A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians

Edgar Huxtable [1810-1897] · 361,419 words · 379 reading sections

SECTION 61

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 61

transmitted maxims e.nd nsages e.lso which spirit e.t the time of his first receiving the a.re described in the Gospels (of. Matt. v.; gospel. The Saul of those days, he so.ye, xv.; xxiii.; Me.rk vii.) as things se.id "by" we.a e.nime.ted by the sentiment of bitter or "to" them of old time, or e.s " the tre.• hostil…

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SECTION 62

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 62

of the oonjunoUon Iii, we must consider how the revelation spoken of was the fruit solely the sentence it introduces stanrls related of a Divine volition triumphing over extreme to what precedes. The main underlying wickedness and infatuation on hie own po.rt. thought of vers. 13, 14 was that the Compare, in this respe…

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SECTION 63

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 63

Jeremiah, applied by the Spirit to his own hie apostle ; God, by a marvellous exeroiso particul1tr case (comp. Acts ix. 15). The of goodness, had Cl\lled him forth out of that apostle feels the.t all the while the.t he had evil state to bo his own: unworthy, no been pursuing that career of persecuting doubt, he had …

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SECTION 64

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 64

is required by the tenor of the context. If the necessity of adopting either or these it is not admitted, there is nothing in the meth~ds of criticism by the consirleration whole p11ss11ge to m11ke good the apostle's that, rn th~ eourse of the argument which nfilrma.tion, in ver. 12, thot he had received the apostle 1s…

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SECTION 65

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 65

his MRSt.er. And who (we mav further ask) character of the servloe; as if it were," That may venture to determine what part the I should be a shower-forth of the glad Lord Jesus took personally, that is, by per- tidings." The norist would he.ve recited the sonal intercourse, in the process of illumi- entire servioe …

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SECTION 66

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 66

partook of the same;" (8) Epb. vi. 12, the negative. Bo Rom. ix. 16, "Not of him " Our wrestling is not against flesh and that willeth, neither of him that runneth." blood, but ago.inst . . . the spiritual hosts It ie uncertain whether " went up" or of wickedness in the heavenly placea;" (4) "went a.way" is the true re…

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SECTION 67

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 67

cnnnot bnt recollect, with reference to the his grace to the Getltiles, to no mortRl mo.n, J .ord Jesus, that when, after bis baptism, w bet Iler at Damascus or else,vhere, did I apply "the Spirit droye him forth into the wilder- for:further light; neither did I even repair ness," wit.h _a view, A.S v,e may in all t…

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SECTION 68

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 68

religion; a fooling whioh would be all the up to Jerusalem to make incp1iries 0r stronger through the consciousness thnt it Cephas. Neither would the general use of wns as yet the capita.I and centre also of t.he verb warrant us in understanding St. Christendom itself. To see Peter (l,nopr,r1a, faul to so.y that his ob…

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SECTION 69

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 69

St. Pnnl felt tbnt it was urgently needful for 1111 should deny thee, yet will I never him.. in the prosecution of bis great mission, deny thee," so soon rebuked by the triple to know Cephas well, he could not but have denial, e.nd the Lorrl's glance of reproving also felt that it was of importance for the love ; th…

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SECTION 70

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 70

tnrriecl with him," is with the greatest proba- overcome through the interposition of the bility ta.ken to indicate e. sojourn at Bt.Peter'e generons-hee.rted Be.me.bas his ardent zee.l house. Else, why did not St. Pe.ul write, thru~t him forth ,without d~lay upon giving "I turiad in J eruee.Iem " ? And this cir- pubhc…

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SECTION 71

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 71

which St. Luke states the circumstauces. we perhaps may consider that St. Paul, in It is as follows. St. Paul had been two accorrlance with his cns~mary self-abne- years in imprisonment at Rome when St. gr.tion, is willing himself to Eeerr• iu his Luke compiled the Acts; tbat is, St. Luke disciple's narrative to have s…

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SECTION 72

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 72

.,.c;; "'r""tf.,"'1'• "by fRce," or "in person," derived the gospel which he had then and me.rks (•ee Winer,' Gram. N. T.,' § 31, 6, a) ever since been proclaiming. If we tl\ke the sphere to which R wider term is re- the bee.ring of the clause, "which were in stricted, RS .-ais cf>pe<riv (1 Oor. xiv. 20). Its Christ…

