The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 161

to come; it reC1eives its consummation with Acts x. 45; 2 Cor. vi. 15; Eph. i. 1 ; 1 Tim, the fin&l uttemnce, " Come, ye blessed iv. 10; v. 16; vi. 2 (so in li,r,,r-ror, John n. (,11:>..0')'111J-'vo,) of my Father, inherit the 27; .l:>..,-y,/1r,cr-ror, Matt. vi. 30). In conse- kingdom prepared for )'OU from the founda- quence of this use of the term in Scripture, tion of the world.'' Into this condition of both fulelis in ecolesiastiool Latin and blessedness the 1,inful and guilty oan only "faithful" in English have often this sig- be brought through justification; but justi- nifioation, fication through Christ does of necessary Ver. 10.-For 118 many 118 are of the works consequence bring us into it. The com- of the Law are under the ourse (lluo, ')'itp if pomul form of the verb, lvev:>..oyr,8{j,rowra.,, l!p1'"'" uo,uou ,1,rlv, t\1r~ 1<anl.pa.v el,rlv); under added to iv crol, forcibly indicates that moral a curse, or, under cui·sing. "For." The inherency in Abraham, through our being apostle is now making the clause in the in fuith and obedience his spiritual oft~ preceding verse, "they who are of faith,'' spring, whereby alone the blessing is at- the limiting description of those who "arE1 tained and possessed. Cbrysostom remarks, blessed with faithful Abraho.m; "-I say, "If, then, those were Abrabam's sons, not, they who are of faith; for they who nre of who we~e related to him by blood, but who the works of the Law are in a very diffd'ent follow his faith, for this is the meaning of case. In the phrase, " are of the works of the words, 'In thee all nations,' it is plain the Law,'' the preposition "of" (,ii,) has the that the Gentiles are brought into kindred same force as has been already noted in the with him." Augustine explains "in thee," phrase (ver. 9), "they who are of faith;" similarly: "To wit, by imitation of his faith. it signifies dependence upon, belonging to, by which be was justified even before the taking position from; and it marks a moral sacrament of circumcision." Luther writes, posture of mind voluntarily assumed. '.rhe "In Abraham are we blessed, but in what apostle in laying down the aphorism of the Abraham ? The believing Abraham, to present passage has doubtless an eye to wit ; becau..oe if we are not in Abraham, tllose of the Galatians who were moving we are under a curse rather, even if we for the adoption of circumcision and the were in Abraham according to the flesh." ceremonies of the Levitioal Law. With- Calvin likewise: ~ The:;;e words beyond all drawing from the category of those who doubt mean that all must become objects were of faith, they were preparing to join of blessing after .A.bra.ham's fashion ; for he those who were of the works of the Law. U is the common pattern, nay rather, rule. their taking up with circumcision, and with Bat he by faith obtained blessing; therefore these or those of the Levitical ordinances, faith is for all the means." was not mere childish trifling; if in serious Ver. 9.-So then they which be of faith and solemn earnest it meant anything, it are blessed with faithfal Abre.ha.m (&,r-rE ol meant this-that they looked to gain from ~" 1rluTEC1JS, eUAo;,oiivra.l a-1/v 'T'f 1r1.u-r~ 'AfJpar:l.µ,). the,e observances acceptableness before ".A.re blessed;" are objects of benediction. God, as performing works commanded by The apostle gathers from the words cited in his Law given through IIIoses; but in that ver. 8 the two particulars, that there are view they were bound to ta.ke the La.w in who get to be blessed like Abraham and its entirety,, and do every work which it with him, and that it is by faith like prescribed, ceremonial and moral alike; for .Abraham's, without works of the Law, that all of it came invested with the like au- they do so. He seems to ha.ve an eye to thority and as a pa.rt of that institution was the sense of Divine benediction whicn t.tle alike binding (see eh. v. 3). Let them now Galatians had themselves experienced, when consider well how in such circumstances upon their simply believing in Christ the their case would stand. That the " works tspirii's gifts had been poured forth upon of the Law" which stand foremost before them. The word " faithful " ( 1r,,r-rij) is in- the apostle's view in the present discussion serted, ex abundanti almost, to mark the are those of a ceremonial character is a.p- more explicitly and emphatically, the con- pa.rent from the tenor both of vers. 12-19 dition on which both Abraham and therefore of the preceding chapter and of vers. 1-10 others in him gain the blessing. This of the next. There is, indeed, generally bein" "in Abraham," which is here pre- this difference observable between the phase dicated of all who gain justification and of the Law regarded in this Epistle, as com- God's benediction, is analogous to the image pared with that which engages the apostle's of Gentiles, being by faith "grufted.," and thoughts when writing to the Romans: in by faith abiding, in the "olive tree," which the ltuma.ns the prominent notion of the we !.ave in Rom. xi. 17, 20. The verbal 1runos spiritual condition of those under the La.w is generally passive, "one to be believed is that they are in a state of guiltiness, or trusted in,'' and so a man ".of fidelity;" condemnation, spiritual inability, uncon- but it is al.so at times active, in the sense quered sin; whilo in the Galatians tho of "one who believes," 11.s John :u:, 27; prominent notion of their condition is thal: OB. III, 1-29.] THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. 127