The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 96

work went on, me.ny more, from time to time, would be e.dded to their number, But if these perverters of the gospel succeeded, then e.11 the.t good work would be spoiled. Better far the.t they themselves should be wrecked in their interests than the.t by them hundreds should be wrecked in their interests. There is a solemn warning here to all perverters of the gospel, of whom there are not e. few in our day. The curse of God rests on the man who would displace the grace of Christ as the sole ground of a sinner's salvation. III. THE APOSTLE TURNS HIS USE OF STRONG LANGUAGE INTO AN ARGUMENT AGAINST ms BEING A MAN-PLEASER. "For am I now persuading men, or God? or am I seeking to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ." His opponents warned men against his persuasive powers. He could make the Jews believe one thing and the Gentiles another. He could prove that circumcision was right and that circumcision was wrong, as it suited him. Against this charge he here, by the way, points the <hlatians to the strong language which he has just used, and has not used for the first time. Could it be said in view of that language that he was making it his highest object to persuade men, i.e. without reference to truth, without reference to Divine ends? Was he not rather making it his highest object to persuade God, i.e. so to speak to men as to have the Divine judgment in his favour? His opponents said more widely that he was a man-pleaser, that he sought by unworthy methods to ingratiate himself into men's favour. The strong language he had used could not be construed into man-pleasing. He had got beyond human good will in becoming a st.rva.nt of Christ. And as a. servant of Christ he had known not a little of what it is to want the good opinion and good will of men,-R. F. Vers. 11-24.-Position. "For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me." To the remarkable outburst of feeling with which the apostle approaches the Galatians, succeeds affectionate, calm statement. He addresses them now as brethren. His object in writing to them is not to excommu- nicate them, but to bring them back from their error. Against the misrepresentations of the Judaists he wishes to make known to them as his brethren his exact position, t.ouching the gospel which was preached by him. The gospel points to a system of ideas by which men are to be enlightened. It also points to a number of institutions by which men are to be moulded. It principally points to a method by which men are to be saved. Paul was not simply an utterer of thoughts, nor a setter-up of institutions, bnt he was in the first place a proclaimer of the way of salvation. He preached with a view to his hearers taking action in a matter of infinite moment. Threefold e11:cfasion of man from connection with the gospel as preached by the apostle. 1. He did not preach a man-made gospel. "That it is not after man." If a division of the realm is disaffected, measures must be adopted to cope with the disaffection. Such measures may be described as after man ; they are the result of human counsels. There cannot be claimed for them perfection. The gospel is not after man ; it bas not been devised by a man or by a body of men. It is free from imperfections that attach to human methods. 2. The gospel was 'IIOt delivered to him any more than to the other apostles by man. "Neither did I receive it from man." There is not par- ticularized the supposition of it being his own invention. We may conclude, therefore, against that being the form which the representation against him took. On the supposition of it not being a human invention, this exclusion relates to the mode of delivery. 'l'he I is emphatic. He did not receive it, any more than the other apostles received it from man. 3. He was no pupil of the apostles. "Nor was I taught it." On the supposition of it being no human invention he did not receive it in a particu_lar form, which may therefore be concluded to be the form which the representation against him took. He was not taught it,-by whom is left indefinite. As it is unqUJ1.lified, part of the idea must be that he was not taught it by the apostles. The exclusion then comes to this in the end, that be was no pupil of the apostles. What is included in the gospel as preached by the apostle. " But it came to n:ie through revelation of Jesus Christ." On this too the former language, by its indefiniteness, has a bearing. 'l'he twelve enjoyed three years of teaching under Christ on earth. It was true that he was not taught in that way. 'l'he substitute for such teaching, apart .from •uh8equent meditation, was that he was supernaturally furnished by Jesus Christ CR, L 1-24.] THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. 61