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Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary (4 vols)

Galatians 3:3

Galatians 3:3. Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now ending (or finishing) in the flesh? A fine irony. The middle voice of the Greek verb (ἐ πιτελε ῑ σθε) is preferable to the passive (‘are ye now brought to perfection') on account of the correspondence with ‘begun,' and on account of the parallel passages, Philippians 1:6 (‘he who began a good work in you will finish it'), and 2 Corinthians 8:6. ‘Spirit' and ‘flesh' represent here the spiritual religion which makes man free, and the carnal religion which makes him a slave to outward forms and observances.

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See also Galatians 3:3 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Galatians 3:3. _HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT_] Having received a spiritual religion, which refined and purified your hearts; and having received the Holy Spirit of God, by which ye were endued wit...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    ARE YE SO FOOLISH? - Can it be that you are so unwise? The idea is, that Paul hardly thought it credible that they could have pursued such a course. They had so cordially embraced the gospel when he p...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    II. CONTRASTS BETWEEN LAW AND GRACE CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The gift of the Spirit not by the works of the law, but by hearing of faith. (Galatians 3:1)_ 2. Righteousness not bestowed by the law, but by fai...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GALATIANS 3:1 TO GALATIANS 5:12. DOCTRINAL SECTION. PAUL SETS THE CHOICE BEFORE THEM CHRIST OR THE LAW AND ARGUES FOR ITS URGENCY. Galatians 3:1. It was a strange folly which could lead them to forget...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE GIFT OF GRACE (Galatians 3:1-9)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    O senseless Galatians, who has put the evil eye on you--you before whose very eyes Jesus Christ was placarded upon his Cross? Tell me this one thing--did you receive the Spirit by doing the works the...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    BEGUN. Greek. _enarchomai_. Here and Philippians 1:1; Philippians 1:6. MADE PERFECT. being perfected. Greek. _epiteleo_. App-125. See 2 Corinthians 7:1. BY. in....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The contrast is still maintained in other terms. Here the -flesh" is used for that which is external and material, compliance with outward observances, as opposed to the spiritual principle of faith....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    (Second Division of the Epistle.) The Doctrine of Justification by Faith discussed and illustrated...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    _Your very reason, and your own experience, should tell you the all-importance of faith_ (Galatians 3:1) Unreasoning Galatians! who hath “overlooked” you? when you had a full counter charm—Jesus Chri...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    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. 1M

