Galatians 5:14

ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ. Marcion read ἐν ὑμῖν instead. Both readings are found in D*G.

14. ὁ γὰρ πᾶς νόμος. γάρ justifies service to one another. This is the real fulfilment of the Law, which you have been wanting to serve. ὁ πᾶς νόμος (cf. Galatians 1:2) stands to πᾶς ὁ νόμος in the same relation as “the whole Law” to “all the Law,” i.e. it places somewhat more emphasis on the unity of the Law. Cf. Winer-Schm., § 20. 11 e.

ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ. See notes on Textual Criticism, “in one saying,” not “in the performance of one saying.” See next note.

πεπλήρωται. Not (1) “is summed up,” “comprehended” (cf. ἀνακεφαλαιοῦται, Romans 13:9), for which there is no parallel in St Paul’s writings, or, strictly, anywhere in the N.T.; but (2) “has been brought to perfection, has found its completion, in one saying.” So πληρόω frequently in the Gospels; cf. Colossians 1:25 note. Observe the high ethical purpose that St Paul attributes to the whole Law, ceremonial as well as moral (for he was dealing with the question of circumcision); it finds its truest utterance, its fullest statement, in Thou shalt love etc.

(3) Possibly, however, St Paul means “is summarily fulfilled (i.e. performed) in the observance of one saying.” If so, then in Romans 13:8, written very soon after our Epistle, he makes his meaning clearer by altering the form of his sentence to “he that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the Law.” But in our Epistle the perfect passive will then rhetorically represent the future perfect, and it is doubtful if there are any satisfactory parallels to this usage of the perfect passive absolutely (Romans 4:14; Romans 14:23, are the nearest) without an hypothesis (εἰ) preceding. See Winer, § XL. 4 b (p. 341): cf. Gildersleeve, Greek Syntax, § 234.

ἐν τῷ Ἀγαπήσεις κ.τ.λ. Leviticus 19:18 b. Quoted also in the similar context of Romans 13:9. So also James 2:8; cf. Matthew 7:12. A Rabbi quoted in Biesenthal’s Hebrew Commentary on Romans 13:9 calls this text “the foot on which the whole Law (the 613 commandments) stands,” referring to the story of Hillel teaching the enquirer while he stood on one foot. Observe that though St Paul quotes only these words, he expects more Rabbinico that his readers will bear in mind the context. For Leviticus 19:17-18 a warn against cherishing evil in one’s heart, and taking vengeance against one’s neighbour. Originally the passage referred to the treatment of Israelites only; Christian teaching enlarges it to the true Israel and to all men.