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PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians

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

SECTION 181

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 181

Vc-rsion renders," there cnn be," and Dishop the plensuro which ho felt in dilating on Lightfoot, " t hC'ro is no room for;" but the large catholicity of the Divine gmco. Erolus. xxxvii. 2 and l Cor. vi. 5 do not In the clause, ou1< tv, lip<T•v 1<al 6ijAv, "there much favour this particular modification. is hero no …

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SECTION 182

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 182

<ieremonio.l Judo.ism. The principle plo.inly here affirmed to be "Abraham's seed," be- le ·pregnant with o.n objeotivo opplice.tion cause, being clothed with Christ, they sharo oletJ; ne.mely, e.e to the me.nner in which his position. The same result is e.rrived at they were to eetimo.te e.nd treat eo.ch other either …

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SECTION 183

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 183

II. THE INEX0USABLENEss OF TIIEIR CONDUOT, "Before whose eyes Jesus Christ was evident.ly set forth in you, crucified." The apostle refers to his own clear exhibi- tion of gospel truth in Galatia, and especially to the individualizing distinctness with which the Redeemer was set before his converts as the only Hope …

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SECTION 184

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 184

maturity with the Spirit. The Introduction of the flesh would be the annihilation of the Spirit. Judaism ministers to the sensuous element in our nature by making relil(ion a thing of rites and ceremonies; but this is to go back upon all the progress we have made in life, light, and blessing. v. 'l'HE USELESSNESS OF T…

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SECTION 185

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 185

see,l. The unity i~ not that established by circumcision, but something far deeper. 2, God had purposes of mercy toward the heathen, 'rhese purposes included their, justification on the same grounds as those which secured the acceptance of the Jews. 'The J~wish dispensation was particularistic, and was so far temporar…

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SECTION 186

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 186

Vers. 13, 14...::..'Fifth argument-our salvation is by Christ ffl'Lde curse for us. Two thoughts are here brought into contr.ast-the Law condemned us; Christ redeemed Uij: "Christ redeemed' us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us." i. THE NATURE OF THE REDEMPTIOK, He "redeemed us." 1. This language …

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SECTION 187

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 187

obedience. 3. It was designed for Gentiles as well as Jews. The stream WIii destined t.o flow through Jews to the Gentiles, freed from all the limitations of the old dispensation. V. THE nESULT OF THE BLESSING. " That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." There is here an obvious return to the que…

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SECTION 188

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 188

I. THE COVENANT ON 1TB OWN INDEPENDENT FOUNDATION. 1. It stands vrrevocab~ ~nd indestructible because it has been confirmed by (!od, that is, by an oath ; for, Because he could swear by no greater, he aware by himself, sayina Surely blessina I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee" (Heh. vi. 13, 14). T…

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SECTION 189

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 189

Vers. 21-25.-TM Law d,esi_qned to·'be 811,bservient to the promise. Though the Law is inferior to the promise in the four points already suggested, it is not antagonistic to it. I. THE LAW IS NOT Al\'TAGONISTIC TO THE PROMISE. "Is the Law against the promises of God? God forbid." 1. The Law and the promise are equal…

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SECTION 190

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 190

were kept under theLaw, shut np unto thEl faith which should nfterwar<ls be revealed." 1. The old dispensation described as the age '.' before the faith." (1) This does not mean tbot there.was bo faith in a, Redeemer in pre-Christian ages. To say otherwise is to say that there.,vae no salvation in those ages, The ap…

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SECTION 191

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 191

sepnrated from the world and ein. We are by bapt.ism separat.ed f'rom sin and devoted t.o Christ. 2. The fext does 'Tlot imply tliat all baptized pe,·sons have been baptized into Christ. Calvin well remarks that the apostle treats of the sacraments from two points of view. When he is arguing with hypocrites, he decl…

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SECTION 192

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 192

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1-14.-The bewitchery of Law. Paul, having stated his position as dead to the Law and inspired by Christ, goes on in the present paragraph to appeal to the Galatians to free themselves from the bewitching power of Law, and to yield themselves to the faith in a crucified and now risen …

