1Paul asketh what had moved the Galatians to depend on the law, having already received the Spirit through faith. 6As Abraham was justified by faith, so they who are of faith inherit his blessing. 10The law brought men under a curse, and could not justify. 13Christ hath freed us from the curse, and laid open the blessing to all believers. 15Supposing that the law justified, God's covenant with Abraham would be void. 19But the law was only a temporary provision against sin till Christ's coming, and in no wise contrary to God's promises: 23serving as a schoolmaster to prepare men for Christ. 25But faith being come, the law is at an end, and all believers are without distinction become children of God, and heirs of the promise.
1 O 1FOOLISH Galatians, whoa hath 2bewitched you, that ye should not 3obey 4the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidentlyb5set forth, 6crucified among you?
1 Or, ignorant, unwise. So he calls them, to show that he maintains that they did this rather out of inconsiderateness or imprudence, than out of wickedness. See the like, Luke 24:25, whereby he then does not contrary to the doctrine of Christ, Mat. 5:22. See also 1 Cor. 15:36.
a Gal. 5:7.
2 That is, so blinded the eyes of your understanding, that you cannot see the real truth, as the jugglers bewitch the external eyes that they think they see what they see not. Therefore he compares these false teachers to jugglers and places upon them the greatest blame of this deception, who, as deceivers by fair speeches and subtleties, deceive the simple.
3 That is, embrace and believe.
4 Namely, of the Gospel, that a man is justified before God by faith, whereof is spoken in Gal. 2:5, 14.
b plainly, clearly.
5 Or, delineated, that is, so clearly held forth unto you by my preaching, as if it were drawn or set out to life in a picture before you.
6 That is, of Whose crucifixion, together with the causes and fruits of the same, namely, that thereby we are delivered from the curse of the law and bondage of the ceremonies, I have so abundantly and clearly taught you, as if He Himself had been crucified before your eyes.
27This only would I learn 8of you, Received ye 9the Spirit by the works of the law, or 10by the hearing of faith?
7 Namely, from many other things which could convince you of errors.
8 That is, answer me to this matter only. Not that he did not know the same, but this he says to show that he will herein be content with their own saying.
9 That is, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as are the Spirit of regeneration, of sanctification and of adoption.
10 That is, by the preaching of the doctrine of the Gospel. See Isa. 53:1; John 12:38; Rom. 10:16.
3Are ye so 11foolish? 12having begun 13in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect 14by the flesh?
11 Or, without understanding, senseless.
12 That is, when you were first converted unto Christ to seek salvation through Him.
13 That is, with the grace and doctrine of faith, which the Holy Spirit works.
14 That is, with the works of the law and with the ceremonies, which are outwardly done and seen; which the false teachers taught the Galatians.
4Have ye suffered 15so many things 16in vain? 17if it be yet in vain.
15 Namely, persecutions, reproaches and injuries for the cause and doctrine of Christ.
16 That is, without fruit and recompense, which would come to pass if you would again turn away from that doctrine.
17 That is, far be it that this would come to pass, hoping that this would not befall them. Or, if it did, but stay only there, and that you were not yet to expect other troubles for your backsliding.
5He therefore that ministereth to you 18the Spirit, and worketh 19miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or 20by the hearing of faith?
18 That is, those spiritual gifts. See verse 2.
19 That is, powers. See 1 Cor. 12:10, 28.
20 See verse 2.
6Evenc as 21Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
c Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3; James 2:23.
21 See of this example, Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3, etc.
722Know ye therefore that they 23which are of faith, the same are 24the children of Abraham.
22 Or, Understand ye then.
23 That is, who seek their righteousness in Christ by faith.
24 Namely, spiritual children, not according to the flesh, but according to the promise. See John 8:39; Rom. 4:11; 9:6, 7, 8; Gal. 3:29. As therefore the father is justified, so also are the children justified, seeing there is but one way to be justified, namely, by faith in Christ. See Rom. 3:30.
8And 25the scripture, 26foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, 27preached 28before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, 29Ind thee shall all 30nations 31be blessed.
25 That is, the Holy Spirit, speaking in the Holy Scripture.
26 Namely, Gen. 12:3.
27 Gr. previously evangelized, or, before announced glad tidings.
28 Namely, even in the Old Testament also.
29 That is, in the Seed Which is promised thee, and shall proceed from thee, Which is Christ, as is declared in verse 16. See also Gen. 22:18.
d Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 49:10; Acts 3:25.
30 That is, Gentiles as well as Jews.
31 That is, be justified and saved.
9So then they which be of faith are blessed 32with faithful Abraham.
32 That is, in such manner as faithful Abraham was blessed or justified. See verses 6, 7.
10For as many as are 33of the works of the law 34are under the curse: for 35it is written, Cursedeis 36every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law 37to do them.
