IV'. dontenU. — The epistle consists of three parts. In the^Jird part (i, ii), which is apologetic, Paul vindi- cates his own apostolic authoiity and ii. dependence as a directlj'-conmiissioned ambassador of Christ to men, and especially to the Gentile portion of the race. After an address and salutation, in which his direct appoint- ment by heaven is distinctly asserted (i, 1), and a brief doxology (i, 5), the apostle expresses his astonishment at the speed}' lapse of his converts, and reminds them how lie had forewarned them that even if an angel preached to them another gospel he was to be anath- ema (i, (j-lD). The gospel he preached was not of men, as his former course of life (i, 11-14), and as his actual history subsequent to his conversion (i, 15-24), con- vincingly proved. When ho went up to Jerusalem it was not to be instructed by the apostles, but on a spe- cial mission, which resulted in his being formally ac- credited b}- them (ii, 1-10) ; naj', more, when Peter dissembled in his communion with Gentiles, he re- buked him, and demonstrated the danger of such in-
consistency (ii, 11-21). In the second part (iii, iv), which is polemical, having been led to refer to his zeal for the great doctrine of salvation by the grace of God through faith in Christ, the apostle now enters at large upon the illustration and defence of this cardinal truth of Christianit}-. He appeals to the former experience of the Galatians, and urges specially the doctrine of justification, as evinced by the gift of the Spirit (iii, 1-5), the case of Abraham (iii, G-9), the fact of the law involving a curse, from which Christ has freed us (iii, 10-14), and, lastly, the prior validity of the promise (iii, 15-18), and that preparatory character of the law (iii, 19-24) which ceased when faith in Christ and baptism into him had fully come (iii, 25-29). All this the apostle illustrates by a comparison of the nonage of an heir with that of bondage under the law : they were now sons and inheritors (iv, 1-7) ; why, then, were they now turning back to bondage (iv, 8-11)? They once treated the apostle very differently (iv, 12-lG); now they pay court to others, and awaken feelings of serious mistrust (iv, 17-20) ; and yet, with all their ap- proval of the la-w, they show that thej- do not under- stand its deeper and more allegorical meanings (iv, 21 -31). In the third part (v, vi), which is hortatory and admonitory', the Galatians are exhorted to stand fast in their freedom, and beware that they make not void their union with Christ (v, 1-G) : their perverters, at any rate, shall be punished ( v, 7-12). The real fulfilment of the law is love (v, 13-15) : the works of the Spirit are what no law condemns, the works of the flesh ar3 what exclude from the kingdom of God (v, 16-2G). The apostle further exhorts the spiritual to be forbeai-- ing (vi, 1-5), the taught to be liberal to their teach- ers, and to remember that as they sowed so would they reap (vi, G-10). Then, after a noticeable recapitulation, and a contrast between his own conduct and that of the false teachers (vi, 11-16), and an affecting entreaty that they would trouble him no more (vi, 17), the apos- tle concludes with his usual benediction (vi, 18). — Kit- to, s. V. ; Smith, s. v. ; Fairbairn, s. v.
V. Commentaries. — The following are special exe- gctical helps on the whole of this epistle, the most important being designated by an asterisk ['"] prefixed : Y'utioY'mn?; Commentaril (in Mai, Script. Vet. Ill, ii, 1); Jerome, Commentarii (in Opjj. vii, 367 ; OjJp- Svppos. xi, 979) ; Augustine, Expodtio (in 0pp. iv, 1248) ; Chrj'- sostom, Commentarius (in Ojip. x, 779; also Erasmi 0pp. viii, 2G7, tr. in Lib. of Fathers, Oxf. 1840, vol. vi, 8vo); Ci-amer, Catena (vol. vi); Claudius Taur., Com- mentarius (in Bibl. Max. Patr. xiv, 130) ; Aquinas, Kc- posiHo (in 0pp. vii); *Luther, Commentarius (Lips, 1519, 4to, and often since; also in Oj^p. iii, 1, etc. ; tr. London, 1807, 1835, 8vo); also his inWer Commentarius (Vitemb. and Hag. 1585, 8vo, and later; both works also in Germ, often); Bugenhagen, Annotationes (Ba- sil. 1525, 8vo) ; Megander, Commentarius (Tigur. 1533, 8vo); Seripandus, Commentaria (in his work on Ro- mans, Lugd. 1541, 8vo; also separately, Antw. 1565, 8vo, and later) ; Calvin, Comm,fntariv3 et Strmones (both in 0pp. ; the former tr. Edinb. 1854, 8vo ; the latter, Lond. 1574, 4to) ; Meyer, Adnotationes (Berne, 1546, Hanov. 1602, 8vo); Sarcer, Adnotationes (Frank- fort, 1542, 8vo); Salmeron, Disputationes (in 0pp. xv); Major, Enarratio (Vitemb. 1560, 8vo; also in German, ib. eod.); Musculus, Commentarius (Basil. 15G1, 1569, fol.) ; Cogelerus, Solutlones (Vitemb. 1564, 8vo) ; Chy- trajus, Enarrntio (Franc. 1569, 8vo) ; Hcshusius, Cam- me«to/««(Hclmst. 1579, 8vo); Wigand, Adnotationes (Vitemb. 1580; Lips. 1596, 8vo); Grynajus, Analysis (Basil. 1583, 4to); Cornerus, Commentarius [after Lu- ther] (Hoidelb. 1583, 8vo) ; Prime, Exposition (Oxford, 1587, 8vo) ; Heilbrunner, Commentarius (Laning. 1591, 8vo); Perkins, Commentary (in Works, ii, 153; Cambr. 1601, Lond. 1G03; in Latin, Genev. 1611, 2 vols, fol.); Rollock, Analysis (London, 1G02, Geneva, 1603, 8vo) ; Hoe, Commentarivs (Lips. IGOo, 4to) ; Winckelmann, Commentarius (Giess. 1G08, 8vo) ; Weinrich, Expositia