is no second [subsequent] justification given by the works of the law> — voVj now) Whereas having left the flesh, you ought to have become more and more spiritual. — ffapxt, in the flesh) Heb. ix. 10. [Phil. iii. 2 ; Rom. ii. 28]. No doubt the Galatians thought that they were going more deeply into the Spirit. The flesh may be easily taken for the Spirit, even by those who have made progress, unless they continue to maintain a pure faith. — eV/re- Xe/irtg, are you consummated [made perfect ?]) when verging to [aiming at] the end [rsXog, contained in sV/rgXg/ijtfg, the end or consummation'], you follow the flesh. All things are estimated by the end and issue.
4. 'Ecra&rg) have you suffered ? While you suffered and bore with me most patiently (and this patience is the fruit of the Spirit), when I portrayed before your eyes Christ and His cross, ver. 1, note, and laboured among you in the weakness of the flesh ; as he speaks more explicitly afterwards at iv. 1 1 (where the word g/x5j, in vain, is repeated), 13, etc. He does not say, have you done (comp. 2 John ver. 8), because he refutes in this passage those that work ; but he says, have you suffered, with great propriety of language (for he suffers, who is brought to the birth1 [in Christ], iv. 19 ; as also, he who runs, v. 7) ; also appositely to his argument, in order to amplify the indignity of their loss. There is a use of this verb not dissimilar, at Amos vi. 6 ; Zech. xi. 5. Sometimes &u <na<s-yjiv, ayafov irdtiy^tiv, is to receive [to be favoured with] a benefit, Baruch vi. 33 (34) : but this is not the notion of the word adopted by Paul. — g/'yg xal g/'xSj, if it be yet in vain) This is as it were a correction ; 2 ye have not suffered so many things in vain ; for God has given you the Spirit, and has wrought mighty works [< virtutes/ miracles, ver. 5] in you. Comp. Heb. x. 32.
5. *O eiri%ppii'yuv — xai svtpyuv) He that ministered — and wrought [viz. God] : so Chrysost. For the participle of the imperfect tense is contained in the participle of the present : «V/, in the first of these participles, is emphatic ; for he who preaches mi nisters (x°Wg')' God, in the strict sense, g
1 The patitur qui paritur of the original cannot be imitated in a trans lation.— TB.
2 See App.
3 'p, to supply from above and abundantly gifts and graces, ap-