This seems to me to be the easiest explanation of all the facts of the case. John; and show that in this teaching the Apostle quoted is supported by other writers of the New Testament. A few words now about the relation of this method of research to the Dogmas of the Christian Church.
My translation of the Epistles to the Romans and the Corinthians has received from different critics criticisms most contradictory. Their works, with that of Meyer, are still the best expositions of the Epistle to the Galatians. Findlay, who, in a most attractive form, has given to the reader of the English Bible a thoroughly good exposition.
This different aim is very conspicuous in the eight dissertations at the close of the volume. Ramsay's argument, I still adhere to the location of the Churches of Galatia given in the earlier editions of this volume.
CONTENTS
THE EPISTLES TO THE CORINTHIANS AND TO THE ROMANS COMPARED WITH THAT TO THE GALATIANS.
INTRODUCTION
EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS
And the references to Heretics afford a strong presumption that it was accepted, alike by friends and foes, in the middle of the century. Of the changes adopted without note by the Revisers in their Greek text of the Epistle to the Galatians, the following are also adopted without note by all recent Critical Editors, viz. Of the three alternatives noted in the Revisers' margin as read by "some ancient authorities," viz.
3 is the only reading in this Epistle certainly wrong and yet supported by the joint testimony of the Vat. In the REVISED VERSION of the Epistle to the Galatians among many improvements, I note the following. And these changes do more than appears at first sight to make clear the drift of the Epistle.
In #Ga 4:13 the rendering, because of an infirmity of the flesh restores an historical reference hardly perceptible before. This is confirmed by Jerome, who tells us (Epistle to the Galatians, preface to bk. ii.) that the language of the Asiatic Galatians was almost the same as that spoken at Treves on the Moselle.
EXPOSITION OF THE EPISTLE
The truth of the Gospel: #Col 1:5: the correspondence with reality which belongs to the good news. Consequently, the difference is only in the aim of the mission of Peter and of Paul. The mention of maturity suggests another element in the Christian life of the Galatians, viz.
That this animating principle is a Person distinct from the Son and the Father, (see under #1Co 12:11,) belongs to the mystery of the Holy Trinity. He attributes the new life directly to the presence and activity of the Spirit: #Ga 5:16ff. Its worth in the eyes of the more pious of the later Jews is seen in 1 Macc.
But this was an acknowledgment that the Mosaic Law is still binding as a condition of the favour of God. This inference compels us to consider now the relation of the Lord's day to the Jewish Sabbath. On the day following the Jewish Sabbath Christ rose from the dead; and on the evening of the same day (#Joh 20:19) appeared to the assembled disciples.
The infinite importance of these events gives to the first day of the week a glory never conferred on the seventh day. And the distinction already given to the first day of the week makes us quite certain that this was the Lord's Day. We now find in the New Covenant still more conspicuous honour paid to one day of the week; but not to the same day.
Moreover, the observance by all Christians of the same day of rest renders united worship possible;. Whenever instituted, it was commanded in the Law; and was made a sign, and a conspicuous feature, of the Old Covenant of works. Seen in the full light of the Gospel, all days are equal: for all are spent for Christ.
And this Paul declares to be (that ye may, etc.) the purpose of the seduction. The foregoing question will now be justified by a fact about Abraham recorded in the Books of the Law. MSS., the Latin part of the Clermont MS., and the Coptic version; evidence perhaps slightly stronger than that for r.
Paul say to you that if ye receive circumcision Christ will profit you nothing. And I protest again to every man receiving circumcision that he is a debtor to do the whole Law
For this is an answer to the question in #Ga 5:7 about the source of the disobedience. In the family of Abraham were two sons: but only one was heir of the promise. Hence the apparent variety in the use of the word and the apparent contradiction here.
That Paul refers to the Spirit of the Son, is made quite certain by his constant teaching that. All this is abundant reason for complete self-surrender to the guidance of the Spirit. He will also reap: same words in #2Co 9:6, referring to the measure of the harvest.
Of the Judaizing element in the Christian Church which evoked the Epistle to the Galatians, we have abundant evidence in the Book of Acts. These two verses are a concentrated embodiment of the teaching of the Epistle to the Galatians. Some such indications, however, we shall find in our comparison of the Epistles to the Romans and the Corinthians.
James ever remembered that the new birth (#Jas 1:18) by no means ends our probation, but rather begins a new probation; and that even the servants of Christ will be judged (#Jas 2:12) at the (#Jas 5:7) coming of the Lord. In the words of the Gospel the Judge has already spoken to them, and in their favour.