33 That is, who seek their righteousness and salvation by the observation of the law of Moses.
34 Namely, because they do not perfectly keep the law, and therefore cannot obtain the blessing or justification by the law. For blessing and the curse are contrary one to another.
35 Namely, Deut. 27:26.
e Deut. 27:26.
36 The apostle follows here the Greek translation, seeing it very well expresses the meaning of the original Hebrew text, although the words every one and all are not expressed there.
37 Namely, perfectly in all parts, and in such a manner as God commands. And from this it appears that by the works of the law here are understood, not only the works of the ceremonial law, but also of the moral (law) or the Ten Commandments.
11Butf that no man is justified 38by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for,g39The just shall live by faith.
f Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16.
38 Gr. in the law. The apostle uses these phrases, through the law, by the law, by the works of the law, in the law, in the same sense.
g Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Heb. 10:38.
39 Or, the just by faith shall live. See Rom. 1:17.
12And the law 40is not of faith: but, Theh man that 41doeth them 42shall live 43in them.
40 For the law does not promise life to them who will be justified by faith, but who perfectly keep the law; which he proves by the promise which is made by the law, Lev. 18:5; Ezek. 20:11.
h Lev. 18:5; Ezek. 20:11; Rom. 10:5.
41 Or, shall have done, namely, perfectly, as verse 10.
42 Namely, eternally, and consequently be justified thereby, if he would perfectly keep the law in all things, which nevertheless no man does, nor can do, Rom. 3:9, etc.
43 That is, by such perfect keeping of the law.
13Christi hath 44redeemed us 45from the curse of the law, being made 46a curse 47for us: for 48it is written, Cursedjis every one that hangeth 49on a tree:
i Rom. 8:3; 2 Cor. 5:21.
44 Gr. ransomed us out of the curse; for, this deliverance came to pass by paying a ransom for us, Mat. 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:6.
45 That is, from the punishment, temporal and eternal, which the law threatens to the transgressors, and which we had deserved by our transgressions.
46 That is, took the wrath of God and the punishment of our sins upon Himself to bear the same, and thereby to satisfy God’s vindictive justice.
47 That is, in our stead, as our Surety; Heb. 7:22.
48 Namely, Deut. 21:23.
j Deut. 21:23.
49 That is, is hanged upon the cross. See Acts 5:30; 1 Peter 2:24, which is to be understood, not that they would all be damned who were crucified (for the contrary appears by the example of the converted murderer, Luke 23:43), but because God had appointed this kind of punishment, as being the most cruel and reproachful, for a type of the punishment which His Son must suffer to deliver us from the curse.
14That 50the blessing of Abraham 51might come 52on the Gentiles 53through Jesus Christ; that 54we might receive 55the promise of the Spirit 56through faith.
50 That is, the grace of reconciliation and justification, as also the inheritance of eternal life, which was promised to Abraham and his seed, Gen. 12:3; 22:18.
51 That is, might flow down, as out of a fountain.
52 Or, unto the nations, as was promised to him that in him all nations would be blessed, Gen. 12:3
53 That is, through Christ, as being the blessed Seed Which was promised to Abraham, verse 16.
54 Jews as well as Gentiles.
55 That is, the spiritual promise, not of temporal but of eternal good things.
56 That is, received through Christ by a true faith.
15Brethren, I speak 57after the manner of men; Thoughkit be but a man’s 58covenant, yet if it be 59confirmed, 60no man disannulleth, or 61addeth thereto.
57 That is, I will use an example taken from human affairs. See Rom. 3:5; 1 Cor. 9:8.
k Heb. 9:17.
58 The Greek word diatheke is sometimes particularly taken for a testament, Heb. 9:17, sometimes generally for any kind of covenant or contract between two parties. It may here be taken in both significations.
59 Namely, with mutual promises, oaths, subscriptions, seals or the like ways usual amongst men.
60 That is, ought not, neither can disannul.
61 Gr. ordaineth ought besides; namely, by taking away, adding, or altering.
16Nowl to Abraham and his 62seed were 63the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, 64which is Christ.
l verse 8.
62 See Gen. 22:18. The word seed is sometimes taken for all the posterity, as Gen. 15:18; 22:17, sometimes for someone special out of the same, as Gen. 4:25; 21:13. That it must here be taken in this second signification, the apostle here proves, and teaches also that this Seed is Christ. See also Gen. 13:15; 17:10.
63 That is, neither can any man disannul or alter the covenant that God has made with Abraham and all believers. In the which, seeing the promises, which God has made therein on His side, are not grounded on the keeping of the law but on Christ the promised Seed of Abraham, therefore must this also always remain firm and unchanged, as is more extensively declared in the following verse.