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SECTION 73

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 73

me.king he.voo of," the "fe.ith " is identified sidered himself e.e e.lready then equipped with the Church which held it' (comp. ver. with the requisite knowledge. (2) The 13). We mo.y heartily accept Estius's com- apost!e had no occas_ion to hasten away into ment, citetl by Meyer," Quie. Christi fidelibus Arabia t? fi…

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SECTION 74

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 74

thBt he should speoify the looality as being willingness to acquiesce in the above-men- one which withdrew him away from all tioned identification. They nre etruok by who might have been supposed his pos- observing that, so fe.r as has been shown, sible instructors in the gospel. Moreover, the notion that "Ja.mes th…

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SECTION 75

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 75

express testimony of St. John (vii. 5) Hea.v~-direeted Joseph. Is it conceivable tha.t, down to within a. few months of our tha.t, in so small e. town as Nazareth, mis- Lord's death, "his brothers did not believe judging gossip did not me.ke itself during on him." In the history of the Acts, in- those months only too b…

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SECTION 76

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 76

hie human nature and his human life to be manifested to Israel, It found James , touched theirs in a thouee.nd we.ye; but and his brothers altogether unprepared to none the lees must they he.ve been oonsoious attach themselves to him as disciples; the.t that, in mors,l and spiritual temperament, he they would be muo…

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SECTION 77

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 77

appeo.rs of exceeding great weight, and in family connection, being n11t only through faot decisive. Jamee muBt have been a son his father a descendant of David's rl)y11l of our Lord's adoptive father. But if the lineage, but also the eldest " brother " ol person here cited by the no.me of Jamee wo.s the Lord Christ. H…

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SECTION 78

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 78

true, would none the less have conveyed a 0Mc recall to the minds of St. Ptl.ul's Gentile false impression, and been as an argiiment readers-the prominent lending ftaure in tho illusiYe. He therefore, as a sort of after- Israelite Church at Jerusalem. A~cordingly thought-for the sentence without the addi- we find th…

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SECTION 79

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 79

dated from the da.y of hie conversion on the road to Damascus. "The Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee" (Acts xxvi. 17). He speaks elsewhere of his having seen the Lord, as a token of his apostleship (1 Cor. ix. 1). He was directly and immediately called by Jesus Christ. (2) It was by" God the Faf,her,whoraisoohimfrom…

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SECTION 80

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 80

p:reeting or kindly remembrance, such as we find in his addresses t.o other Churohes. 'He does not address them as" faithful brethren," as "the saints in Christ Jesus." There is something suggestive in this method of prefacing the Epistle. He ends it with a perceptible softening of tone, his last word being " brethre…

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SECTION 81

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 81

1 Cor. xv. 3; 1 Pet. iii. 18. Besides, it would be tautology for the apostle to refer here to mere human improvement, since the design of the sacrifice is to accomplish this very improvement, e.s we see by the terminating clause. It would be absurd to confound the means e.nd the end, the ea.use with the effect. III. T…

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SECTION 82

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 82

simplici!Y that_ is in Christ (2 Cor. xi. 3). The ~alatians had begun to grow weary of souna doctnne-perhaps from tho rooted r.nnuty of the carnal mind to spiritual things, and error once received into a mind that has ueparted from the freshness of first love, takes firmer root than truth, because it is more in affi…

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SECTION 83

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 83

Vers. 8, 9.-'.I'he apostle's anathemas. The severity of these sentences is directed against the Judaizing teachers, not against the Galatians, whom he evidently regards as influenced by others. There is great mildness in his method of reproving the Gala- CH, I, 1---:-24,] '1'11,E ~PISTLE TO TRE G.A.~ATIANS. 47 ------…

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SECTION 84

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 84

Vers. 11, 12.-The trite origin of the apostle's gospel,. Here he begins the apoloe1etic por_tion of bis Epistle, vindicating his independent apostolic authority. 'l'he phrase ~ith which he prefaces his statement, "I declare unto you, brethren," is at once solemn and emphatic, as if he could allow of no misunderstand…

