This chapter is properly a continuation of the argument in the previous chapter, and is designed to induce the Galatians to renounce their conformity to the Jewish law, and to become entirely conformed to the gospel. In particular, it seems to be designed to meet a charge that had been brought again... [ Continue Reading ]
STAND FAST, THEREFORE - Be firm and unwavering. This verse properly belongs to the previous chapter, and should not have been separated from it. The sense is, that they were to be firm and unyielding in maintaining the great principles of Christian liberty. They had been freed from the bondage of ri... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I PAUL SAY UNTO YOU - I, who at first preached the gospel to you; I, too, who have been circumcised, and who was formerly a strenuous assertor of the necessity of observing the laws of Moses; and I, too, who am charged (see Galatians 5:11) with still preaching the necessity of circumcision,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I TESTIFY AGAIN - Probably he had stated this when he had preached the gospel to them first, and he now solemnly bears witness to the same thing again. Bloomfield, however, supposes that the word “again” here (πάλιν palin) means, on the other hand, or, “furthermore,” or, as we would say, “and a... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST IS BECOME OF NO EFFECT UNTO YOU - You will derive no advantage from Christ. His work in regard to you is needless and vain. If you can be justified in any other way than by him, then of course you do not need him, and your adoption of the other mode is in fact a renunciation of him. Tyndale r... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE - We who are Christians. It is a characteristic of the true Christian. THROUGH THE SPIRIT - The Holy Spirit. We expect salvation only by his aid. WAIT FOR - That is, we expect salvation in this way. The main idea is, not that of waiting as if the thing were delayed; it is that of expecting.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN JESUS CHRIST - In the religion which Christ came to establish. NEITHER CIRCUMCISION ... - It makes no difference whether a man is circumcised or not. He is not saved because he is circumcised, nor is he condemned because he is not. The design of Christianity is to abolish these rites and cer... [ Continue Reading ]
YE DID RUN WELL - The Christian life is often represented as a race; see the notes at 1 Corinthians 9:24. Paul means here, that they began the Christian life with ardour and zeal; compare Galatians 4:15. WHO DID HINDER YOU - Margin, “Drive you back.” The word used here (ἀνακόπτω anakoptō) means p... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS PERSUASION - This belief that it is necessary to obey the laws of Moses, and to intermingle the observance of Jewish rites with the belief of the Christian doctrines in order to be saved. NOT OF HIM THAT CALLETH YOU - That is, of God, who had called them into his kingdom. That it refers to God... [ Continue Reading ]
A LITTLE LEAVEN ... - This is evidently a proverbial expression; see it explained in the notes at 1 Corinthians 5:6. Its meaning here is, that the embracing of the errors which they had adopted was to be traced to some influence existing among themselves, and acting like leaven. It may either mean t... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOU ... - Though they had been led astray, and had embraced many false opinions, yet, on the whole, Paul had confidence in their piety, and believed they would yet return and embrace the truth. THAT YE WILL BE NONE OTHERWISE MINDED - That is, than you have been taught by me; or... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I, BRETHREN - Paul here proceeds to vindicate himself from giving countenance to the doctrines which they had advanced there. It is evident that the false teachers in Galatia appealed to Paul himself, and alleged that he insisted on the necessity of circumcision, and that they were teaching no m... [ Continue Reading ]
I WOULD THEY WERE EVEN CUT OFF - That is, as I understand it, from the communion of the church. So far am I, says Paul, from agreeing with them, and preaching the necessity of circumcision as they do, that I sincerely wish they were excluded from the church as unworthy a place among the children of... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR, BRETHREN, YE HAVE BEEN CALLED UNTO LIBERTY - Freedom from Jewish rites and ceremonies; see the notes at Galatians 3:28; Galatians 4:9, note, Galatians 4:21, note. The meaning here is, that Paul wished the false teachers removed because true Christians had been called unto liberty, and they were... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ALL THE LAW IS FULFILLED ... - That is, this expresses the substance of the whole law; it embraces and comprises all. The apostle of course here alludes to the Law in regard to our duty to our fellow-men, since that was the point which he particularly enforces. He is saying that this law would c... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF YE BITE - The word used here (δάκνω daknō), means, properly, to bite, to sting; and here seems to be used in the sense of contending and striving - a metaphor not improbably taken from dogs and wild beasts. AND DEVOUR ONE ANOTHER - As wild beasts do. The sense is, “if you contend with each... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS I SAY THEN - This is the true rule about overcoming the propensities of your carnal natures, and of avoiding the evils of strife and contention. WALK - The Christian life is often represented as a journey, and the word walk, in the scripture, is often equivalent to live; Mark 7:5. See the note... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE FLESH LUSTETH AGAINST THE SPIRIT - The inclinations and desires of the flesh are contrary to those of the Spirit. They draw us away in an opposite direction, and while the Spirit of God would lead us one way, our carnal nature would lead us another, and thus produce the painful controversy w... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF YE BE LED OF THE SPIRIT - If you submit to the teachings and guidance of the Holy Spirit. YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW - You are under a different dispensation - the dispensation of the Spirit. You are free from the restraints and control of the Mosaic law, and are under the control of the Spiri... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH - What the flesh, or what corrupt and unrenewed human nature produces. ARE MANIFEST - Plain, well-known. The world is full of illustrations of what corrupt human nature produces, and as to the existence and nature of those works, no one can be ignorant. It is evident here... [ Continue Reading ]
WITCHCRAFT - Pretending to witchcraft. The apostle does not vouch for the actual existence of witchcraft; but he says that what was known as such was a proof of the corrupt nature of man, and was one of the fruits of it. No one can doubt it. It was a system of imposture and falsehood throughout; and... [ Continue Reading ]
ENVYINGS - see the note at 2 Corinthians 12:20. REVELLINGS - 2 Corinthians 12:20, note; Romans 13:13, note. AND SUCH LIKE - This class of evils, without attempting to specify all. OF WHICH I TELL YOU BEFORE - In regard to which I forewarn you. AS I HAVE ALSO TOLD YOU IN TIME PAST - When he was w... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT - That which the Holy Spirit produces. It is not without design, evidently, that the apostle uses the word “Spirit” here, as denoting that these things do not flow from our own nature. The vices above enumerated are the proper “works” or result of the operations of the hu... [ Continue Reading ]
MEEKNESS - See the note at Matthew 5:5. TEMPERANCE - The word used here, (ἐγκράτεια egkrateia), means properly “self-control, continence.” It is derived from ἐν en and κράτος kratos, “strength,” and has reference to the power or ascendancy which we have over exciting and evil passions of all kin... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S - All who are true Christians. HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH - The corrupt passions of the soul have been put to death; that is, destroyed. They are as though they were dead, and have no power over us; see the note at Galatians 2:20. WITH THE AFFECTIONS - Margin, “Passions.”... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT - See the note at Galatians 5:16. The sense of this verse probably is, “We who are Christians profess to be under the influences of the Holy Spirit. By his influences and agency is our spiritual life. We profess not to be under the dominion of the flesh; not to be controlled... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US NOT BE DESIROUS OF VAINGLORY - The word used here (κενόδοξοι kenodoxoi) means “proud” or “vain” of empty advantages, as of birth, property, eloquence, or learning. The reference here is probably to the paltry competitions which arose on account of these supposed advantages. It is possible th... [ Continue Reading ]