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SECTION 193

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 193

strictly the pasi:ing of merit ovtlr from man to man. In the sl\me way Jesus Christ has come into our world, allied himself with olll' sinful race, meriteu consideration and acceptance by obedience to L&w, even as far 88 death, and this merit of the Divine Man passes over to believers, In the Father's sight, therefo…

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SECTION 194

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 194

doouments must proceed upon tho validity and power of the preceding, Hence the MosELic LELw could not render the Abrahamic covenant of promise null and void. It must consist with and supplement the preceding. The promise made to the seed of Abraham remained in force, notwithstanding the thunders of Mount Sinai. Nay,…

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SECTION 195

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 195

ing Law's lesson and being "shut up to faith," they mistook the lesson altogether and sbut t.bem~clves up to ceremony. The Law was meant to defuat self-righteousness; the pupil_s all~wed it to minister to self-righteousness. Instead of being shut up to fe.ith, they reme.med m the school of Law for ever and never got…

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SECTION 196

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 196

evil can be presented to us in a fascinating form. Here the Galatians a.re described as those who ha.d been bewitched. H wa.s as if some one had exerted an evil spell on them. Hie evil eye had rested on them and held them BO that they could not see him by whose crucifixion they had formerly been BO much affected. And t…

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SECTION 197

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 197

that supplieth to you the Spirit, an,l w,,rketh miracles among you, doeth ho H by ~ho works of the Law, or by the henring of faith?" It was G9d who supplied the Spirit to them. He especially supplied tbe power o'f working miracles. It }s _taken fpr gran~~4 that n?irncles were st!ll being wro~1~ht in connection with th~…

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SECTION 198

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 198

born: "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which sha.11 be to all people." And God, having in view the extension of the blessing to the Gentiles, promised it in Abraham. He did not promise it in Moses, who was identified with the Law; but he promised it in Abraham, who was characteristically a believer. The …

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SECTION 199

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 199

curse; he became the receptacle of the curse of the Law. And in his great fondness for 8cripture exhibited in the whole of this paragraph, the apostle points out that this was in accordance with words found in Deut. xxi. 23, "Cursed is every one that bangetb on a tree." The words did not refer to crucifixion, which …

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SECTION 200

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 200

And to thy seed, which is Christ." With resemblance in form to the rabbinical style, of argument, this cannot be said to have anything of rabbinical feebleness. The poin~ is1 that the idea of plurality might have been brought out in the form given to the promise. It might have been said, "And to thy descendants," thus …

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SECTION 201

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 201

and rose up from Seir unto them: he shinen forth from Mount Paran, and be came with ten thousann of his saints: from his right hrmd went a fiery la'w for them." The ten thousann of his holy ones were doubtless angels. So in Ps. lx~iii. 17 it ls snid "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels;…

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SECTION 202

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 202

It had been faith along with the observnnce of the Mosaic Law. But when: the goS'pe1 of salvation we.s preached, it was faith, pure and simple, on Obrist. 1. The stale of God', people under the Law. "We were kept in ward under the Law, shut up." Tbey wore wards of the Law. A strict wa.tch was kept over them; as thos…

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SECTION 203

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 203

U is still needed to hold np before ua higher ideas of righteousness. It is still needed to work in 1?8 deeper conviction of sin. It is still needed t,o keep us to the true souroe of o:u~ secU:lty. But what thus disciplin~s us, is the Law as it has received its highest exh1b1hon m the cross of Christ. From 1t, as co…

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SECTION 204

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 204

Introducing e. blessed order such e.s would realize the golden aae, As men we are essentially equal. "God bath made of one blood all nations of men° that dwell upon the earth." We lay aside this and that and all the other unlikenesses, till we come to that which refuses to be taken away. .And this, we say, is man, t…

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SECTION 205

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 205

J;Rp l•rh,ren men in rrsrcct of socinl ~tnncling, between the M'Verc\i"n lltld the common 1mbjert of the realm, beLween the nobleman and the peasant, betwe~n tlle rich :md the ro0r, between master and servant, cometimes so impresses us that we do' not think· of' tlirir being equal at all, they seem beings of a ditfe…

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SECTION 206

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 206

that he was called by a higher will. But, whatever the position intended for ns, we a1e to accept of it ns an expression of the will of God; and, if we see the same will in the stations which others occupy, that will keep us right in the mirlst of Inequalities. It has been remarked "that a great part of tbe duties of l…