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SECTION 85

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 85

persecutor and hie victims that would allow of hie learning the gospel. On the contrary, at this time he cherished the strongest prejudices and the fiercest hatred against Christianity. IL His INTENSE ZEAL FOR TllE JEWISH RELIGION. He could appeal to the Galatians themselves as having once heard "of his conversation i…

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SECTION 86

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 86

VI. THE PROMPTNESS il~ INDEPENDE~"T ACTION OJ!' THE APOSTLE AFTER HIS CALL, "Immediately I conferred not with :flesh and blood." Ee took no counsel with mortal man ; he did not take the usual methods of men in determining their conduct in· critical cases; therefore there was no reason for the Judaists to affirm.that, a…

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SECTION 87

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 87

Thie period of lonely thought and meditation wa.e e.e prolific of mighty results as the year's solitndo of Luther in the Wartburg, or a.e the imprisonment of Huss in the castle .cm the Rhine. III. Hrs F'IllBT APPEARANCE m PUBLIO LIFE AFTER THE ARABIAN SECLUSION WAS NOT AT JERUSALEM, BUT AT DAMASOUB. "I went into Ar…

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SECTION 88

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 88

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-5.-The gospd, of sd,f-sacrijiu. In sending an Epistle to an apostate people, Paul does not indulge in unmeaning compliments. These Celts in Asia. had been showing some of their proverbial fickleness, and going back from the doctrine of justification by faith to a rit'll,(1,lism …

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SECTION 89

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 89

enormity ie made manifest to all, Christ laid down hie life, then, in a. noble cause. Surely to take away ein, to remove from human hearts their heavy burdens, to bestow on men peace and deliverance from all fear, was a worthy object in self-sacrifice. We stand before tbe cross, therefore, believing that the sacrifice …

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SECTION 90

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 90

II. RITUALISM rs A PERVERSION OF THE GOSPEL. (Ver. 7.) For Paul would not: admit that the ritualism imported by the Judaizers into Galatin was ll.nothcr gospel; in his view it was uo gospel, but a perversion of it. For if I am told I can be saved' only by becoming a Jew, by being circumcised, and keeping the Old Tes…

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SECTION 91

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 91

supposecl that he took up this intolerant position rashly, he now proccccls to give us a short autobiography, in which he shows how he had receiverl the gospel, and what a hold it had upon him. Let us notice the salfont points in this narrative. I. Hrn LIFE AB A JEW. (Vers. 13, 14.) Paul, before his conversion, was th…

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SECTION 92

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 92

kept to his own province. They heard gladly that the arch-persecutor had become o. chief preacher of the once despised faith. They accordingly praised God for the monu- ment of bis mercy he had raised up in Paul. But his knowledge of the gospel and his authority in proclaiming it were not, he wishes these Galatians to …

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SECTION 93

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 93

he could say that they were at one with him. In the whole of his warm remonstrance against giving way to Judaism, there was not one expression which they wished him to tone down. 3. The Oliurches addressed. "Unto the Churches of Galatia." At the dawn of history the home of the Celtic race, known to the Greeks aa Gal…

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SECTION 94

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 94

might deliver us from the mrinifcstation of sin in this pi·esent evil world. 'l'his world is thought of, not ai; it might have been, but ns it actually is. It might havo been n good ~vorld _; i_t is i~s'.end Rn evil world. Its e~il character consi.sts, not only in it~ opposing itself in 1_ts oprn1onli and practices …

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SECTION 95

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 95

change." .The Gallltlnns themselves were a striking example of this love of change. 'l'his charncteristic would be in favour of their reception of the gospel at the first. Dutwould they not as easily move away from the gospel? In view of Gallic mobility, the apostle of Christ needed to be as vigorous as tl10 Homan capt…

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SECTION 96

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 96

work went on, me.ny more, from time to time, would be e.dded to their number, But if these perverters of the gospel succeeded, then e.11 the.t good work would be spoiled. Better far the.t they themselves should be wrecked in their interests than the.t by them hundreds should be wrecked in their interests. There is a so…

