Galatians 3:3

οὕτως (tam Hebrews 12:21). ἀνόητοι (Galatians 3:1). ἐναρξάμενοι, Philippians 1:6[89]. Frequent in LXX. and Polybius. It is a more formal term than ἄρχομαι, “having made a beginning,” cf. 1Ma 9:54. ἐπιτελεῖν is joined with it also in Philippians 1:6, and with προεν. in 2 Corinthians 8:6. Both are naturally sometimes used of religions rites, but this usage is not found in the above passages, and does not seem to be probable here.

[89] Is affixed to a word it means that all the passages are mentioned where that word occurs in the New Testament.

πνεύματι, “by (the) spirit.” See Appendix, note F.

νῦν σαρκὶ. This does not mean that St Paul granted that there was any spiritual growth by means of circumcision, nor does it imply that this was all that the false teachers meant, as though they said that it was necessary for the higher stages of the Christian life; but it is St Paul’s way of expressing his reductio ad absurdum. Begin by the spirit, and bringing things to completion by the flesh! In Galatians 5:2 he states plainly enough that circumcision for them would be to lose all profit in Christ.

ἐπιτελεῖσθε. In the N.T. eight times in the active voice, but here probably in the middle, corresponding to ἐναρξ., as even in 1 Peter 5:9[90]. “Are ye now making an end by (the) flesh?” So the Peshito.

[90] Is affixed to a word it means that all the passages are mentioned where that word occurs in the New Testament.