St Paul having, by many arguments, proved himself to be a real apostle, and showed that his knowledge of the gospel was given him by immediate revelation from the Lord Jesus, proceeds in this and the following chapter to treat of the doctrines in dispute between him and the false teachers, and espec... [ Continue Reading ]
_This only would I learn of you_ That is, this one argument might convince you; _received ye the Spirit_ In his gifts and graces, in his witness and fruits. See Galatians 4:6; Galatians 5:22. _By the works of the law_ By your observing the ceremonies of Moses's law, or by your embracing the doctrine... [ Continue Reading ]
_He therefore_ Namely, God; _that ministereth to you the Spirit_ Who is continually giving you additional supplies of grace by the Spirit; _and worketh miracles_, &c. Bestows the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit upon you; _doeth he it by the works of the law_ Through your hearing and embracing the... [ Continue Reading ]
_As many as are of the works of the law_ Of the number of those who seek justification thereby; _are under_ Or liable to; _the curse: for it is written_, (Deuteronomy 27:26,) _Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things_, &c. Or, as it is there expressed, _that confirmeth not all the words... [ Continue Reading ]
_That no man is justified by_ his obedience to _the law in the sight of God_ Whatever he may be in the sight of man; _is_ further _evident _ From the words of Habakkuk, who hath said nothing of men's being justified by works, but hath declared, _The just shall live by faith_ That is, the man who is... [ Continue Reading ]
_Christ_ Christ alone; the abruptness of the sentence shows a holy indignation at those who reject so great a blessing; _hath redeemed us_ Or, _hath bought us off_, whether Jews or Gentiles; _from the curse of the law_ The curse which the law denounces against all transgressors of it, or the punishm... [ Continue Reading ]
_I speak after the manner of men_ I illustrate this by a familiar instance, taken from the practice of men: or, I argue on the principles of common equity, according to what is the allowed rule of all human compacts: _Though it be but a man's covenant_ That is, the covenant of a man with his fellow-... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now to Abraham_, &c. To apply this to the case before us. The promises relating to the justification of believers, and the blessings consequent thereon, were made first by God to Abraham and his seed, who are expressly mentioned as making a party with him in the covenant. _He saith not, And to seed... [ Continue Reading ]
_And this I say_ What I mean by the foregoing example of human covenants is this; _The covenant that was confirmed before of God _ By the promise itself, by the repetition of it, and by a solemn oath, concerning the blessing all nations through Christ; _the law, which was four hundred and thirty yea... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore then serveth the law_ If the inheritance was not by the law, but by the promise, as a free gift, for what purpose was the law given, or what significancy had it? _It was added because of transgressions_ That is, to restrain the Israelites from transgressions, particularly idolatry, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now a mediator is not a mediator of one_ There must be two parties, or there can be no place or use for a mediator: but God, who made the free promise to Abraham, is only one of the parties; the other, Abraham, was not present at the time of Moses. Therefore, in the affair of the promise, Moses had... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is the law then_ Which requires perfect obedience, and subjects all that in any respect violate it, to the curse, _against_, or contrary to, _the promises of God_ Wherein he declares that he will justify men by faith? _God forbid_ That we should intimate any thing of that kind! On the contrary, it... [ Continue Reading ]
_But before faith_ That is, the gospel dispensation, _came, we_ The nation of the Jews; _were kept under the law_ Under that dispensation, as condemned malefactors are guarded in close custody; _shut up_ As prisoners under sentence; _unto the faith which should afterward be revealed_ Reserved and pr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster_ That is, the instructer of the childhood of us Jews, or of the church of God, in its state of minority; see on Galatians 4:3; _to bring us unto Christ_ To train us up for him. And this it did, both by its precepts, which showed us the need we had of his atone... [ Continue Reading ]
_For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ_ In consequence of your believing in him with your heart unto righteousness, and have thereby testified and professed your faith in him; _have put on Christ_ Have received him as your righteousness and sanctification; have obtained union with him... [ Continue Reading ]