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SECTION 97

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 97

with the contents of the gospel. Historical proof to show that he was no pupi1 of the apostles. • I. 'l'HE JUDAIBTIC PERIOD OF BIB LIFE. "For ye have beard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews' religion." He recalls the fact that they bad heard, viz. from his own mouth, when he was with them, of his manner of…

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SECTION 98

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 98

the Gentiles." In connection with his call there was given the facb,of the Mcssinhehip of Jesus, but there was also needed the expansion of its meaning. So it was the ,goou pleasure of God, not only to give him an outward appearance, but an inward revelation. The revelation of God's Son here is to be identified with…

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SECTION 99

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 99

hie being passed over. .tJ.ttestaei()'TI, of the foregoing/acts. "Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not." 'l'he language approaches to oath-taking. 'l'he facts were so important, as affecting bis independence as an apostle, that ho gives them bis most solemn attestation. v. '!'H…

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SECTION 100

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 100

Vers. 3, 4.-CJhrist's sacrifice for our deliverance. The salutation is more than a kinr1ly expression of good will; it is a. true benediction based on the grand assurance of ::;race and peace that grows out of a right understanding of the sacrifice of Christ. St. ran! describes the bearings of that wonderful sacrifi…

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SECTION 101

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 101

almost suggested, but the very opposite, i.e. to deliver us from that which is most opposed to God. 2. It was not primarily to deliver us from the future evil world, from the pains o.nd peno.lties of sin there to be endured. A most degrading view of redemp- tion is that which regards it as having little effect on our l…

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SECTION 102

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 102

3. Spiritual intoleranre, not physical persectttion. St, Paul pronounces a curse on the enemy of the gospel. But he does not draw the sword upon him. He leaves him with God. There if he have erred, he will be rightly judged. We have no excuse, then, for the exercise of violence against those whom we regard a.s the e…

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SECTION 103

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 103

shows o genuine Christian spirit to honour ungrudgingly e. spiritual work in which we hove taken no part. '!.'here is always a temptation to slight such work and to re"ard the fruits of it with suspicion. 2. The beauty of Christian charity is also seen in "the warm welcome of one who had been an enemy. The persecutor p…

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SECTION 104

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 104

Iie,·ers of the circumcision with their lead ere. St. Paul in conjunction with Barno.bas1 viz. What St. P1ml here relates fits in very that of Acts xi., xii. Wo know nlso the.t naturally into the circumstances relRted in he 1111,d been in close as~cif\tiou with Bar- Acts xv., though the situiition is looked o.t naba…

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SECTION 105

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 105

out ae a convert of hie own; while the Lord appeo.ring to him bade him to depo.rt m11nner in which he is here no.med to the thence without delo.y (Acte :xxii. 17, 21). Go.l11tio.ns euggeete the eurmiee tho.t he wo.e The two accounts in each instance a.re no etro.nger to themeelvee, The o.poetle mutually supplementary, …

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SECTION 106

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 106

The apostle repeats this participle thrice in with hushed and respectful attention to Paul the following oontext--onoe(ver, 6),as here, and BarnabM, while they gave n detailed e.bsolutely; 1tnd twice (vers. 6, 9) with an account of what great signs nnd wonders infinitive. This harping upon lio1<oii,,.,-u God had wro…

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SECTION 107

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 107

Ohuroh of Jerusalem, and not one of the withstand the pressure which was for a. twelve apostles), and "Cephas and John" while applied for getting Titus circum- representing the twelve, who may be be- cised." Neither Titus, who was with me; lieved to have been e.ll of them at J eruse.lem being a Greek, was compelled …

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SECTION 108

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 108

no doubt, includes at least Titus. The simulating fo.ith in Christ; outwardly" ba.p- question, however, arises-Who were they tized into Christ," but not inwardly, and that for a while endeavoured to force cir- therefore not really. Tho loud dem1md cumcision upon Titus P 'rbe converts from whioh those folsc brethren …

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SECTION 109

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 109

reference is made to the alien character of /f,pczv ,1~aµ,v). To whmn; i.e. to the false the te11ching spoken of. The o.poetle's feel- brethren; not the persons immediately re- ing is that men who do not accept the ferrecl to in ver. 3 as seekin"' to comP.el truth that through fo.ith in Christ we are Titus to be circum…