64 See the proof hereof in the genealogy of Christ, Mat. 1:1 to 16, and Luke 3:23 to 34; as Isaac also was a type of Christ, Gen. 21:12; Rom. 9:7; Heb. 11:18.
1765And this I say, that 66the covenant, that was confirmed 67before of God 68in Christ, 69the law, 70which was four hundred and thirty years after,m cannot 71disannul, that it should make 72the promise of none effect.
65 That is, this I mean by the foregoing example of human covenants or testaments.
66 That is, that then the covenant of God remains much more firm, without alteration.
67 Namely, with an oath, Gen. 12:2; 15:18; 17:4; 22:17; Heb. 6:14, 15, etc., and with other outward signs and seals.
68 Namely, forasmuch as it was to be confirmed by the death of Christ as the Testator, Heb. 9:15, that Christ also must merit these spiritual blessings for us by a perfect satisfaction for our sins, whereof the ceremonies of the law were types; and that we cannot be partakers of the same but by faith in Christ.
69 Seeing one might have objected against this, that, before the law was given, it might have stood thus with the business of God’s covenant; but when the law was given, that then the covenant of God would have been altered, therefore the apostle here proves that this also is untrue.
70 That is, seeing the law was given on Mount Sinai so many years after. The beginning of these four hundred and thirty years must be reckoned from that time forward, when God commanded Abraham to depart out of his own country, Gen. 12:1. See hereof more thorough, Exod. 12:40; Acts 7:6.
m Gen. 15:13; Exod. 12:40; Acts 7:6.
71 Or, be infirm. Gr. the law, etc. maketh the covenant, etc., not null and void.
72 See verse 16.
18Forn if 73the inheritance be 74of the law, it is no more 75of promise: but God 76gave it to 77Abraham 78by promise.
n Rom. 4:14.
73 Namely, of eternal life, whereof the inheritance of the land of Canaan was a type.
74 That is, to be obtained by the perfect observation of the law.
75 That is, by faith whereby the grace and blessing promised in Christ is received. For these two are repugnant one to another, and cannot stand together. See Rom. 11:6.
76 That is, without any merit on his part, Rom. 4:13, 16.
77 This is proved before, verse 6, etc., and so then shall all the children of Abraham also receive the inheritance; seeing there is but one way to salvation.
78 Namely, received by a true faith.
1979Wherefore then serveth the law? Ito was 80added 81because of transgressions, till 82the seed should come 83to whom the promise was made; and 84it was 85ordained 86byp angels 87in the hand 88ofq a mediator.
79 This was an objection of the false teachers, that if the law does not justify a man, then it has no use, and is given in vain.
o John 15:22; Rom. 4:15; 5:20; 7:8.
80 Or, ordained.
81 Namely, to make them known, Rom. 3:20; 5:20; 7:7, and to convince thereof.
82 Namely, that promised Seed of Abraham, which is Christ, see verse 16, Who is the end of the law; Rom. 10:4.
83 Namely, the inheritance, as being the Head of all those who shall be heirs, for it is from Him, in Him, and through Him that we all obtain the inheritance, and are co-heirs with Him, Rom. 8:17.
84 Namely, the law.
85 Or, appointed.
86 That is, by the ministry of angels; which, although it be not mentioned in the history of the giving of the law, yet notwithstanding so it is, that this may be collected from other places, and was believed in the congregation. See Acts 7:38, 53; Heb 2:2.
p Acts 7:38, 53.
87 That is, by the ministry. Hebraism. Mal. 1:1.
88 Whereby some understand Moses, whom God used as a messenger and intercessor between Himself and the people in the giving of the law, Exod. 19:21. Others understand Christ, by Whom God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt through the wilderness, and spoke unto Moses on Mount Sinai, Acts 7:38; 1 Tim. 2:5.
q Deut. 5:5; John 1:17; Acts 7:38.
20Now a mediator is not a mediator 89of one, but God 90is one.
89 That is, of one party, but is always of two differing parties to unite them.
90 That is, remains always the Same, without being changed, not only in His essence, but also in His will, purpose and decrees. Or, is one Party of both.
2191Is the law then against the promises of God? 92God forbid: for if there had been a law 93given 94which could have given life, 95verily righteousness should have been by the law.
91 This is a second objection, which the false apostles might bring forward against what the apostle has just said. Namely, if the law discover and condemn transgressions, and the promise cover and forgive the same, then these seem to contradict one another.
92 That is, that does by no means follow.
93 Namely, for such end that a man might be justified thereby. Or, which were such that a man was able to keep it perfectly.
94 That is, justify men, and bring unto eternal life.
95 That is, if this were true, then the law would be contrary to the promise. But this is not so, and therefore there is no contradiction here. See Rom. 8:3.
2296Butr97the scripture hath concludeds all 98under sin, 99that the promise 100by faith of Jesus Christ 101might be given to them 102that believe.
