EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. Galatia was a province in Asia Minor. See note on Acts xvi. 6. It does not distinctly appear when and by whom the gospel was first preached in that province; but from the lan- guage in ch. i. 8 and iv. 13, it may be inferred that Paul was one of the first, if not absolutely the first, who "called" the Galatians "into the grace of Christ." Here, however, as in other places, he was followed by Judaizing teachers, who insisted that Christian converts were bound to obey the ritual law of Moses. Against such, Paul obtained judgment, after 1. Paul, an apostle. See note on Rom. i. 1. Not of men, &c. Not sent or commissioned by human au- thority. Unlike Matthias and Timo- othy, who, though called of God, were set apart to the ministry by men, Acts i. 26; 1 Tim. iv. 14, Paul was ap- Christ. That is, directly, and without human intervention. A full account of Paul's conversion and consecration to the apostleship is recorded in Acts ix. 1-8; xxii. 6-10; xxvi. 12-18. Like the Twelve, he was called person- ally by his Master, and in this respect he was "not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles." 2 Cor. xi. 5. He never acknowledged inferiority to others, and they practically admitted his equality with them. ¶ And God the Father, &c. He asserts distinctly, in the outset, that he derived his au- thority from that God who acknowl- edged and demonstrated Jesus to be his Son by raising him from the dead. Rom. i. 4. See note on 1 Cor. i. 1. 2. And all the brethren, &c. The greeting by the "brethren" served a twofold purpose: it was an assurance of Christian affection to the "churches of Galatia," and also a declaration of confidence in the authority of Paul as 3. Grace be to you, &c. See note 4. Who gave himself for our sins. See note on Rom. iv. 25. ¶ That according to the will of God and our Father: 5 To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel : 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any world; " or, as it is expressed by our Lord, to "keep them from the evil" which is in the world. John xvii. 15. 5. To whom be glory, &c. See note on Rom. xi. 36. 6. So soon removed, &c. This seems to indicate that this epistle was written not long after the Galatians were "called into the grace of Christ," or converted to faith in that gospel whose distinguishing characteristic is, that salvation is the gift of divine grace, not the reward of works. Another gospel. Called "gospel" by those who preached it; yet it was essentially different from the gospel of grace; so different, indeed, that it was Judaism rather than Christianity, law rather than gospel. other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, breth Would change its character from a system of free grace to the legal code of Moses. Such was the tendency if not the design of their teaching. 8. But though we, &c. Paul knew that the gospel which he preached was true, for he received it "by the revelation of Jesus Christ," ver. 12; he had a right, therefore, and it was his duty, to exclude from Christian fellowship all who denied its truth; and he acknowledged that he himself would deserve like exclusion if he should prove false to the trust committed to him. T Let him be accursed. Cut off from the Christian church. See note on Rom. ix. 3. "And if any attempt to do that, though it were I myself, or even an angel from heaven, I pro7. Which is not another. "What claim unto you mine opinion and they taught had none of the elements apostolical sentence, that you are to disor characteristics of the gospel. It claim and renounce all communion was a different system, and one which with him, to look on him as an excomtaught an entirely different method of municated person, under the second justification before God."- Barnes. degree of excommunication, that none "The Judaists bring you another gos- is to have any commerce with in sapel, but it is really no gospel at all."cred matters." Hammond. Ellicott. Hence it did not deserve 9. As we said before, &c. Namely, the name of gospel, and was "not in ver. 8. another." Conybeare translates thus: "which is nothing else but the device of certain men who are troubling you." But there be some that trouble you. Namely, the Judaizing teachers, who pretended to have authority from the apostles at Jerusalem to teach a doctrine entirely different from the gospel preached by Paul. See note on Acts xv. 1. ¶ And would prevent, &c. "By 10. Do I now persuade, &c. the question here, Paul means to say that his great object now was to please God. He derived his authority from him, and not from the Sanhedrim or any earthly council. And the purpose of all this is to say that he had not received his commission to preach from man, but had received it directly from God."— Barnes. Or, rather, as Paul ren, that the gospel which was 15 But when it pleased God, preached of me is not after who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. says in ver. 1, from "Jesus Christ and God the Father." 