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SECTION 207

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 207

trade e.nd commerce, and also more the moulding of the individunl charncter. The last distinction bttween male and female ha.a been materially changed by Christianity. Her equality before God was a lever power which could not but raise woman out of that degradation into which man's sin had brought her. We see the pr…

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SECTION 208

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 208

Divine majcsty_of sorrow and love that iJlumines thi~ vision, once possess-ing a man's soul, should dwell with him for ever, 3. To forsake Christ alter such a vision is only possible throu~h some strange malign influence, St. Paul C?mpa~es it to the blighting effect of the evil eye, To tum to the Lord from such a grac1…

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SECTION 209

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 209

I. ABRAHAM WAS A MAN OF FAITH. lie knew nothing of the Levitical Law. He wnlkcd by faith. His faith was not assent to a creed, Nor was it an intelligent conviction of nny "plan of salvation" obtained by means of a miraculous foresi"ht of the atoneipent to be accomplished many centuries later in the sf\crifice.of Chr…

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SECTION 210

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 210

(e~o peu~. xxi. 23). We have no evidence _of any mysterious spiritual curse falling npon Christ. On tho contrary, we are told m what the curse consisted. It wa~ the endurance 0f crucifixion itself. That was a death so cruel, so horrible, so full .of shame, that to snfter il was to undergo a very curse. Christ was cruci…

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SECTION 211

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 211

the normal object of Law-since that assertion would be opposed to the nrnin drit\ of the apostle's argument; nor can it signify simply that the Law was added to reveal transgressions, or this would be more directly stated; nor certainly can it mean that the Law was intended to produce transgressions, to serve as an …

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SECTION 212

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 212

one." When ho speaks to us we have all that we need, Many a,lvantnges belong to this pure and lofty relation with God. 1. CJlemr visi@s of truth. Truth i8 no longer adulterated with human imaginations. 2. The full efficacy of grace. This is not weakened by the harsh and ugly ndditions of man's blundering attempts to im…

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SECTION 213

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 213

to say, "The love of Christ constraiueth me," a.re reminded tbnt "whatsoever a m.an BOweth that shall be also reap." III. THE TUTOR PREPARES FOR THE TrME O:f MANIIOOD, If !;Le does bis work w.ell be does not convert his pupil into a slave. By teaching the habit of obedience be prepares for a willing acquiescence in…

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SECTION 214

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 214

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER IV. the correlate to one registered amongst "men II was a ,ra'is. It does not appear that Ver. 1.-Now I say (71.l-,w 8{). A form of the apostle means to use a technical legal expression usual with the. apostle when in- expression. He contrasts "'l"'"s with av,lp troducing a ntiw statement designe…

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SECTION 215

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 215

w11y in which tlH' npostle mcnns to sketch we cannot tell what "·as really tho precise t.be cnse; spenking in II general way, one rule ofproceduro which, in the case ,lescribod rnny describe a minor as subject to "gun.r- by the apostle, prevailed either in J ndroa or di,rns nn,l ~tewnrds." Until the time e.ppointed …

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SECTION 216

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 216

llo3ovl\.coµlva, to connect it with the words Di'l'ine appoiotmcnt, while the genitive "of which precede, is recommended by the pa- the flesh" marks its comparative imperfec- rallel, which the worde1 "were under the tion. They were,as Conybeare parapbr:ises, rudiments of the worlct," then present to "their childhood's…

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SECTION 217

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 217

Go<l or<l1tincd ~hould first elRpee, So Acts Antioch;" "God bath eent forth hie nn~l!l ") vii. 23, ·nr 8~ br1\.11poV.,-o ali-rtp .,.~cra.pa,cov.,.a• -the preposition ropresented by u forth ' ex- £TY/< xr&vos, " When he was well-nigh forty presses with more or less distinctness the years old;" literally," When there …

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SECTION 218

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 218

ldeo.s would naturally receive also here. The found after the verb" to he" in John viii. ooliviotion th11t this is what the apostle 47, "Ho that is of God;"" Ye nre not of re1dly intended is corroborated by references God," pointing back to the clA.im which which he elsewhere makes to Christ's pre- (ver. 41) the Jews h…

