The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 92

kept to his own province. They heard gladly that the arch-persecutor had become o. chief preacher of the once despised faith. They accordingly praised God for the monu- ment of bis mercy he had raised up in Paul. But his knowledge of the gospel and his authority in proclaiming it were not, he wishes these Galatians to understand derived from men. We should surely learn from this autobiography of Paul the ~ecret of personal independence and power. It consists in going to the sources themselves. If we refuse to depend upon men and depend on the Lord onlyl>we shall secure e. grasp of his holy gospel and an efficiency in proclaiming it which are impossible otherwise. What the world needs now is what it needed then-men pervaded like Paul by the Spirit of Christ, and so radiating the true ideas about Christ all around.-R. M. E. Vers. 1-5.-Introduction. The tone of this Epistle is decidedly controversial. lu the first and second chapters the writer establishes against J udaistic assailants his apostolic authority. This, however, is only subsidiary to his main dcsi,m, which is in the third and fourth chapters, as an accredited servant of God, to establish the gospel of Christ, or justification by faith against Judaism (a different gospel), or justification by the works of the Law. '.rbe fifth and sixth chapters may be said to contain the application. There is thus the same central thought in this Epistle that there is in the Epistle to the Romans. Here there is the thought as it flashed out against Judaism as it threatened the very existence of Christianity in a very interesting circle of Churches, and while the writer's feelings were still keen. In the later Epistle there is the thought as it shaped itself against Judaism, when there was time to look at it calmly and in its widest aspects. It is worthy of being remembered that an historical interest attaches to this Epistle. The Romanism with which Luther was confronted bore a striking resemblance to Judaism. On that account he was led to make a special study of this Epistle. "The Epistle to the Galatians," he said, " is my Epistle. I have betrothed myself to it; it is my wife." I. ADDRESS. 1. The writer. "Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead)." Paul's apostleship was not without relation to men. It was directed to men, and intended for their benefit. His appointment to office was announced to him by a man (Ananias). But the authority under which the appointment was made was not derived from men. Nor was it. through man as the medium that it was communicated. It was communi- cated thrvugh Jes'IJ,S Christ. The Lord said by Ananias, "He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my Name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel." When afterwards he essayed to preach the gospel at Jerusalem, he was overruled. While praying in the temple he fell into a trance, and saw Jes'IJ,S, who said unto him," Depart; for I will send thee forth far hence unto th9 Gentiles." 'l'he authority under which Paul acted as apostle was ultimately derived from God. That is not the form in which it is put here. For the same preposition is used in connection with God as with Christ, as if God were in himself both the Meditum and the Source of authority. And, in keeping with that view, one of the forms in which Ananias announced to Paul his appointment to apostleship was this: " The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know bis will, and to see the Righteous One, and to bear a voice from his mouth." Authority was co=unicated to Paul only through God as the Father, i.e. as acting through his Son Jesus Christ. This great Agent the Father raised/ram the dead. In the corresponding place in Romans the raising of Christ is also introduced: " Declared , be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection f the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we received grace and apostle- ship." The thought there is that, as divinely attested in his resurrec~ion, he could appoint to apostleship. The further thought is suggested here t~at, as ra1_sed, he could appoint him to apostleship. He was not among those who received appomtment from Christ when he was in flesh; but the risen Christ had appeared to him, and, without any elective body of men corning between, without any action of the Church as in the election of Matthias, had im;med,iately appointed him to apostleship. 2. Those associated with him. "And all the brethren which are with me." However high ground Paul took as to hi~ apostleship, that did not separate him from hi~ bret~ren. He even courted their Christian sympathy and support. He was open with his companions in travel, and divulged to them his thoughts, read to them his letters. On this occasion QU, L 1-24,] THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. 67