PRACTICAL EXHORTATIONS. THE APOSTLE'S GLORYING 1-5. The nature and requirements of the law of love. PARAPHRASE. '(1) If sin overcome one of your number, try to correct the fault in a temper of gentleness, remembering that you yourselves may some time need a similar forgiveness. (2) Share each othe... [ Continue Reading ]
OVERTAKEN] as if pursued and caught. FAULT] RV 'trespass,' or transgression, such as the error into which the readers had been beguiled. SPIRITUAL] as opposed to 'natural' or 'carnal': cp. 1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 3:1. SPIRIT] i.e. temper. LEST THOU, etc.] in similar circumstances need a... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Romans 15:1. BEAR] in sympathy. LAW OF CHRIST] cp. Matthew 8:17. St. Paul has warned them against law; but there is a law to which they owe obedience and devotion—the new commandment of Christ—the royal law of love: cp. James 2:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
The real greatness of the Christian is found in service: cp. Matthew 20:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVE] test, to see whether it is morally real and genuine. WORK] life and conduct. REJOICING] a ground of satisfaction.... [ Continue Reading ]
BURDEN] of accountability. The word is different from that used in Galatians 6:2. 6-10. The principle of the spiritual harvest. PARAPHRASE. '(6) Share with your teachers. (7, 8) If you refuse to obey the law of love, the result will be a debased moral life; its observance conducts to a blessed exi... [ Continue Reading ]
COMMUNICATE] i.e. share, either in general sympathy and friendship, or, more specifically, in contributions to the support of the teacher.... [ Continue Reading ]
None can escape the application of God's law of the spiritual harvest.... [ Continue Reading ]
He who tills the field of the carnal life or that of the spiritual life reaps, in each case, his appropriate fruitage. CORRUPTION] 'a harvest doomed to perish' (Conybeare and Howson). LIFE EVERLASTING] the harvest of which the Spirit gives us the pledge in this life, and of which we shall receive th... [ Continue Reading ]
An encouragement to persistent spiritual sowing and cultivation.... [ Continue Reading ]
A conclusion from the certainty of reaping if we faint not. OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH] members of the Christian family whose bond of union is faith. 11-18. The true ground of glorying. PARAPHRASE. '(11) Look at my own bold handwriting in which I have written this letter as the proof of my longing f... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SEE HOW LARGE A LETTER] RV 'See with how large letters.' HAVE WRITTEN] probably an allusion to the writing of the foregoing letter. St. Paul usually dictated his letter, adding only the closing salutation in his own hand: cp. Romans 16:22; 1 Corinthians 16:21; 2 Thessalonians 3:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FLESH] the sphere to which circumcision belongs. LEST THEY SHOULD SUFFER, etc.] RV 'that they may not,' etc.—a prudential motive underlies their zeal. It must be borne in mind that St. Paul is writing to a Church composed chiefly of Gentiles. They were Christians, having been converted by the... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Paul, on the contrary, will glory only in salvation through sacrifice and self-giving. BY WHOM] RV 'through which,' etc.; because he died to sin with Christ on His cross: cp. Romans 6:2; Romans 6:8; Colossians 2:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
A NEW CREATURE] RM 'a new creation.' Salvation is newness of life in Christ, and is in no way dependent upon the question of circumcision.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS RULE] the test of acceptance with God mentioned in the previous v. ISRAEL] the true spiritual Israel: cp. Galatians 3:9; Romans 4:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NO MAN, etc.] Let these annoying insinuations concerning my apostleship cease. I BEAR IN MY BODY, etc.] RV 'I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus': cp. 2 Corinthians 11:23, evidences of the genuineness of his consecration to Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
The absence of commendation and the severe tone of the letter are noticeable; yet, quite exceptionally, he adds to the benediction an appellation of personal affection (BRETHREN).... [ Continue Reading ]