The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 315

their heathen educatic,n to unlearn and undo. The laws of association and habit would have been working all along in their favour. And there would have been more time in which to advance to excellence and usefulness. (c) That it be pursued with enthu- Biasm. In the Galatians the warm Celtic temperament was warmed under the influences of the cross. It was this especially that called forth the admiration of the apostle. They did rnn well; among his converts none had displayed greater enthusiasm in the Christian race. (d) That U be pursued with steadiness. It was with regard to this that there was dan11er to the Galatians. Would they continue in their ardent attachment to the gospel? Would time cool their ardour, or would it be transferred to some other doctrine? Especially would they continue steadfast in the face of hindrances that made trial of them? It was that which was now being tested. (2) Hindrances. There are rocks and weeds which are put as hindrances in the way of the farmer cultivating the soil. There are difficulties to be overcome in connection with every worldly calling; We need not wonder, therefore, at there being difficulties in connection with the Chiistian calling. It is only by conquering difficulty after difficulty that we gain the heights of excellence. The greatest difficulties are those which arise from our- selves, from our own weak and treacherous hearts. But we are referred more here to hindrances which arise from others. "Ye were running well; who did binder you?" Jn the word which is used there is an allusion to breaking up roads, by destroying bridge8, raising barriers. There is suggested, by opposition, a representation of what our duty is to our fellow-men. We are to act as pioneers, clearing the way before others by levelling high places, filling up hollows, throwing bridges across rivers. We are to act towards them so that they shall have not only no temptation to fall, but every help to well-doing. And when there are those·who throw obstacles across our path we are not to feel annoyed, as though we had only to deal with them. But we are to feel that God is making trial of us through them. And therefore we are not to succumb, but to persevere in the face of obstacles. Thus out of the eater shall come forth meat; out of our hindrances shall cdme forth the manly virtues. 2. It was not God who was seeking to persuade them to be circumcised. "This persuasion came not of him that calleth you." Persuasion may mean eith_er the state of being persuaded or the act of persuading. 'l'he latter seems more in keeping with the context. The course to which the J udai~ers would have persuaded the Galatians would have been, in its consequences, disobedience to the truth. They would not attempt, we may suppose, to get them to set aside the cross. _Their policy was rather to get them to add circumcision to the cross. This persuasion came not of him.that called them. It was not in accordance, either with the idea that was in the Divine·mind in calling them, or with the idea that was in their own ,minds in choosing the calling, which was in both cases making Christ everythin,g in the road to everlasting haJ;>piness. It did not come from above, from the God who saved them and called th~m to e:verlasting glory, but it came lrom beneath- from the enemy of mankind. 3. Be.was· afraid of the spread of error among them. "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." On the one hand, the Judaists, in order to gain their point, woul<l be inclined to minimize its importance. On the other hand, the Galatians might think the Judaistic teaching had made very little way among them. The apostle puts them on their guard by telling them that a little leave11 leaveneth the whole lump. This saying also occurs in 1 Cor. v. 6. The reference there is to a. case of gross immorality in the Corinthian Church. By tolerating such immorality, there would be danger of the whole Corinthian Church being lowered in its moral tone and practice. So by the introduction of a little J udaistic leaven, such as the toleration of the circumcision of a single Gentile convert, there would be danger of the Christian communities of Galatia becoming Judaistic, i.e. commuuities upon which the blessing of God would not rest, from which the Spirit of God would depart. And so a little leaven of carelessness in the household, in companionship, leavens the whole lump. 4-. Be had confidence in them that they u:ould remain unchanged. "I have confidenco to you-ward in the Lord, tbut ye will be none otherwise minded." He had confidence that they would not change from 1\ Christian to. a J udaistic way of thinking, ills confidence was not founded on reports recei vecl re:~anling them. For these,• as we have seen, threw him into a slate of perplexity. llut ho had co116.dence to them-ward in the Lord. He had confidence in the use uf ~ppointed means. He had confidence in the power of prayer. He had prayed to God ou  282 THE EPISTLE TO mE GALATµNs. [on. ,., 1-26.