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    3–5:12. A CLEAR DOCTRINAL STATEMENT OF SALVATION BY FAITH, WITH RENEWED APPEALS...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΝΑΡΞΆΜΕΝΟΙ _aor. med. (dep.) part. от_ ΈΝΆΡΧΩ (G1728) начинать. Temp. _part._ относится к моменту обращения в христианство (Longenecker). ΠΝΕΎΜΑΤΙ _dat. sing. от_ ΠΝΕΎΜΑ (G4151) и ΣΑΡΚΊ _dat. sing....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    ARE YE SO FOOLISH, &C.— "Having then set out so happily and hopefully in your Christian course, under the light and influence of the Spirit, with faith in Christ for divine acceptance, according to th...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PART TWO JUSTIFICATION: NOT BY LAW BUT BY FAITH IN CHRIST 3:1-4:31 A. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH PROVED. Galatians 3:1-14 1. By reception of the Holy Spirit Galatians 3:1-5 TEXT 3:1-5 (1) O foolish G...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    _VERSE 3. ARE YE SO FOOLISH? HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT, ARE YE NOW MADE PERFECT BY THE FLESH?_...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? BEGUN, [ Enarxamenoi (G1728)] - after having taken the initiatory step in the Christian life (Philippians 1:6),...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    3 Paul now appeals to the experience of the Galatians themselves. Before the Judaisers came they received the Spirit of God, and suffered for the evangel, and did mighty works quite apart from the law...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    SPIRIT and FLESH denote the characteristics of Gospel and Law respectively—the spheres to which they belong: cp. Galatians 6:12. The Galatians had begun by putting their trust in Christ, and living a...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JUSTIFICATION IS BY FAITH, NOT WORKS 1-14. The Apostle upbraids the Galatians with their speedy change from faith to legal observances, reminding them of the fact that their reception of the Spirit h...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE GALATIANS _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 3 LIVE BY GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT, NOT BY YOUR OWN EFFORTS V1 You Galatians are foolish. You behave as if someone has used magic powers to lead...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    The actions of the people in Galatia were not reasonable. They could not start their Christian life in one way and then continue it in a different way. They could not have both the Holy Spirit and the...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    FOOLISH. — See the Note on Galatians 3:1. HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT. — Begun your career as Christians in a manner so entirely spiritual — with the spiritual act of faith on your part, and with an a...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    III. (1-5) Whence this strange relapse? It is not as if you were ignorant of better things. The crucified Saviour, the one great object of faith, has been preached before you in a way too plain to be...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 11 THE GALATIAN FOLLY. Galatians 3:1. AT the beginning of chap. 3 falls the most marked division of this Epistle. So far, since the exordium, its course has been strictly narrative. The Apos...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    WHAT SENSELESS FOLLY IS IT FOR YOU, WHO HAD THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST SET PLAINLY BEFORE YOUR EYES, TO RESORT NOW TO CIRCUMCISION! THINK ONLY HOW IT WAS THAT YOU RECEIVED THE SPIRIT: WAS IT BY OBEDIEN...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    πνεύματι … σαρκὶ. These two datives denote the two internal spheres susceptible of moral influence. Conversion had brought about a spiritual change as its immediate result: it was folly to look for a...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    RIGHTEOUSNESS BASED ON FAITH Galatians 3:1 The strong tendency of the Galatian Christians to depend upon ceremonies or upon legal obedience, _in addition_ to their faith in Christ, elicits in this c...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here begins the second division of the epistle, in which Paul deals with the doctrine of liberty. He begins with the exclamation, "O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you?" He then inquired, Did they...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (2) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the (d) flesh? (2) The fourth argument mixed with the former, and it is twofold. If the Law is to be joined with faith, th...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) В¶ 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? (2) This only would I learn of...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Galatians 1:1-24. We saw the second of Corinthians characterized by the most rapid transitions of feeling, by a deep and fervent sense of God's consolations, by a revulsion so much the more powerful i...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    3._Are ye so foolish? _Commentators are not agreed as to what he means by _the Spirit _and by _the flesh_. He alludes, in my opinion, to what he had said about the Spirit. As if he had said, “As the d...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    What a loss, dreadful and irreparable, to lose such a Christ, as we, under grace, have known Him; such a righteousness; such a love; the Son of God our portion, our life; the Son of God devoted for us...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    ARE YE SO FOOLISH?.... Is it possible you should be so stupid? and do you, or can you continue so? HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT; that is, either in the Spirit of God, whom they had received through the...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 r...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _This only would I learn of you_ That is, this one argument might convince you; _received ye the Spirit_ In his gifts and graces, in his witness and fruits. See Galatians 4:6; Galatians 5:22. _By the...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    IN THE SPIRIT; the Holy Spirit, as the minister of a spiritual dispensation. BY THE FLESH; by the observance of the outward ceremonial law....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    SALVATION IS NOT OF WORKS, BUT BY FAITH. Paul appeals to the experience of the Galatians:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    ARE YE SO FOOLISH? HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT, ARE YE NOW MADE PERFECT BY THE FLESH?...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    FAITH IS THE ONE PRINCIPLE OF BLESSING (vs.1-9) "0 foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?" (v.1). Little wonder, as Paul considers the principles and tremendous issues involved, that he speaks out...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    Have you lost your marbles? You can not leave the flesh, live in the Spirit of God, and then return to the flesh....

