The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 250

Galatians the truth a.t the sacrifice of their personal friendship 11.nd love. Truth was a more precious thing than man's esteem. It was the very truth of the a-ospol, with man's Sltivation banging upon it, 11.nd therefore incapable of being betrayed or sur- rendered through any spirit of unworthy compliance or men-pleasing. Vers. 17, 18.-The tacticsofthefalse teachers. The apostle is naturally led from the thought of the Galat.ian alienation to speak of the seductive a.rt.a by which it wa.s caused. I. THE~ ARTS OF SEDUCTION. "They a.re paying court to you, but not honestly." They mamfosted a.n anxious zeal to win over the Galatians to their own party. They ~ried wi~h fair_ words and fine speeches to seduce them, professing, no doubt, a deep mterest m their wdfare, a.swell as great zeal for the glory of God; but their motives, were not "honest." II. THE DESIGN OF THESE ARTS. "Nay, they desire to exclude you in order that ye may zealously affect them." They aimed at isolating their converts from the sounder portion of the Church that they might thus be led to throw themselves completely into the hands of their seducers. They wished to form them into a separate clique. The first object of errorists is usually to undermine the confidence of converts in their old teachers, and then to get themselves regarded as a.lone worthy to fill their place. III. THE CHARACTER .A.l>"'D AIM OF TRUE ZEAL. " But it is good to be courted fairly at a.II times, and not only when I am present along with you." 1. Christian zeal must spring from a Christian m-0tive-love to Christ, Jove to the truth, love to the souls of men. Zeal must be according to knowledge. 2. It must be exercfsed toward Christian ends. Not like the zeal of inquisitors, for the destruction of heretics, but for the glory of God and the advancement of truth. 3. It must be permanent, and not fitful, in its influence. "Always." There are many difficulties to check zeal, such as the perpetual antagonism between the Church and the world, the friction of human effort, and the law of the members in believers themselves. But the zeal of believers ou11:ht to be as lasting as the realities of religion are permanent. 4. It ought to be independent OJ external guidance or suggestwn; whether faithful teachers are present or absent. Vers. 19, 20.-.A tender appeal to 'his converts. The Epistle alternat.es from reproof to argument and from argument to entreaty. l. THE APOSTLE'S EARNEST DESffiE FOB TREIB GROWTH INTO SPIRITUAL MANHOOD, " M:v little children, of whom I travail in birth again till Christ be formed in you." 1. .Mark the tenderness of his address. " My little children; " implying (1) that he had bten the instrument of their conversion, he had" begotten them through the Word" (J as. i. 18); (2) that they were still little children, with much of the feebleness and simplicity of childhood. 2. .Mark his deep anxiety on their account. "Of whom I travail in birth again." The idea not being so much that of pain as of long-continued effort; it was a renewal to him of the birth-pains that accompanied their regeneration. 3. Mark the end of all hiJ; anxiety. "Till Christ be formed in you." This refers, not to their regeneration, but to their progressive sanctification. The false teachers had tried to form a new shape in their hearts-not Ch1ist, but Moses-but he aimed at the complete development of their spiritual manhood, at the fully formed results ot Christ, within them. IL Hrs PERPLEXITY ON THEIR ACCOUNT. "I am perplexed about you;" a.s to their actual spiritual condition as well as how to recover them to the truth of the gospel. If the apostle ha.d doubts about the Galatians, they might well have doubts about them- selves-a. proof that faith may consist with doubts of our persona.I salvation. IIL Bis DESIRE FOB A PERSONAL INTERVIEW. " I could, indeed, wish to be present with you now and to change my voice." 1. A personal interview would nece~sarily dissipate many misapprehensions. 2. It might revive the old affection in its enti~enes~. :::. It would give him an opportwnity of changing his tone. He had been severe m his reLukes, but if present with them he might deal with them with all the softness and tenderness of a mother. "A"'ietter is a dead messenger, for it ca.n give no more than it Jiath." But the living voice can adapt itself closely to all times, occa.sions, and persons. Vers. 21-23.-.An appeal t,;, Bible history, "Tell me, ye that desire to be under OII. IV, 1-31,] THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS. 217