Now (1) I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; (1) He declares by another twofold similitude, that which he said before concerning the keeper and schoolmaster. For, he says, the Law (that is, the whole government of God's house... [ Continue Reading ]
But is under tutors and governors (a) until the time appointed of the father. (a) This is added because he that is always under a tutor or governor may hardly be considered a freeman.... [ Continue Reading ]
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the (b) elements of the world: (b) The Law is called elements, because by the Law God instructed his Church as it were by elements, and afterward poured out his Holy Spirit most plentifully in the time of the Gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
(2) But when the (c) fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a (d) woman, made under the law, (2) He utters and declares many things at once, that is, that this tutorship was ended at his time, in order that curious men may stop asking why the schoolmastership lasted so long.... [ Continue Reading ]
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the (e) adoption of sons. (e) The adoption of the sons of God is from everlasting, but is revealed and shown in the time appointed for it.... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) And because ye are sons, God hath (f) sent forth the (g) Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (3) He shows that we are free and set at liberty in such a way that in the meantime we must be governed by the Spirit of Christ, who while reigning in our hearts, may teach us the... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore thou art no more a (h) servant, but a son; and if a son, then an (i) heir of God through Christ. (h) The word "servant" is not taken here for one that lives in sin, which is appropriate for the unfaithful, but for one that is yet under the ceremonies of the Law, which is proper to the Jew... [ Continue Reading ]
(4) Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. (4) He applies the former doctrine to the Galatians, with a special rebuke: for in comparison with them, the Jews might have pretended some excuse as men that were born and brought up in that service of th... [ Continue Reading ]
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and (k) beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire (l) again to be in bondage? (k) They are called impotent and beggarly ceremonies, being considered apart by themselves without Christ: and again, by that m... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) Brethren, I beseech you, be as I [am]; for I [am] as ye [are]: ye have not injured me at all. (5) He moderates and qualifies those things in which he might have seemed to have spoken somewhat sharply, very skilfully and divinely declaring his good will toward them in such a way, that the Galati... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye know how through (m) infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. (m) Many afflictions.... [ Continue Reading ]
And my (n) temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, [even] as (o) Christ Jesus. (n) Those daily troubles with which the Lord tried me among you. (o) For the sake of my ministry.... [ Continue Reading ]
(p) Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if [it had been] possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. (p) What a talk was there abroad in the world among men, how happy you were when you received the gospel?... [ Continue Reading ]
They zealously affect you, (q) [but] not well; yea, they would exclude you, (r) that ye might affect them. (q) For they are jealous over you for their own benefit. (r) That they may transfer all your love from me to themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
But [it is] good to be (s) zealously affected always in [a] good [thing], and not only when I am present with you. (s) He sets his own true and good love, which he earnestly held for them, against the wicked vicious love of the false apostles.... [ Continue Reading ]
I desire to be present with you now, and to (t) change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. (t) Use other words among you.... [ Continue Reading ]
(6) Tell me, ye that (u) desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? (6) The false apostles urged this, that unless the Gentiles were circumcised Christ could profit them nothing at all, and also this dissension of those who believed in the circumcision, against those who believed in the unc... [ Continue Reading ]
But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the (x) flesh; but he of the freewoman [was] by (y) promise. (x) As all men are, and by the common course of nature. (y) By virtue of the promise, which Abraham laid hold on for himself and his true seed, for otherwise Abraham and Sara were past the... [ Continue Reading ]
Which things are an allegory: for (z) these are the (a) two covenants; the one from the mount (b) Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. (z) These represent and symbolize. (a) They are called two covenants, one of the Old Testament, and another of the New: which were not two indeed, but... [ Continue Reading ]
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and (c) answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and (d) is in bondage with her children. (c) Look how the case stands between Hagar and her children; even so stands it between Jerusalem and hers. (d) That is, Sinai.... [ Continue Reading ]
But Jerusalem which is (e) above is free, which is the mother of us all. (e) Which is excellent, and of great worth.... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) For it is written, Rejoice, [thou] barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the (f) desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. (7) He shows that in this allegory he has followed the steps of Isaiah, who foretold that the Church should be... [ Continue Reading ]
Now we, brethren, (g) as Isaac was, are the children of (h) promise. (g) After the manner of Isaac, who is the first begotten of the heavenly Jerusalem, as Israel is of the slavish synagogue. (h) That seed to which the promise belongs.... [ Continue Reading ]
But as then he that was born after the (i) flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the (k) Spirit, even so [it is] now. (i) By the common course of nature. (k) By the virtue of God's promise and after a spiritual manner.... [ Continue Reading ]
(8) So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. (8) The conclusion of the former allegory, that we by no means procure and call back again the slavery of the Law, seeing that the children of the bondmaid will not be heirs.... [ Continue Reading ]