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-5 Several things made the folly of the Galatian Christians worse. They had the doctrine of the cross preached, and the Lord's supper administered among them, in both which Christ crucified, and the...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    The doctrine of their false teacthers was, that to faith in Christ, an obedience also to the law of Moses was necessary to justification; they did not deny Christ, or the doctrine of the gospel, only...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh?...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book III Peccatun enim, cure sit "corruptio," non potest babere societatem cure incorruptione," quae est justitia. "Adeo stulti," inquit, "estis? cure spiritu coeperiti...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Galatians 3:3 you G2075 (G5748) so G3779 foolish G453 begun G1728 (G5666) Spirit G4151 you G2005 now...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Oh foolish Galatians. Who has bewitched you before whose eyes Jesus Christ was set forth as crucified among you? This only would I learn from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law o...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    PAUL CONFIRMS WHAT HE HAS SAID BY POINTING OUT THAT EVERY BLESSING THEY HAVE RECEIVED WAS RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH (GALATIANS 3:1). Paul now reminds the Galatians of how they first came to Christ, and w...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    ARE YE NOW PERFECTED IN THE FLESH? (νυν σαρκ επιτελεισθε?). Rather middle voice as in 1 Peter 5:9, finishing of yourselves. There is a double contrast, between εναρξαμενο (having begun) and επιτελει...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    PERFECT (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 5:48). _...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    3:1. _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?_ These Galatians thought that...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 3:1. _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? This only would I lea...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Galatians 3:1. _O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you,_ Paul writes as if they had come under some kind of witchcraft, and been deluded by it. This seemed to astonish the apostle, so he cries o...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Paul, writing, to those changeable Galatians, who had so soon deserted the faith, says to them in this chapter Galatians 3:1. _O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Gift of Spirit by faith apart from law-works. Man under law-works is under the law curse. Christ bears the law curse that we might have the faith blessing. The true intent of the law. CHARA...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Galatians 3:1. _Oh foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you:_ εβασκανε, who hath fascinated, beguiled, or seduced you by subtlety and cunning, and sought by ingenious malice to draw you from the trut...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    HOW CAN YOU BE SO FOOLISH! They had begun with a new birth of water and the Spirit (John 3:5) and had been following the spiritual religion of Jesus Christ. To go under The Law means trying to save th...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Having begun in the Spirit._ I. The commencement of salvation is the holy spirit’s work. Salvation is not begun by-- 1. The means of grace alone. 2. The minister or priest. 3. Self-effort. II. W...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 3:1 Direct Appeals to the Galatians. Paul gives several reasons why the Galatians should resist false teachers. ⇐

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 3 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER S. Paul proceeds to prove by five reasons that we are justified not by the law, or the works of the law, but by Christ. I. The first proof is drawn (ver. 2) from e...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Galatians 3:1. WHO HATH BEWITCHED YOU?—Fascinated you, as if overlooked by the evil eye, so that your brain is confused. The Galatians were reputed to possess acute in...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GALATIANS 3:1 O FOOLISH GALATIANS (ὦ ἀνόητοι Γαλάται). In thus apostrophizing them, the apostle brands their present behaviour, not any lack of intelligence on their part in general...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn now in our Bibles to Galatians chapter three. Background: Paul the apostle had been in the area of Galatia. Galatia was a general area like a county or a state. It was not a city. There...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Galatians 4:7; Galatians 5:4; Galatians 6:12; Hebrews 7:16;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    So foolish. Explained by what follows. Has your folly reached such a pitch as to reverse the true order of things? Comp. 1 Corinthians 14:46. Having begun. [ε ν α ρ ξ α μ ε ν ο ι]. P o. Comp. Philippi...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Are ye so thoughtless — As not to consider what you have yourselves experienced? Having begun in the Spirit — Having set out under the light and power of the Spirit by faith, do ye now, when ye ought...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Observe here, the apostle calls the doctrine of the gospel, SPIRIT; because by hearing the gospel preached, they had received both the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. The law, with all its rites...

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Old Testament