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SECTION 219

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 219

thomto. Jf tho l\pl)Ht.lo tnton,fo,I anything 11,brognto the Law by becoming ro,1,Jr,ot to more dnflnit.e by Introducing thi" fll'flt elFLnlll', it, curRo1 It Wf\l nocc111ary th11t lw Khould ll mFLy hRvn hoen t~ glance at that foll()W• himRolf bO porfootly acoeptablo lo Uo,J, not Rhlp with tho v,•holo hnma.n ra.oo, …

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SECTION 220

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 220

ml■o thnt tho torm hu,l lmon In 111111 l,r,foro union with Uhri•t, hy 01110.nmo r,f Hnntlrnent Dmoug 1'1Lloatl11lrm ,Jow,, wltl, ruforanoo to Hfmllnr IQ that which ChriHt hnd <ixprr,MMorl. Iaraol'1 1tulo under tho thcooracy, flnd that Sin~ tho 110T1Ahiv ,,t Cl,riHt iH hero Hpokcn St. Paul borrowed It theuoo with roforo…

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SECTION 221

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 221

15. "Ye rccri'<'cd not the spirit of bondl\gc where it would seem to.be much more ol\Iled ngnin unto fe6r; but ye received the S)'hit for. The apparently nominatival form of or adoption, whereby we crv, Abb(\, Father." 6 na.,.11p lends no <'ountenanell to this view, Crying ( ,cpd (ov) ; crying out aloud. The ~ is sh…

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SECTION 222

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 222

whole sentence comprised in this and 1he favour the view thnt the apostlo doos not in next vnse, which are closely welded together &he lee.st intend iu the present cl,mse to by the particles µ.,v and li,. In ccntrn\"en- ea:ou.se the idole.tries which he goes on to tion of God's work of graoe just described, epee.k o…

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SECTION 223

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 223

knowing God, exolueively ; although in ye?-to the weak,"etc. This'' how,"aa in other relations he, both in Epistle and eh. ii. H, is sirnpl y a question of remon- Goepel, uses the two verbs intorcha.ngeably. strance; not expecting an answer, it bide 'l'he expreelliou, "to know God," is one of the person e.ddreseed c…

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SECTION 224

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 224

former religions <'eromonios could have you • • • in respect of I\ feaet day, or a new been i,><>d enou,;h to be admitted to group moon, or a sl\bbath day_ ( fop-rijs, vovµT1vlas, with those of the LP.W of Moses: he has just cra/3/3&.-row); •• iu which passage, we mGy ob- before adverted to their former heathenism s…

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SECTION 225

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 225

11eeuming, and which throatcned a defection ilh1strate the nntare of tbe mischief, which, from Christ. Ourioue regard to such me.ttere in the present co.se, the apostle fee.red might he evidently on its own account regards result. For one thing, there was tbe hurt, with acorn ai;id impatience. But therewith the perhaps…

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SECTION 226

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 226

which is one gTCat characteristic of St. no wrong. There is no rcnson for supposing Paul ..,]Jpn writing in one of his more that the time of the nction referred to in 0~5111 passionate moods. Comparp for this the µe -1,311e,fuaT< is identical with that indioated flexure of passionate feeling prevailing by the aorist…

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SECTION 227

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 227

11.eah I preaohed the gospel unto you (8,,., U mentioned in 2 Cor. xii. 7 8 "the stake iu ltrr8'11e1a.v 'l'ijs rra;p1Cbs •b11rr•h1crdµ1,v 6µ7v); the flesh"? Thie latter affii'ction has been that because of an infirmity of the flesh I discussed very fully by Dean Stanley anrJ preached the gospel unto you. "An infirmi…

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SECTION 228

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 228

mity. "My triul "would Rdd to the sentence yours? " that is! whe.t was its valuo in respect a tinge of pn thetic self-commiseration. to the depth or conviction on which it was "Your trial" brings out the sentiment fonnded ?-Ti• being qualia, as Luko x. 22 • ho"' greatly his affliction would be likely xix. 3, etc., w…

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SECTION 229

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 229

thom, to toko p11rt in the collection referred the text e.s not genuine. The verb " I am to: or by their having been the first become" describes the now produced result Ohurches he came to in that pe.rticule.r tour, of the action expressed by the participle the directions which he gave to them being l,.;,,.'16•vr,,v…

