFTER THREE YEARS - Probably three years after his departure from Jerusalem to Damascus, not after his return to Arabia. So most commentators have understood it. WENT UP TO JERUSALEM - More correctly, as in the margin, returned. TO SEE PETER - Peter was the oldest and most distinguished of the... [ Continue Reading ]
SAVE JAMES THE LORD’S BROTHER - That the James here referred to was an apostle is clear. The whole construction of the sentence demands this supposition. In the list of the apostles in Matthew 10:2, two of this name are mentioned, James the son of Zebedee and brother of John, and James the son of Al... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, BEFORE GOD I LIE NOT - This is an oath, or a solemn appeal to God; see the note at Romans 9:1. The design of this oath here is to prevent all suspicion of falsehood, It may seem to be remarkable that Paul should make this solemn appeal to God in this argument, and in the narrative of a plain... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTERWARD I CAME ... - In this account be has omitted a circumstance recorded by Luke Acts 9:29, of the controversy which he had with the Grecians (Hellenists). It was not material to the purpose which he has here in view, which is to state that he was not indebted to the apostles for his knowledge... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WAS UNKNOWN BY FACE ... - Paul had visited Jerusalem only, and he had formed no acquaintance with any of the churches in the other parts of Judea. He regarded himself at the first as called to preach particularly to the Gentiles, and he did not remain even to form an acquaintance with the Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY HAD HEARD ONLY ... - They had not seen me; but the remarkable fact of my conversion had been reported to them. It was a fact that could hardly be concealed; see the note at Acts 26:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY GLORIFIED GOD IN ME - They praised God on my account. They regarded me as a true convert and a sincere Christian; and they praised God that he had converted such a persecutor, and had made him a preacher of the gospel. The design for which this is mentioned is, to show that though he was pe... [ Continue Reading ]