11. Is not after man. Rests not on human authority. In point of fact, from the time when he was an unbeliever and a persecutor, ver. 13, Paul did not even see one of those who were apostles before him, ver. 17, until he had preached the gospel for the space of three years, ver. 18. And when they did meet, they met as equals, neither claiming to have spiritual superiority over the other, ch. ii. 6-10. 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 16. To reveal his Son in me. To make me acquainted with the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, the true Messiah. T That I might preach him among the heathen. Or, Gentiles. Paul was specially commissioned as an apostle to the Gentiles. Acts xxvi. 16-18. See also ch. ii. 7-10; Rom. xi. 13. TImmediately I conferred not, &c. I did not wait to consult with any human being; but I accepted the message as a revelation of divine truth, and immediately became a willing and undoubting disciple. Acts ix. 6. "Obedient to God alone, Paul means to say, I excluded all human deliberation, as being subject to error.' Olshausen. 12. By the revelation of Jesus Christ. Besides his personal interview with our Lord, when on his way to Damascus, Acts xxvi. 12-18, Paul received special instructions at subsequent periods, as intimated in Acts xxvi. 16. See also Acts xxii. 17-21; xxiii. 11;"That is, I did not go there at once. 2 Cor. xii. 2-4. 66 13. My conversation. My conduct; my manner of life." Acts xxvi. 4, 5. Beyond measure I persecuted, &c. See Acts xxvi. 9-11. 14. More exceedingly zealous, &c. Wholly devoted to the traditions of the Jews. Of course, he was not likely to accept instruction from those who disregarded those traditions, and who taught a new and more spiritual doctrine. 15. Who separated me, &c. Who set me apart. See note on Rom. i. 1. 17. Neither went I up to Jerusalem. I did not go to consult with the apostles there, or to be instructed by them in regard to the nature of the Christian religion. The design of this statement is to show, that in no sense did he derive his commission from man."Barnes. I went into Arabia. This journey is not mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. See note on Acts ix. 23. 18. After three years. Generally understood to indicate the interval subsequent to his conversion, not the time which elapsed after his return to 19 But other of the apostles | That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24 And they glorified God in saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; 22 And was unknown by face unto the churches or y face which were in Christ: me. T CHAPTER II. HEN fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took 23 But they had heard only, Titus with me also. Damascus, ver. 17. I went up to Jerusalem, or "returned to Jerusalem," as in the margin. T To see Peter. For what special purpose is not stated. It is reasonably supposed that, having heard of Peter as a zealous apostle of Christ, he desired to become personally acquainted with him, that they might impart strength and encouragement to each other. See Rom. i. 11-12. T Abode with him fifteen days. In this short time he could not receive much instruction; especially as he labored in his vocation at Jerusalem, and "disputed against the Grecians." Acts ix. 29. that therefore his knowledge of the gospel was a purely immediate one.”— Olshausen. The first verse is the keynote of this whole chapter. Paul was "an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.” CHAPTER II. 1. Fourteen years after. That is, after his former visit, ch. i. 18. TI went up again to Jerusalem. Some suppose this to be the visit mentioned in Acts xi. 29, 30; xii. 25. It is more probable that Paul refers to the time when he had an interview with the council of apostles, described in Acts xv. 1-30. After an assertion of his in 19. Save James the Lord's brother. The construction of this sentence indicates that James was one of the apostles. Commentators are divided independent authority as an apostle, he opinion as to the precise relationship which James sustained to our Lord. Practically, the question is comparatively unimportant to us. See note on Matt. xiii. 55. Paul's chief object here was manifestly to state the fact that he saw only two of the apostles during this visit to Jerusalem. 20. Before God, I lie not. Some regard this as a form of oath. But it appears to me as merely a strong affirmation. See note on Rom. ix. 1. 21. Syria. See note on Luke ii. 2. T Cilicia. See note on Acts vi. 9. 22-24. And was unknown, &c. "The reason why Paul adds this remark can, as Ecumenius has already observed, be no other than to show the Galatians, who had been prejudiced against him by his Judaistic adversaries, that he could have received no instruction from other Christians in Palestine, and proceeds in what follows to the illus- |