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SECTION 110

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 110

which is embodied. in the gospel, and is its parenthesis asserting his independence with very hinge and substance. The snme phrase respeot to those whom hie gainsayers in is found in Col. i. 5. The "truth" is that Galatia would seem to have pronounced hie enunciated in ver. 16, e.nd that it is the vf!ry superiors, b…

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SECTION 111

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 111

(,rp&o-r.,,rov 0ebs lwOpcl,,rov ob l\au.{Jd.ve,), The for his person was evidenced by the fact order of the words in the Greek throws that Panl's knowledge of the gospel waa especial empho.eie upon "person:" person of already BO complete and hie work was so man God accepteth, not; that is, it is never honoured by God, …

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SECTION 112

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 112

tinns by writing bis two Epistles to them, from men (comp. Acts xiv. 4, H; and Dis- so also St. Paul everywhere in his minis- sertation I. in the Introduction). terie.l work addressed himself in the first Ver. 9.-.&.nd when J'ames, Cephas, and instance to the Jews. Nevertheless, in the J'ohn, who Hemed to be pills.r…

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SECTION 113

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 113

Oeph11e and John, though not an 11postle, 11e a11 especially etelldfnst npholdere of the truth being the le11diog "elder" (bishop, as such of the gospel or of the Christian cause. In o functioo11ry soon got to be designated) of Rev. iii. 12 the "pillar'' seems thought of, the Church of Jerus11lem; for in the classifi• …

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SECTION 114

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 114

of form appropriate to the circumstances. intense ea.mestneee, whioh St. P1ml ie wont That we should go unto the heathen, and to express in the use of 111rou5J.(.,, as well they unto the circumoision (1va 11µ.,,s ,/s .,-a as of nou8¾i and ,nrou8aios, He did not l8v-q, aJ.,-ol Ii, ,is T¾iv .,,,p,.,.oµ.,f,v); literall…

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SECTION 115

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 115

prudent to make it (of. Introduction, pp. organizations which be was setting on foot xvi.-xviii.). in the Gentile world stand to the doctrine It is well to observe, in reference to this of the twelve and to the Church organize.- whole p11ss11ge (vers. 6-10), the extent to tions framed by them in connection there- whic…

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SECTION 116

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 116

ing with Jewish believers, when these were explained. It me.y be assumed that it was assailed by '"certain come from James." In this exercise of apostolic superintendence contrast with his own unflinching champion- that gave rise to the tradition, which gained ship of their cause, were here seen vacillation eerly MC…

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SECTION 117

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 117

eore feeling which thia nnrrotivo of St. being equivalent to lnrerr-rl>-Ano, the use of Paul's nnd tho mo.nner of its diction left which middle voice is illustrated by Acts behind in the minds of a cerfain section of xx. 27. The Gentile converts could not but Jewish Chrietio.ns. perceive that his manner with them was l…

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SECTION 118

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 118

with which he then rcge.rded liim, notwith- rightly," that is, "sincerely," which, how- eto.nding the unhnppy variance which sprnng ever, is an unusual application of the notion up between them soon e.fter the circum- of ope&,,.11s ; or, "walk straight onward," thnt stanc.es here mentioned. Again, yeo.rs is, "rightly."…

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SECTION 119

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 119

producing repugnBoce to Gentiles as babit- to live as do the J'ews1 (,..(;; 1 [Reeeptus, •rl] unlly using uoclenn meats, be brought with '7"4 (Ov71 lr.va-y1t&(m 'Iou5at(,w ;). In place of bitn when crossing Oornelius's thresbolcl; ,,.;, why, recent editions read ,...;,, how, nod thnt it is quite supposable that, io w~i…

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SECTION 120

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 120

'l711Tov11 brill'Teo,raµ.,v); did in Ohrist Jema who more or Iese were doin"' its works. This belie'IIB, Tho norist of tho verb poin tR to the verse, viewed as a state~ent of the indi• time offlrst muking Ohrist tho object of trust. vidual experience of the two apostles Peter The cho.nged order, in which our Lord's a…

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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.