Commentaires bibliques

Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Who raised him from the dead — And by the same almighty power causeth dead souls to hear the voice of the Son of God in his ministers and live, John 5:25 ; Ephesians 1:19 .

return to '

And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

The Churches of Galatia — They are not unchurched though much corrupted. Uzziah ceased not to be a king when he began to be a leper; the disease of his forehead did not remove his crown.

return to '

Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

Grace be, … — See Trapp on " Romans 1:7 " This Epistle to the Galatians is an epitome of that to the Romans. Peter Martyr observeth that Paul deals more mildly in that Epistle to the Romans than in this to the Galatians; because the Galatians were at first well instructed in the matter of justification, but afterwards did mix other things with Christ; therefore he so sharpens them up, yea, thundereth against them.

return to '

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

From this present evil world — Bewitched wherewith the Galatians were relapsed from Christ. A subtle and sly enemy it is surely, and hath cast down many wounded; yea, many strong men have been slain by it, as by Solomon’s harlot, Proverbs 7:26 .

return to '

To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

To whom be glory — The benefit of our redemption should make us lift up many a humble, joyful, and thankful heart to God.

return to '

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

That ye are so soon — Giddy headed hearers have religionem ephemeram, are whirred about with every wind of doctrine, being constant only in their inconstancy, as Ecebolus, Balduinus, and our modern sects. The bishops and doctors of England (said that martyr) in their book against the pope’s supremacy, spoke as much as Luther or any Lutheran ever did or could. If they dissembled, who could ever so deeply, speaking so pithily? if not, who could ever turn head to tail so suddenly and so shortly as these did?

Removed from him, … — From Christ and me his apostle. Luther often in his books testifieth that he was much afraid, lest when he was dead, that sound doctrine of justification by faith alone would die also. It proved so in various places in Germany. Men fell to Popery as fast as leaves fall in autumn. The word here rendered removed, signifieth properly transported or transplanted. He alludes (saith Jerome) to the word Galal, to roll, as if he should say, You are Galatians, that is, rolling and changing, falling from the gospel of Christ to the law of Moses.

return to '

Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

There be some — That would fain have blended Pharisaism and Christianity, Acts 15:5 .

That trouble you — ταρασσοντες . As camels with their feet trouble the waters they should drink of.

And would pervert the gospel — They pretended only to bring in a Jewish rite or two, and yet are said to pervert the gospel, μεταστρεψαι . Ea quae post tergum sunt, in faciem convertere, as Jerome hath it, to turn that before that should be behind; to speak distorted things, διεστραμμενα , such as produce convulsions of conscience, Acts 20:30 . A little thing untowardly mingled mars all. The monstrous heresy of Nestorius lay but in one letter, θεοδοχος , and of Arius, but in one syllable, ομοιουσιος .

return to '

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Or an angel — Not an evil angel (as Ambrose understands it), but a good angel, per impossibile, as John 8:55 .

Than that which we, … — Or besides that which we have preached. He saith not, contrary to that, but besides that; for indeed that which is directly besides, is indirectly against the gospel.

return to '