Observe here, 1. How the gracious care and good providence of God did watch over St. Paul from place to place, and from time to time, when and wheresoever he went forth to preach, to plant, and propagate the gospel. After fourteen years he went up to Jerusalem, that is, fourteen years after his conv... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The instance and evidence which St. Paul brings of the apostles at Jerusalem, agreeing with him, both in their doctrine and in their practice; and that was Titus, who being. Gentile, born. Greek, and now. preacher of the gospel, and never circumcised, the apostles at Jerusalem would... [ Continue Reading ]
As if the apostle had said, "When. came up to Jerusalem, thus. behaved myself toward the false brethren, as. have here declared; but now, FOR THOSE WHO SEEMED TO BE SOMEWHAT, that is, Peter, James, and John, who were of chief reputation among the apostles, and more than ordinary ministers of Jesus C... [ Continue Reading ]
Note here, 1. That the ordinance both of Peter and Paul, for the office and work of apostles, was alike divine. The former, St. Peter, was to be the minister of the circumcision: that is to exercise his ministry among the Jews, and St. Paul, by virtue of the same divine ordinance, was to exercise hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, St. Peter's offense, and St. Paul's rebuke. St. Peter's offense, 1. was this, he declined from the doctrine taught by himself, concerning the abrogation of circumcision and the ceremonial law; he had formerly conversed freely with the Christian Gentiles without scruple, making no obje... [ Continue Reading ]
A farther account is given us in these verses, of St. Peter's offense at Antioch, in giving occasion of scandal to the Gentiles, by refusing to converse and eat with them, although he had before, in. vision, received. divine command so to do. St. Paul calls it FEAR, Galatians 2:12, DISSIMULATION, G... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Paul having fully vindicated his own authority as an apostle, from the imputations of the false apostles, he comes next to vindicate his doctrine, namely, the evangelical doctrine of justification by faith in Christ, which he had formerly preached to the Galatians, and which, in his absence, the... [ Continue Reading ]
These words are generally looked upon as an objection, which the adversaries of the doctrine of justification by faith, have been always ready to make against it, namely, "That if persons be not justified by their obedience to the law, then they may live as they list in the breach and violation of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle shews, that believers are so far from being justified by the law, that they are dead to the law, so as to put no confidence in their obedience to it for justification; particularly, 1. They are dead to the law; that is, they are delivered from the rigorous exactions of the law. Per... [ Continue Reading ]
Several things are here observable, St. Paul's spiritual death declared, and his spiritual life described, together with the author and instrument of it. Observe, 1. St. Paul's spiritual death, I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST; that is, with Christ. am dead to the law (in the manner mentioned in the fore... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle concludes the chapter with. double argument, to prove the Christian's justification by faith, without the works of the law. 1. Were it otherwise, we should frustrate and make void the grace of God: For if JUSTIFICATION be by works, it can no more be by grace; according to the apostle, R... [ Continue Reading ]