CHAPTER III. _The apostle inquires how they could be so foolish as to_ _renounce the Gospel of Christ and turn back to the law, after_ _having heard, received, and suffered so much for the Gospel_, 1-5. _Asserts the doctrine of justification by faith, on the example_ _of Abraham_, 6-9. _Shows... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Galatians 3:2. _RECEIVED YE THE SPIRIT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW_] This may refer to the _miraculous gifts_ of the _Spirit_, which were very common in the apostolic Church. Did ye receive these extraordinary gifts in consequence of your circumcision, and observing the Mosaic precepts? or was it... [ Continue Reading ]
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 with various miraculous influences; and the spirit of adoption, by which he were assured of the remissi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Galatians 3:4. _HAVE YE SUFFERED SO MANY THINGS IN VAIN?_] Have ye received and lost so much good? The verb πασχων, as compounded with ευ, _well_, or κακως, _ill_, and often without either, signifies to _suffer pain_ or _loss_, or to _possess_ and _enjoy_. In such a case the man is considered... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Galatians 3:5. _HE THEREFORE THAT MINISTERETH TO YOU THE SPIRIT_] The apostle means himself: he had been the means of conveying the Holy Spirit to them, and by that _Spirit_ he wrought miracles among them; and he did all this, not as a _Jew_, (for as _such_ he had no _power_,) but he did all a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Galatians 3:6. _ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD_] This is quoted from Genesis 15:6, where see the note; and St. Paul produces it, Romans 4:3, where also see the notes. Abraham, while even uncircumcised, believed in God, and his faith was reckoned to him for justification; and Abraham is called the _fathe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _THE SCRIPTURE, FORESEEING_] See the notes on Romans 4:3. As God intended to justify the heathen through faith, he preached the Gospel that contains the grand display of the doctrine of salvation by faith, _before_, to Abraham, while he was in his heathen state; and thus he is called _the f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _THEY WHICH BE OF FAITH_] All who believe, as Abraham has believed, are made partakers of Abraham's blessings.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _AS MANY AS ARE OF THE WORKS OF THE LAW_] All that seek salvation by the performance of the works of the law are under the curse, because it is impossible for them to come up to the spiritual meaning and intent of the law; and the law pronounces them _cursed_ that _continue not in all thi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _BUT THAT NO MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW_] By the _observance_ of the law, suppose he had even continued in all things that are written in it to do them, _is evident_; for the Prophet _Habakkuk_, Habakkuk 2:4, has declared, under the direct influence of the Spirit of God, _The just shall l... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _AND THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH_] It promises no forgiveness to believing, but requires obedience. It is not, What do you _believe_? but, What have you _done? The man that doeth_ _them_ perfectly, at all times, and in all places, _he shall live in_ _them_; but if in any case he fails, he forf... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _CHRIST HATH REDEEMED US_] εξηγορασεν. Hath bought us with a price; viz. his _blood_, or life. _BEING MADE A CURSE FOR US_] Being made an _atonement_ for our sins; for whatever was offered as an atonement for sin was considered as _bearing the punishment due to sin_, and the person who su... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _THAT THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM_] That is, justification or the pardon of sin, with all other blessings consequent on it, such as _peace with God, spiritual life_, and _eternal glory_. _MIGHT COME ON THE GENTILES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST_] So we find that he was made a _curse for us_, that the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _I SPEAK AFTER THE MANNER OF MEN_] I am about to produce an example taken from civil transactions. _If it be_ _confirmed_-If an agreement or bond be signed, sealed, and witnessed, and, in this country, _being first duly stamped_; _NO MAN DISANNULLETH_] It stands under the protection of th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _NOW TO ABRAHAM AND HIS SEED_] The promise of salvation by faith was made to Abraham and his posterity. _HE SAITH NOT, AND TO SEEDS_] It was one particular kind of posterity which was intended: _but as of one-which is Christ_; i.e. to the spiritual head, and all believers in him, who are... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _CONFIRMED BEFORE OF GOD IN CHRIST_] i.e. The promise of justification, c., made to believers in Christ Jesus, who are the spiritual seed of Christ, as they are children of Abraham, from the similitude of their faith. Abraham believed in God, and it was reckoned to him for justification t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _FOR IF THE INHERITANCE_ BE _OF THE LAW_] See the preceding arguments, in which this is proved.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _WHEREFORE THEN_ SERVETH _THE LAW?_] If the law does not annul the Abrahamic covenant, and cannot confer salvation on its votaries, why did God give it? This was a very natural objection, and must arise in the mind of any Jew who had paid attention to the apostle's reasoning. _IT WAS ADDE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _A MEDIATOR IS NOT_ A MEDIATOR _OF ONE_] As a mediator, μεσιτης, signifies a _middle_ person, there must necessarily be _two_ parties, between whom he stands, and acts in reference to both, as he is supposed to have the interests of both equally at heart. This verse is allowed to be both... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _IS THE LAW THEN AGAINST THE PROMISES OF GOD?_] Is it possible that the intervention of the law, in reference to one part of the Abrahamic seed, should annul the promise made to the other? It is impossible. _FOR IF THERE HAD BEEN A LAW_, c.] If any _law_ or _rule_ of life could have been... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _BUT THE SCRIPTURE HATH CONCLUDED_] All the writings of the _prophets_ have uniformly declared that men are all _sinners_, and the _law_ declares the same by the continual _sacrifices_ which it prescribes. All, therefore have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; and, being tried and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _BUT BEFORE FAITH CAME_] Before the _Gospel_ was published. _WE WERE KEPT UNDER THE LAW, SHUT UP_] εφρουρουμεθα. _We were_ _kept as in a strong hold_, συγκεκλεισμενοι, _locked up, unto the_ _faith_-the _religion_ of the Lord Jesus, _which should afterwards be_ _revealed_. Here the same me... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _THE LAW WAS OUR SCHOOLMASTER_] Ὁ νομος παιδαγωγος ἡμων γεγονεν εις Χριστον· _The law was our pedagogue unto Christ_. The παιδαγωγος, pedagogue, is not the _schoolmaster_, but the _servant_ who had the _care of the children_ to _lead them_ to and _bring them back_ from school, and had th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _BUT, AFTER THAT FAITH IS COME_] When Christ was manifested in the flesh, and the _Gospel_ was preached, we were no longer under the pedagogue; we came to Christ, learned of him, became wise unto salvation, had our fruit unto holiness, and the end eternal life. It is worthy of remark that... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _FOR YE_, WHO HAVE BELIEVED THE GOSPEL, _ARE ALL THE_ _CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS._] But no man is a child of God by _circumcision_, nor by any observance of the Mosaic law.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _AS MANY OF YOU AS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST_] All of you who have believed in Christ as the promised Messiah, and received _baptism_ as a public proof that ye had received Christ as your _Lord_ and _Saviour, have put on Christ_-have received his Spirit, and entered into his interest... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK_] ελλην, _Greek_, is put here for εθνικος, _heathen_. Under the Gospel all distinctions are done away, as either _helping_ or _hindering_; all are equally welcome to Christ, and all have an equal need of him; all persons of all _sects_, and _conditions_, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Galatians 3:29. _AND IF YE_ BE _CHRIST'S_] Or, as several good MSS. read, _If ye_ be _one in Christ_. If ye have all received justification through his blood, and the mind that was in him, then are ye Abraham's seed; ye are that real, spiritual posterity of Abraham, that _other seed_, to whom... [ Continue Reading ]