O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? Ver. 1. _O foolish Galatians_] Those that are sick of a lethargy must have double the quantity of medicine given them that other men hav... [ Continue Reading ]
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Ver. 2. _Or by the hearing of faith_] The manna of the Spirit comes down from heaven in the dews of the ministry of the gospel, Numbers 11:9; 1 Peter 1:21. If our eyes see not our teachers, w... [ Continue Reading ]
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Ver. 3. _Are ye so foolish?_] Those then that have the Spirit may play fools in some particulars. Those that are recovered of a frenzy, have yet some mad fits sometimes. _ Made perfect by the flesh_] As Nebuchadne... [ Continue Reading ]
Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if _it be_ yet in vain. Ver. 4. _If it be in vain_] _q.d._ It is not in vain. God keepeth the feet of the saints, that they cannot altogether lose the things they have wrought, they cannot fall below his supporting grace; the Lord puts under his hand, Psa 37... [ Continue Reading ]
He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, _doeth he it_ by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Ver. 5. _Or by the hearing of faith_] Faith (and so life) is let into the soul by the sense of hearing,Isaiah 55:1,3, to cross the devil, who by the sa... [ Continue Reading ]
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Ver. 6. _It was accounted to him_] This the Papists jeeringly call a putative righteousness. The Jews also deride it, and say, that every fox shall yield his own skin to the flayer. See Romans 4:9; Romans 4:11,12 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. Ver. 7. _The same are children, &c._] And heirs together with him of the world, Romans 4:14, which is theirs in right, though detained a while from them by the Amorites, till their sins be full.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, _saying_, In thee shall all nations be blessed. Ver. 8. _And the Scripture foreseeing_] Scripture therefore is not a brute dead thing, as the Jesuits blaspheme. Excellently spake... [ Continue Reading ]
So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Ver. 9. _Are blessed, &c._] For they only are blessed whose sins are remitted, Psalms 32:1. Oh, the blessedness of that man, saith the Psalmist.... [ Continue Reading ]
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed _is_ every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Ver. 10. _Are under the curse_] _Aut faciendum, aut patiendum, _ Either to obey or to be punished. He that... [ Continue Reading ]
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, _it is_ evident: for, The just shall live by faith. Ver. 11. _Shall live by faith_] As being justified by faith. _See Trapp on "_ Rom 1:17 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Ver. 12. _And the law is not of faith_] Because it promiseth not life to those that will be justified by faith, but requireth works.... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed _is_ every one that hangeth on a tree: Ver. 13. _Christ hath redeemed us_] As man he bought us, as God he redeemed us, saith Jerome. For to redeem is properly to buy some things back that were mo... [ Continue Reading ]
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Ver. 14. _The promise of the Spirit_] That is, the spiritual promise made to Abraham and his spiritual posterity.... [ Continue Reading ]
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though _it be_ but a man's covenant, yet _if it be_ confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Ver. 15. _I speak after the manner_] I set the matter forth to you by a familiar comparison. _ Though it be but a man's testament_] William Tracy, Esq.,... [ Continue Reading ]
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Ver. 16. _Which is Christ_] Mystical Christ, that is, whole Christ; for he accounts not himself complete without his members, who are therefore called his ful... [ Continue Reading ]
And this I say, _that_ the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. Ver. 17. _Four hundred and thirty, &c._] This space of time between the promise and the law, the... [ Continue Reading ]
For if the inheritance _be_ of the law, _it is_ no more of promise: but God gave _it_ to Abraham by promise. Ver. 18. _Gave it to Abraham_] Gr. κεχαρισται, freely gave it. What is more free than a gift? And what better freehold than the divine promise?... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore then _serveth_ the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; _and it was_ ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Ver. 19. _Because of transgressions_] Which are discovered by the law. Sight of misery must go before sense of... [ Continue Reading ]
Now a mediator is not _a mediator_ of one, but God is one. Ver. 20. _Is not a mediator of one_] _q.d._ God and men were at odds, else what use of a mediator? Sin is the makebate (mischief maker), as being a transgression of the law. _ But God is one_] One and the same now as of old in taking venge... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is_ the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. Ver. 21. _Have given life_] That is, have justified a sinner. But herein lay the law's weakness through the flesh, Romans 8:3 .... [ Continue Reading ]
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Ver. 22. _But the Scripture_] The law and the prophets. _ Hath concluded all_] Gr. Hath clapped them up close prisoners. All in the neuter gender (both men and women), to... [ Continue Reading ]
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Ver. 23. _But before faith came, &c._] _i.e._ Before Christ came; faith is put for the object of faith. _ We were kept under the law_] φρουρουμεθα, as in a prison or garrison, being circl... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster _to bring us_ unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Ver. 24. _The law was our schoolmaster_] Such a one as that Livy and Florus speak of in Italy, who brought forth his scholars to Hannibal; and if he had not been more merciful than otherwise, they... [ Continue Reading ]
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. Ver. 25. _But after that faith_] That is, the gospel, or Christ the author and matter of the gospel. See Galatians 3:23 .... [ Continue Reading ]
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Ver. 26. _The children of God_] Gr. The sons of God, grown up at man's estate; _Qui magnum ferulae subduximus, _ who are no longer under a schoolmaster. How we are the children of God by faith. _See Trapp on "_ Joh 1:12 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Ver. 27. _Baptized into Christ_] And so have had your adoption sealed up unto you, like as in the civil adoption there were certain rites and ceremonies usually performed. _ Have put on Christ_] To justification and sanctific... [ Continue Reading ]
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Ver. 28. _Ye are all one in Christ_] Souls have no sexes, and Christ is no respecter of persons. The servant paid the half shekel, as well as the master, Exodus 30:1... [ Continue Reading ]
And if ye _be_ Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Ver. 29. _Heirs according_] Heirs are kept short in their under age, and sometimes forced to borrow of servants; but when once at years, they have all. So shall the saints in heaven, though here hard put to it.... [ Continue Reading ]