Galatians 3:1 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Galatians 3:1 to Galatians 5:12. Doctrinal Section. Paul Sets the Choice before them Christ or the Law and Argues for its Urgency.

Galatians 3:1-14. It was a strange folly which could lead them to forget the picture, so plainly shown them, of the suffering Saviour. (1) Their own experience had been of the Spirit, as (a) the source of ecstatic prayer (Galatians 4:6), in which the sacred scrap of Aramaic speech (Mark 14:36) once used by Jesus was employed throughout the early Christian world (cf. Romans 8:15); (b) the source of miracles (Galatians 3:5). wrought by God Himself; (c) the source of the new moral life (Galatians 5:16 ff.). (2) The OT itself (Galatians 3:6) preaches faith (Genesis 15:6) and (Galatians 3:8) dwells on its blessings (Genesis 12:3 *, Genesis 18:18; though the original meaning in Gen. was probably lower Israel would prosper till good wishes in other lands came to run May you be as happy as a Jew; also (Galatians 3:11) Hab. 24 (cf. Romans 1:17; Hebrews 10:38). Here again the original meaning is differentby his fidelity). (3) The OT Law described itself (Galatians 3:10) as a very different system; Deuteronomy 27:26 (Paul takes these words more rigorously than the OT did), and again (Galatians 3:12) Leviticus 18:5. The two different systems of religion came together in the Cross, when Jesus, dying a cursed death (Deuteronomy 21:23), released Jewish believers from the curse which the Law announced, that Gentile believers might have a share in Abraham's blessing (cf. Galatians 3:8), and that we Jewish and Gentile Christian alike might receive what God promised so long ago, now fulfilled in the gift of the Holy Spirit. (The Atonement, as Paul here conceives it, had been offered on behalf of Jewish believers. There is no such limitation at 2 Corinthians 5:21.)

Related Commentaries of Galatians 3:1

Galatians 3:1-14

1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounteda to him for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.