_HE MOVETH THEM TO PERSIST IN THEIR LIBERTY, AND NOT TO OBSERVE CIRCUMCISION; BUT LOVE, WHICH IS THE SUM OF THE LAW. HE RECKONETH UP THE WORKS OF THE FLESH, AND THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT; AND EXHORTETH TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT._ _Anno Domini 49._ THE Apostle, in the third chapter, having, from Abraham... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD,— This word is used to fix their attention. _I, Paul;_—"I, the same Paul, who am reported to preach circumcision,—_testify again,_ (Galatians 5:3.)—continue my testimony, _to every man;_ to you, and all men." This very emphatical way of speaking may well be understood to have regard to what h... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE— It is evident, from the context, that St. Paul here means himself; but _we,_ is a more graceful way of speaking than _I,_ though he be vindicating himself alone from the imputation of setting up circumcision.... [ Continue Reading ]
FAITH WHICH WORKETH BY LOVE.— There is some degree of ambiguity in the original:— Δι αγαπης ενεργουμενη. It may be rendered either _which operates,_ and _works by love;_ or, _which is wrought,_ inspired and perfected _by love._ Some have preferred the latter sense; and have taken occasion hence to s... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO DID HINDER YOU, &C.— The word 'Ανεκοψε, rendered _hinder,_ is an olympic expression, answerable to the word rendered _ye did run:_ and it properly signifies, "Coming across the course,while a person is running in it, in such a manner as to justle, and throw him out of the way.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF HIM THAT CALLETH YOU.— He used this expression before, ch. Galatians 1:6 and in both places means himself; and here declares that this πεισμονη, whether taken for _persuasion,_ or for _subjection_ (as it may well be in St. Paul's style, considering the word πειθεσθαι, at the end of the foregoing... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL BE NONE OTHERWISE MINDED:— "Will beware of this leaven, so as not to be put into a ferment, nor shaken in your liberty, in which you ought to stand fast: and, to secure it, I doubt not, (such confidence I have in you) you will, with one accord, cast out him that troubleth you. For, as for me, y... [ Continue Reading ]
PERSECUTION?— The _persecution_ which St. Paul was still under, was a convincing argument that he was not for circumcision and subjection to the law; for it was from the Jews, upon that account, that at this time arose almost all the persecutions which the Christians suffered;—as may be seen through... [ Continue Reading ]
I WOULD THEY WERE EVEN CUT OFF WHICH TROUBLE YOU.— _Who subvert_ or _unsettle you._ It by no means agrees with the gentle genius of Christianity to suppose that this Apostle, who understood it so well, and cultivated it so much, should mean by this to intimate that he wished these troublers _dead;_... [ Continue Reading ]
ONLY USE NOT LIBERTY— From the mention of _liberty,_ to which St. Paul tells them they are called under the gospel, he takes occasion to caution them respecting the use of it, and so exhorts them to a spiritual or true Christian life; shewing the difference and contrariety between that and a carnal... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS I SAY THEN, WALK IN THE SPIRIT, &C.— That is, "I have been cautioning you against that contentious temper which is so great a reproach to the professors of Christianity, and tends so much to the detriment of our common faith. _But,_ that I may effectually guard you against this and every other... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE FLESH LUSTETH AGAINST THE SPIRIT, &C.— As it is plain that by the _flesh,_ which is the same with what the Apostle calls _the body of sin_ and _the old man_ (Romans 6:6.), we are to understand that _natural corruption_ and depravity which is the ruling principle in a state of nature: so by _... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF YE BE LED BY THE SPIRIT,— "But if ye give yourselves up to the conduct of the Spirit of God, by faith in Christ, ye are not under the law." For _they who are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God;_ and so _heirs,_ and free. This is plainly the sense of the Apostle, who teaches all alo... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE MANIFEST;— If _flesh_ be taken for the irregularities of the appetite,—for that natural corruption which infects the faculties of every man by nature; it extends to the mind, as well as to the appetites of the body; and there will be no difficulty in ascribing each of... [ Continue Reading ]
WITCHCRAFT,— Some would render the word φαρμακεια by _poisoning;_ but surely this is comprehended under the word murders; nor is there any reason to believe the flesh so particularly inclined to this one kind of murder, as that _it_ should be specified rather than any other. It is certain that, on a... [ Continue Reading ]
REVELLINGS,— Κωμοι, or _revellings,_ among the Greeks, were a disorderly spending of the night in feastings, with a licentious indulging in wine, good cheer, music, dancing, &c. See Romans 13:13. 1 Peter 4:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
FAITH,— _Fidelity;_ which the word πιστις undoubtedly signifies in many places. See on Matthew 23:23. So that in one place we may understand it of the _faithfulness_ of _God,_ or his _fidelity_ to his promises, Romans 3:3 and where it is applied to _servants,_ we expressly render it _fidelity:_ Titu... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW.— They have so manifest and evident a goodness in them, that they never were forbidden by any human institution.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT ARE CHRIST'S— These are the same with those who are _led by the Spirit,_ Galatians 5:18 and are opposed to those who _live after the flesh;_ Romans 8:13, where it is said, conformably to what we find here, they _through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body._ That principle in us, whenc... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, &C.— _Living in the Spirit_ expresses, in terms nearly resembling these in Acts 17:28 our continual dependence on its influences; and also illustrates the significancy of the word στοιχωμεν, in the latter part of the verse. _Let us walk in the Spirit,—_"in a regular and ord... [ Continue Reading ]
ENVYING ONE ANOTHER.— Whether the _vain-glory_ and _envying_ here were about their _spiritual gifts,_ (a fault whereof the _Corinthians_ were guilty, as we may see at large 1 Corinthians 12:13, 1 Corinthians 12:14) or upon any other occasion, or on any other account, and so contained in Galatians 5:... [ Continue Reading ]