Cx. VL] THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. LT
of pertaining or belonging to. Thus oixeiot dirocodias or yeaypadias belonging to philosophy or geography, philosophers, geographers. So here, belonging to the faith, believers.
11. How large a letter (rndikous ypadupacwv). More cor- rectly, with how large letters. VUpdupara may mean an epistle, as Lat. literae, or epistles ; but Paul habitually uses émvarory for an epistle. Dpdadupacow means with characters, and mnri- cols refers to their size. It is claimed by some that the large characters are intended to call the attention of the readers to the special importance of the close of the letter. See below.
| have written (éypayra). The aorist may refer to the whole of the preceding letter, or to the concluding verses which follow. In either case it is probably an instance of the epistolary aorist, by which the writer puts himself at the time when his correspondent is reading his letter. To the corre- spondent, J write has changed itself into I wrote. Similarly the Lat. seripst. “Ezeurpa I sent is used in the same way. See Acts xxii. 80; Philip. ii. 28; Col. iv. 8; Philem. 11.
With mine own hand (77 éun xerp/). The aorist éyparra is epistolary, and refers to what follows. The concluding verses emphasise the main issue of the letter, that the Judaising in- truders are trying to win the Galatians over to the economy of circumcision which is opposed to the economy of the cross. It is therefore quite probable that Paul may have wished to ' call special attention to these verses. If so, this special call lies in the words with my own hand, and not in with how large letters, which would seem to have been added to call attention to the apostle’s handwriting as distinguished from that of the amanuensis. ‘ Mark carefully these closing words of mine. I write them with my own hand in the large characters which you know.”
12. To make a fair show (evrpocwrfca). N. T.°%. Class. CLXX.
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178 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. VI.
In the flesh (ev capx/). Qualifying the verb to make a fair show. The whole phrase is well explained by Ellicott: “To wear a specious exterior in the earthly, unspiritual element in which they move.” ’Ev capxi is not = among men, nor being carnal, nor as regards fleshly things. The desire to make a good appearance irrespective of inward truth and righteous- ness, is prompted by the unrenewed, fleshly nature, and makes its fair showing in that sphere.
They constrain (otro: avayxafovow). Neither A. V. nor Rey. gives the strong, definitive force of otro. It is these — the Judaising emissaries, that constrain, etc. Comp. ch. iii. 7.
Only lest (udvov tva — un). Or, that they may not. Hav- ing no other object, or only from the motive that, ete
For the cross (7@ cravp®@). Better, by reason of the cross. Because of preaching a crucified Messiah. See on ch. vy. 11. The Judaisers attempted to cover with the law — the require- ment of circumcision —the “offence” of a crucified Messiah.
13. Neither they themselves who are circumcised (ovédé —ol mepiteuvouevot avtol). For neither, translate not even. Const. themselves with keep the law. The persons referred to are the same as those in ver. 12. The participle tells nothing as to the antecedents of these persons, whether Jewish or heathen. It is general, those who are receiving circumcision. It is = the cirewmeision-party ; and the present participle rep- resents them as in present activity. They are circumcised themselves, and are endeavouring to force circumcision upon others.
Keep the law (vouov durdacovow). See on ch. vy. 3. They are in the same category with all who are circumcised, who do not and cannot fully observe the law. Comp. ch. iii. 10; v. 8. Hence, if circumcision develops no justifying results, it is apparent that their insistence on circumcision proceeds not from moral, but from fleshly motives.