The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 60

conscious of the presence of the Gentiles to And this latter element of thought, the vindi- whom he is writing. For the like reason ce.tory, is frequently the more prominent of ho uses the singular possessive pronoun, the two, in the use of tho word "zeal " and " my people ( -rb tOvos µov) " in his nddress to its derivatives, in the Hellenistical Greek FeJi.x, ~nd i~ ~is defence before Agrippa., of both the LXX. e.nd the New Testament; this lung s1ttmg only as un assessor by while in some cases it is not clear which for compliment at the side of the heatheu the moment is the most in the speaker's governor (Acts xxiv. 17; xxvi. 4). Else- mind. The latter, no doubt, forms the where also St. Paul uses the word (-ylvos) principal notion of the name "Zealot" as " nation " to denote the Jewish people applied in the closing decades of the Jewish (Phil. iii. 5 ; 2 Cor. xi. 26), whence also he commonwealth to a fanatical party, who employs the phrase, "my kinsman" ( <Tv-y-ylv71s felt they had a special vocation to vindicate µov ), when addressing Gen tiles to denote a the honour of God and his service by deeds fellow-Jew in contrast to Gentiles (Rom. of rancorous violence; to which party ix. 3; xvi. 7, 21). In the present passage, probal,Jy at one time belonged the Simon "among my countrymen" may be accepted who in Luke vi. 15 is styled "Zelotes," a. as a near equivaleut; only the classification word, no doubt, synonymous with the Chal- which the word "countrymen" presupposes daic word "Ca.nanrean" found in Matt. fa founded on relation to country, whereas x. 4 and l\1ark iii. 18. In the phrase, "the -ylvos denotes a blood connection, comprising traditions of my fathers," the apostle has Jews of whatever country. Being more been supposed by some critics to allude exceedingly zee.lous of the traditions of my to the circumstance that he was "the son fa,thers (1r,p1<T<To-rlpws (71:>..w-r~s inrd.pxwv -rwv of a Pharisee;" thns making it equivalent 1ra.-rpucwv µov 1ra.pa.6o<TEWV). The strong to "the traditions of my family." But e.dverb here used, "more excessively" the context shows that he is thinking (1r,p1<T<To-rlpws), .which frequently occurs of .traditions observed likewise by those in St. Paul's ardent style, always retains "coevnls" of ,his to whom he refers; the its proper comparative sense; as e.g. 2 "fathers," therefore, 1ne the forefathers of Cor. vii. 15 ; xi. 23; xii. 15. It means, the nation, equivalent to the "elders," in therefore, "more excessively than they." the phrase current among the Jews, "the The word (71:>..w-rf,s, rendered "zealous," tradition of the elders"' (Matt. xv. 2). followed by the genitive " of the tr,iditions," Comp. 1 Pet. i. 18, "Your vain manner of hue much the same meaning as in the life (1ra-rpo1ra.pa.5&-rou) handed down from phrases, "zealous of spirits [or, spiritual your fathers." In the possessive pronoun giftsJ; " " zealous of good works;" "zeal- "my" the apostle still speaks of himself as ous of the Law" (1 Cor. xiv. 12; Titus ii. e. born Jew, in contradistinction to Gentiles H; Acts xxi. 20); in all which passnges such as he was addressing. If he hod been it is rendered in the Authorized Version addressing Jews, he would probably have ns here. Its meaning is illustrated by the written "our," or omitted the pronoun alto- use of the verb from which it is derived in gether, as in Acts xxii. 3; xxiv. 14; xxviii. 1 Cor. xiv, 1, "Desire earnestly spiritual 17. There seems to be n tone of mimesis gifts," and 1 Cor. xiv. 39, "Desire earnestly in the phrase: q.d. "The traditions which I to prophesy;" denoting, as it should seem, • proudly nnd fondly cherished as those of " admire nnd long to possess ; " " aspire my fathers." The adjective rendered "of after" (see below, the notes on eh. iv. 17, the fathers" marks them as those who h:1,l 16). The clause may be paraphrased," With transmitted (Hpe5o<Tav) those tmditions more excessive fervency than they, l\:ffecting (1ra.pa6o<T<1S), not merely thoso who hncl [or, being devoted to) the. trnditions of possessed them. It ho.s been qucstione,l my fathers." The only remaining passage whether this phrase, "paternal traditions,'' iu the New Testament in which the Greek includes those transmitted religious mo.xims word occurs as an adjective is Acts xxii. 3 e.nd observances which the Mosaic Law ((71i\w-r~• -rov 0wv), "zealous towards God " itself prescribed. Probnbly it does. The (Authorized Version), "zealous for God" "customs which [tho Jews sniJ.J Moses (Revised Version): where the sense is pro- delivered (1rape6wK<v) to us" (Acts vi. H), bably titill .that of fervent devotion, but as they o.pperte.incd to "the fathers "(1ra.Tp,ea, implying also a palliating .reference to the in- Acts xxviii. 17), might also be justly desig- tense zeal which the Jews. ')Vere then showing nated as "the trnditions of our fathers." At in '!'indicating the honour of God against the same time, the a.post.le woulJ. hardly e. supposed insult. "Zeal towards " au have written as he here has done, if he hacl· object implies also e. "zeal for it ; n in other had these nlone in his view; he would• words, fe1·vent e.ttachment e.nd devotion bas re.bher have introduced the venerable no.me. also an outwe.rd-looking aspect of 1·esent- of "the Law." 'fhe expression nppe,u3 meut and resistance against any who are chosen !Is comprehending, together with the regarded as disposed to assail whl\t we lovo. prescriptions of the origiual Law, th,,s@  TIIE EPISTLE TO TIIE GALATIANS. [on. 1. 1-24.