Galatians 1

1 After the superscription of the Epistle, 3 the usual salutation, 4 and a thanksgiving to God, 6 the Apostle reproves the Churches of Galatia, that they were so soon turned away from the Apostolic doctrine, 7 whereas notwithstanding there can be no other doctrine for salvation, 8 although the Angel should preach the same, 10 and whereas he learned the doctrine which he preached unto them, not from men but from the Lord himself, 13 which he proves by his first state and zeal in Judaism, 15 and by his wonderful conversion and calling to the Apostles, 17 withal because he being called conferred not with other Apostles concerning the doctrine, but immediately journeyed towards Arabia, 18. And after three years of his ministry, first saw Peter and James only. 21. That afterwards he traveled again into Syria and Cilicia, and that he was not known but by reports unto the Churches in Judea.

1. PAUL an Apostle [See of this word Luke 6:13.] (called) not of men [namely, who are mere men or nothing but men. This description the Apostle adds, to maintain his apostolic calling and authority against the slanders of the false Apostles, who said that he was not lawfully to the Apostleship. For there is a twofold lawful calling to the ministry of the word: one which is ordinary; which is indeed effected by God, but through men, therein following the order of God: And there is a calling which is effected without the ministry of men by God himself, or by the Lord Christ: such was the calling of the Prophets in the old Testament, and of the Apostles in the new Testament. This calling is extraordinary, and always accompanied with the gift of being infallible in teaching, John 16:13. 2 Pet. 1.21. That the Apostle Paul was called by such an extraordinary calling is clear described, Acts chapter 9. And 22.] Nor by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead,] [and thereby openly shewed, that he was the proper and true Son of God. See Acts 13:33. Romans 1:4.]

2. And all the brethren which are with me, [Namely, not only my fellow brethren in the ministry, but also all the rest of the faithful. This the Apostle adds, not so much to make his writing to be respected thereby, as by the agreement of the Church with him, the better to move the Churches of Galatia, to the laying aside of their errors] to the churches of Galatia: [Galatia was one of the greatest Provinces of Asia the less, bordering upon Phrygia, Pontus, Capadocia, and Pamphylia, was so called from a people, which being come out of Galatia, now called France, took in that Province and long inhabited the same. See Acts 16:6. 1 Cor. 16.1. 2 Tim. 4.10. 1 Pet. 1.1.]

3. Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ:

4. Who gave [Namely, unto death. This the Apostle, adds, in the beginning, because this argument alone is sufficient to confute the doctrine of the false Apostles. For he should have done this in vain if a man could be justified by the works of the Law. See Galatians 2:21.] Himself [namely, willingly, Philippians 2:8.] for our sins, [namely, to expiate them by his death, 1 John1.7.] and chapter 2.2. So the expiation and remission of sins must be sought therein alone, and not in the works of the Law] that he might pluck us out of this present wicked world, [Gr. age, i.e. out of the sinful and miserable state wherein the whole world lyeth, 1 John 5:19.] according to the will of our God and Father. [that is, according to the eternal decree and pleasure, Acts 2 23. and chapter 4.28. Hebrews 10:7,10. So then the Father is satisfied with this ransom of his Son.]

5. To whom is glory unto eternity. [Gr. unto ages of ages, or unto eternities of eternities. Hebr.] Amen.

6. I wonder [This wending was also accompanied with great displeasure and grief] that ye so soon [that is, in so short time, after that ye have received the Gospel from us: or since the seducers have taught you otherwise. Thereby he reproves their inconsistency] (turning) from him who called you in the grace of Christ, [namely, from God, who called you by our preaching, to save you by the grace of Christ, and not by the works of the Law. Or turning from Christ who called in grace] are brought over [namely, by those that seduce you: on whom he lays the greatest blame, because he had hope to them again into the right way, Gal. 5.ver.10.] unto another Gospel: [that is, unto another doctrine of salvation; which the seducers indeed call the Gospel, but is not the right Gospel, and differs far from that which we have preached unto you.]

7. Whereas there is no other: [Gr. which is not another. Namely, then that or but that which we have preached unto you. See Acts 4:12.] but there are some [namely, whom from the sect of Pharisees having be taken themselves unto the Christian Religion, sought to mingle the Law with the Gospel, and the righteousness of works, with the righteousness of faith. See Acts 15:5.] Who trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. [That is, falsified it, to make it vain or of none effect.]

8. But although that even we, [That is, I, and the brethren that are with me. Or we Apostles] or an Angel out heaven [this is indeed impossible in its self, but the Apostle by putting this impossible condition, will more powerfully set forth the certainty of the curse, which shall come upon those who preach another Gospel. See the like, John 8:55. 1 Cor. 13.2.] should publish a Gospel unto you, besides that which we have published unto you, [that is, not only contrary to the same, but also that adds anything to it besides that which we have preached: which the false Apostles did, teaching that men are not justified by faith alone, but also by the works of the Law.] let him be accused. [Gr. Anathema, i.e. a cursing. See of this word, Romans 9:3. 1 Cor. 16.22.]

9. As we said before, [namely in the foregoing verse [so I say now also again [namely to show that this is not spoken by me out of hastiness] if anyone publish a gospel unto you besides that which ye have received [namely have heard and embraced through our preaching] let him be accused.