96 This is a proof that the law cannot make alive or justify, because no man keeps the law perfectly, but all men are thereby convinced of sin.
r Rom. 3:9; 11:32.
97 That is, the written law, and the prophets as interpreters of the same.
s included*
98 A similitude taken from criminals who are shut up in prison to be kept unto punishment. See similarly, Rom. 11:32.
99 That is, the promised blessing and inheritance.
100 That is, through faith in Christ, as by an instrument whereby the promised blessing is received.
101 Namely, from God, out of grace, freely.
102 Gr. to the believing ones, namely, in Christ; and not to the ones who work, that is, those who seek righteousness by the works of the law, John 3:16; Rom. 3:22; 4:4, 5.
23But 103before faith came, we were 104kept under the law, shut up 105unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
103 That is, before Christ, Who is the Foundation of faith to which faith has respect and on which it relies, came in the flesh. See verse 19.
104 The Greek word signifies such a keeping with soldiers and a guard in a strong place. The apostle here again uses the same similitude as in the previous verse, as appears by the following word. But the apostle seems here also to have respect to this use of the law, that the same served, as it were, therewith to separate the Jews from other nations, and, as it were, to keep them only. See Deut 4:7; Psalm 147:19; Eph. 2:14.
105 That is, until Christ, Who was to be revealed, as before.
24Whereforet the law was 106our 107schoolmaster to bring us 108unto Christ, that we might be justified 109by faith.
t Mat. 5:17; Acts 13:38; Rom. 10:4.
106 Namely, of the Jews, who were under the law.
107 Gr. paedagogos; which signifies one who leads children to school, instructs and disciplines them. Therefore he compares the Jews under the law to children, and believing Christians to adults, who have no more need of a schoolmaster.
108 That is, to lead us unto Christ. This the moral law does when it convinces us of sin, and announces the curse, and therefore shows us, that to be saved, we must fly to Christ for refuge, Who has delivered us from sin and from the curse. And the ceremonial law, seeing the same did not only convince men of their sins, but were also types and representations of Christ, and His benefits, 1 Cor. 5:7; Col. 2:17, and taught, that, what was represented by the same, is to be found only in Christ, Heb. 9:10, 11, etc.
109 That is, through the merits of Christ, received of us by a true faith, and imputed by God to us of grace.
25But after that 110faith is come, we are 111no longer under a schoolmaster.
110 That is, Christ, Whom faith respects, as verse 23.
111 Forasmuch as the same has now accomplished this service, and we have now come to the age of men, Eph. 4:13.
26Foru112ye are all 113the children of God 114by faith 115in Christ Jesus.
u Isa. 56:5; John 1:12; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5.
112 Namely, who have embraced the Gospel, the Gentiles as well as the Jews.
113 Gr. sons, namely, adults, who are no more subject to a schoolmaster, For, although the faithful of the Old Testament were also God’s children under the law, yet nevertheless so it was that as little children they were kept under a schoolmaster, and therefore differed not from servants, Gal. 4:1.
114 See John 1:12.
115 That is, through Christ, Who, being the proper and only begotten Son of God, has merited for us, that we are accepted by grace as children for His sake, Eph. 1:5.
27Forv116as many of you as have been baptized 117into Christ have put 118on Christ.
v Rom. 6:3.
116 That is, all who are baptized; which must be understood of all those who do not only receive the outward baptism of water, but also the inward baptism of the Spirit, 1 Peter 3:21, as appears in Simon the sorcerer, Acts 8:13, 21, who indeed received the outward, but not the inward baptism.
117 That is, into the Name and into the faith of Christ.
118 Namely, as a spiritual garment, wherewith our spiritual nakedness and shame is covered, and we are adorned as with a wedding garment, Rom. 13:14.
28119There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: forw ye are all 120one 121in Christ Jesus.
119 What he had said in general of all believers, this he expounds more extensive, and testifies that there is no difference amongst them anymore, so ever they be of what nation, condition or race.
w John 17:21.
120 That is, as one man, the one as well as the other, made heir of eternal life through Christ.
121 Not in the civil order or family, where there is inequality, but as concerning the benefits of Christ.
29Andx if 122ye be Christ's, then are ye 123Abraham’s seed, and 124heirs according 125to the promise.
x Gen. 21:12; Rom. 9:7; Heb. 11:18.
122 Namely, Galatians, who before were Gentiles, and now believe in Christ.
123 That is, Abraham’s children, as is said in verse 7, all of whom Christ is the Head, as the promised Seed of Abraham, verses 16, 19.
124 Namely, of eternal life, whereof the land of Canaan was a type, Heb. 11:9.
125 Namely, which is made to Abraham and his seed, and consequently not by the works of the law. See verse 18.