The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 162

they u.re in u. eb.te of elu.vory, tha.t the die- must needs be in bondage to. Most com- penea.tion they ore under ie spiritually a.n mentators, however, understand ica-r&pa as enela.ving one, 11, yoke of bondage (oh. iii. meaning, not '' omsing" or uttering general 24 ; iv. 1-3, 9, 21, 31 ; v. 1, 13). In the sentences of cursing (malediotio), but "e. Roma.us the moral aspect of the Law is curse" (mal.edictwm), that is, a specific curse mostly in view ; in this Epis tie its cere- incurred already by each individual in monial ospect. The consideration of these consequence of hia having of a certainty distinctive features marking this Epistle already sinned against some commandment will perhaps prepare us the more readily to of the Law; if not against some ceremonial apprehend the particular shade of meaning commandment, at any rate against some with which the apostle uses the words, "are moral precept. Whichever way we nnder- under cursing." He mea.ns, not precisely stancl it, such (the apostle at all oventa that a. curse has a.lreo.dy been definitely means) was the condition into which those pronounced upon them se> that they now Judaizing Gentile converts were preparing stand there condemned, but that the threat- to precipitate themselves. For it is written, ening of a curse is al ways sounding in their Cursed is every one that continueth not in ears, filling them with uneasiness, with all things which are written in the book of constant appreheusion that they shall them- the La.w to do them ("Y•i'Pana, i'"'P 3,-, selves fall under it. The noun ,ca,,-c/.pa is [Receptus has i'ii.P without on, which oon- thus used for malediction, cursing, in J as. j unction is according to the Greek usage iii. 9, 10, " Therewith bless we the Lord and introduced superfluously) 'EmicaTcl.paTos iras Father; and therewith curRe we men; ... out &s ot},c jµ.µ.Evei Ev '11"'20", -roi's 'YE"'fPaµ,µ€110,s Ev -rip of the same mouth cometh forth blessing fJ,fJ/1.(tp -roii v6µov, Tov ,ro,;Jcrcu a,!Td). The and cursing ( •vll.oj'la ,cal Karel.pa); " Deut. Septuagint (Dent. xxvii. 26) has 'E1r,icaTd- xxvii. 13 (Septuagint), "These shall stand paTos ,ras o [this oof doubtful genuineness) (brl ,-;is ,ca,-cl.pa•) for the cursing upon Mount r.vepw,ros /icrns o,J,c iµ.µ.evei (or ,µ.µ.,v«] iv Ebal "-that is, for the denouncement of the 1r'20", -rois A&,,o,s "Toii v6µou To"7-ov, -roV 1ro,ijo-a., several curses with which theyweretothreaten aJ,-o6s. The Hebrew is correctly given in different classes of transgressors. As many, the Authorized Version, "Cursed be he tho.t says the apostle, as are of the works of the confirmeth not all the words of this Law to Law are under a black cloud of malediction, do them." The apostle, quoting the Sep- which is ready to flash forth in lightning tuagint apparently from memory, gives the wrath upon every failure in obedience. general sense rather than the exe.c t words . .And what man of them all can hope not to He that sins against a commandment, as (to merit that inexorable lighting down of use the Septuagint phrase) he does not judgment? Supposing them to be ever so "continue in" it, but departs from it, so exact aud punctual in their observe.nee of also, he, as far as his action reaches, sets it those ordinances of the flesh which certain aside or abrogates it instead of" conlirming" of those.Galati~n Churchmen are hankering it. The word "all," not found in Olll' lifter, how will it fare with them in respect present Hebrew text, is stated by critics to to those other weightier precepts of the be in the So.maritan ns well as in the Sep- Law which require spiritual obedience? tuagint. This is the last of the twelve For one single example, bow will they be several maledictions pronounced from Mount able to render unfailing obedience to the Ebal, and certainly includes in its scope tha commandment, Thou sho.lt not covet? Be- ceromouill.l. as well as the moral precepts of yond question, the apostle writes with the the Law. But what did this malediction sense which he has so fully developed in import ? Certu.inly it expressed abhor- his Epistle to the Romans (iii. 9-20 ; vii. rence-the Divine Author of the Law, o.nd 7-21:; viii. 3), tho.t no one under the his ministers and people accepting, pro- economy of the Law ever did, or ever could, nouncing, e.ud ratifying the denunciation, continue in all thiugs which were mitten all join in repudiating the offender, casting in the Law to do them; and that therefore him out from among them with loathing: they tho.t forsook the gospel of Christ to look so much is clear. What practical effect to the Law for accoptimoe with God would was to be given to the malediction, even by beyond doubt become, nay, taken as they were men in this life, not to speo.k of the action at any moment ho.d o.lready become, eaeh of God heree.fter in the life to come, is no- indi vidue.l, the specific object of malediction, where indicated; but nil could see thus a child of cursing, a child of wmth (2 Pet. much-the offender, if dying unreoouciled, ii. 11:; Eph. ii. 3; Rom. iv. 15). Never- would depart hence a.coursed of both man theless, his purpose just here may be pre- and God. The notion of guiltiness before sumed to be, not to o.ffirm this, but ro.ther God and accursedness incurred by trans- to point to the misero.ble state of apprehen- gression of merely ceremonial precepts has iji'f'eness and fe1n of insto.nt wrath which been so greatly effaced from men's con- they who wore of the works of the Law sciousness by the teaching, direot and in-  128 THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. [cu. m.1-29