For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage. [This verse continues the thought of the last chapter, and forms a connecting link between it and this section. It means that Christ made us free, not incidentally, but with the very design tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. [By the use of an exclamation followed by his name, Paul calls attention to the sentence, or decree, which, as an apostle, he pronounces in the case. Though circumcision of itself might be nothing (Galatia... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth of circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. [The apostle here gives the reason for what he has said in the previous verse. Circumcision was, in its symbolic significance, an entrance into covenant relations with God under the terms of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. [Therefore, in being circumcised for the purpose of being justified by the law ye have been guilty of a complete apostasy; there is no longer any justification for you, for you are not under the grace of... [ Continue Reading ]
For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. [That ye have fallen from grace is apparent by your contrast with us; for we true Christians, not trusting in carnal ordinances, but strengthened by the Spirit, wait for the fulfillment of the hope which righteousness by faith, i... [ Continue Reading ]
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love. [It makes no difference in God's sight what a man has been, whether a circumcised Jew, or an uncircumcised, Gentile. There is, in his sight, no merit in either condition. That which he val... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?... [ Continue Reading ]
This persuasion came not of him that calleth you. [The apostle again borrows a metaphor from the foot-race of the Grecian game. In their faith and love and works the Christians were running in a course obedient to the truth, but some one had broken up the race-course, and had persuaded them to desis... [ Continue Reading ]
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. [Paul felt that by this time those who read his letter would be saying that he was censuring the whole church for a course of conduct pursued only by a small minority, but he quotes one of the proverbs of the New Testament (1 Corinthians 5:6) to show that th... [ Continue Reading ]
I have confidence to you-ward in the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. [The apostle here expresses his confidence that they will take the same view of the situation that he does, and avoid the contaminating influence of t... [ Continue Reading ]
But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away. [It is evident that in this verse Paul defends himself against the charge of having taught the necessity of circumcision by having circumcised Timothy. His answer is... [ Continue Reading ]
I would that they that unsettle you would even go beyond circumcision. [If those who trouble you insist on mutilating themselves, I wish they would go further and cut themselves entirely off from the church. Having fully established the liberty of the gospel, the apostle now turns to correct any fal... [ Continue Reading ]
For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. [Do not think because you are free that you are therefore free to do evil. As a contrast to the spirit of liberty which is indeed yours, I counsel you to become servants one to another, not because the law comma... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. [The Christian is under the guidance of the Spirit, and the Spirit continually prompts him to imitate the Father who has adopted him,... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. [By as much as the Spirit triumphs within us, by that much are we freed from feeling the presence of the law. So long as we have two wills we are sensible of conflict, and so of the restraint of law, but when our nature is merged in the will... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,... [ Continue Reading ]
idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,... [ Continue Reading ]
envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [These sins are too well known to need analysis or comment. It is startling to find "factions, divisions, parties," in so bl... [ Continue Reading ]
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness... [ Continue Reading ]
meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. [Contrast between light and darkness is no more definite and distinct than that between these two catalogues which represent carnal and spiritual desires. All those who do these works of God, find no law of God interfering with them in the exerci... [ Continue Reading ]
And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. [All those who have been baptized with Christ have been symbolically united with him in his crucifixion and death (Romans 6:2-6). In Christ, therefore, they have crucified the flesh with its passions,... [ Continue Reading ]
If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. [If we have been born and live in the Spirit, let us manifest that fact by our daily life, abstaining from evil. The especial evils mentioned in the last verse were probably very common among the Galatians.]... [ Continue Reading ]
Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.... [ Continue Reading ]