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SECTION 230

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 230

senl!el! of the verb (11>-oiiv, those of" envy," and eminent gifts of these eimplo-miude,l "emule.te," "strive e.fter," are plainly uu- believers; the charisms which had been suit.e.ble in this verse e.nd the one which bestowed upon them (eh.iii. 2); their virtues, follows. So Riso are the senses "to be zee.- in con…

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SECTION 231

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 231

of house nncl home, in eh. v. 12, where see founded happiness for this later poor grati- note. That ye might a.ft'eot them (1va. a.b-ro~ 1 fication of heing recipients of mere fal.;o (,rl\ov-r•); that ye may admire tltem,elves. The flattery, he yearns to bring them back to position of uJ-roh makes it emphatis. We what …

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SECTION 232

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 232

denoting o.Jeo his having been spiritually where the " mystery " of the gospel· ia begotten by him (comp. Philem. 10; 1 Cot. summed up in the words, "Ohrist in you the iv. 15). Here the like sense l'lttc\ohes to the hope of glory." He oounot rest, he means, word, IL8 is clear from the following cllluse, till the ima…

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SECTION 233

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 233

iM,cl(a, ha.rdly 111lows us to foke the word of there being no article with v&µov, some as me11nlng ' "from moment to moment woultl render fnr& 116µ011 "under Le.w ," that accordin~ 'to the ra.pidly vnrying emer- is, Law viewed in genere, as in Rom. iv. 15. gencies.' This would ha.ve been expressed But the whole sco…

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SECTION 234

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 234

Mosllic legislation and the historice.l record from the saored history. The word rra,3/tTl(I! in which it is embedded, is remarkable. in classical Greek means a girl either slave The Jews were accustomed to designate the or free. In the Septuagint it is generally Pentateueh by this term ( oomp. Matt. v. 17 ; e. slav…

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SECTION 235

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 235

ho.nd wo.s given by God the greo.t Sovereign but in a high clr.~ee probable, that at least of the epirituo.l world, o.nd on the other wo.s &rnne of the historical personages, institn- lo.id hold ot o.nd m11de effectuol in that so.me tions, and events of the Old Testament world of epirituo.l o.ction by Abro.ho.m'e and S…

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SECTION 236

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 236

phetioal, but also in his disposa.l of hume.n commencement; is, in forlll, wanting, having aft'nirsso ordering the occurrences themselves in the framing of the eentencil got lost slght as that they should be propbetioal; furnish• of, through the parenthesis introduced im~ ing (so to speak) talJ!e.aiw vimants, in whi…

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SECTION 237

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 237

Textue Receptne, n11mely, To -yap' A-yap, ::Siva and 6pas belongs to the predicate ; that is, llpas lO"rlv Iv 'rp 'Apa/3111," For the word He.gar that 'A-yap must be expunged from the text, is Mount Sinai in Ara.bia." 'fhis is main- and the.t we adopt the other reading, Td "flip tained by Meyer, Alford, Ellicott, and …

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SECTION 238

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 238

allegorical illust.ration; that Judaism is free (I\ 6} If.,.., 'l•po110-a.\{jµ, lx,116lpa lrrrlv) ; ~Javery and the Christian state liberty. It but t~e Jerusalem that is abov8 is fi·ee. 'l'he 1s not clear whether the subject of this verb, mystto Jerusalem in whioh Christ reigns, "sbmdeth in the same column with," is…

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SECTION 239

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 239

very existence, 11e well 11e her outward-acting when these a.re most material for the ar!ru- power, in hie pervading, actuating Spirit. ment; as e.g. in Heb. vi. 13, 14, the" oath." Dond11ge, constmint, the;re cannot be; for all fnlly recorded in Gen. xxii. 16, is not itself volitions are thore harmonized, absorbed,…

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SECTION 240

The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 240

..-l,rrovua and &lilvov<ra, may be classed with whioh regards it e.a referring to the Gentile .,..,.,,,._1,, IIw, llpn {3X,,ro, in J ohu ix. 25, ex- Church as contrasted with the Jewish, ia pressing the normal state m hitherto knolDn, plainly a mi11oonception of its import: the though just now subjected to a ohange.…

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Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.

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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.