10. For do I know preach men [Gr do I know advice men or God ? namely to hear or to believe for the Greek word which the apostle useth as also Acts 28:23 and 2 Corinthians 5.11signifies properly to move anyone with reason or to persuade him and here the sense is do I seek in my preaching to move ye that ye should adhere to me or any men ?he meaneth I do by no means do that]or God[that is that ye should your trust in God in Christ which he would say I do in all my preaching or do I seek to please men ?by no means he would say and this it seems the false apostle sought to make the Galatians believe to render the apostle’s doctrine suspected]for if I yet [namely now being converted to Christ even as I did to Judaism when to please the high priest and the Jews I persecuted the church] pleased[that is sought only their favor in preaching]men[namely who are strangers from Christ or who will have men preaching according to their minds 2 Timothy 4:3 otherwise the upright teachers may and must also so carry themselves in doctrine and life that they may please upright and Godly men in Christ 1 Corinthians 10:33]I were not a servant of Christ [that is a true upright and faithful servant for no man can serve two masters Matthew 6:24.]

11. But I make known unto ye brethren that gospel which was published by me is not according to men [that is was not given and taught me by men or feigned by myself and depending upon the authority of any men as is declared in the following verse.]

12. For neither received I nor learned the same from a man [the apostle will not hereby reject the instruction in the doctrine of the gospel which is ordinarily performed by men 2 Timothy 3:15 but meaneth that he has an apostle received not this doctrine in such an ordinary manner but through an extraordinary revelation and instruction of Christ himself see Acts 9:3, 1 Corinthians 15:8 and 2 Corinthians 12] but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13. For ye have heard my conversation which was formerly [namely before I was converted to the Christian Religion] in Judaism that I very exceedingly persecuted that church of God [this persecution of Paul is described Acts 7:58 and chapter 9.1 &c and 22.4.5] and wasted the same [that is as much as in me lay sought wholly to root out and destroy the same.]

14. And that I increased in Judaism above many of my age [that is young men see Acts 7:58 that he expresseth that he might hot see out of self-conceitedness to set himself above the ancient teachers of the Jews] in my generation [that is among the Jews]being abundantly zealous [Gr more abundantly a zealot namely with a zeal which is not accompanied with knowledge Romans 10:2, Philippians 3:5,6, 1 Timothy 1:13 hereby he also reproves the perverse zeal of the Jews in his own person]for the institutions [Gr tradition namely not which are commanded and set down in the scriptures but those also which were instituted by men and delivered over by the parents to the children as from hand to Hand]of my fathers [namely of which I made more account then of the doctrine of the prophets what institutions these were may be seen Matthew 5:21 c. chapter 15.2,3and chapter 23.3 &c Mark 7:5 &c1 Peter 1.18.]

15. But when it pleased God who separated me [that is purposed and decreed to separate me from common heap of other men to call me in due time to be an apostle]even from my mothers womb [Gr out of that is before I was born of my mother see the like Jeremiah 1:5]and called me by his grace [namely as the only cause why he did that and therefore without any worthiness and merits of mine foreseen in me as before also Gods good pleasure is made the cause thereof see Ephesians 1:5,6,9,11.]

16. To reveal his son [namely Jesus Christ the true Messiah] in me [that is to me in my soul or by me to reveal that is to make known that I have acknowledged him for the son of God and the true Messiah and believed in him Matthew 16:17] that I should publish him by the gospel among the gentiles immediately [namely as soon as I was converted unto Christ] I went not to consult [that is spake not nor treated with any man concerning the doctrine of the gospel to be better or largely instructed in the same]with flesh and blood [that is with any men which consists of flesh and blood nor not with mine own natural reasons see the like phrase Matthew 16:17 Ephesians 6:12]

17. And went not again [or went not up as also verse 18this seems to contradict that which Luke saith Acts 9.26But that which Luke saith there must be understood to have come pass after that Paul having been three years in Arabia was again come from thence unto Damascus. For Luke makes no mention there of Paul’s journey into Arabia as he also omit divers other actions and journeys of Paul which Paul himself relates 2 Corinthians chapter 11 and 12]to Jerusalem unto them which Apostles before me [namely any one of the twelve who were called to the apostleship long before me]but I went my way into Arabia a country lying to the south of the land of the Jews wherein mount Sinai was Galatians betwixt the red sea and the gulf of Persia ] and returned unto Damascus of this city see the annotations on Acts9.2.]

18. Afterward I came after three years [namely during which I had been as well in Arabia as at Damascus] again to Jerusalem to visit Peter [the Greek word signifies to go see or to visit any man to her him and to speak and treat with him] and I abhorred with him fifteen days.

19. And saw no other of the apostles save James [there were two among the apostles of this name see of both Matthew 10 verse 2,3 Acts 12:2,17and of this Acts 12:17 and 15.13] the Lords brother [that is cousin An Hebrew phrase see Genesis 14:14 Matthew 12:46,47 1 Corinthians 9:5 of him see Matthew 10:3 Mark 15:40]

20. Now that which I write to you [namely concerning my receiving of the gospel from Christ himself without my calling or instruction of men]behold I testify before God [a form of taking an oath with which the apostle thought it needful to confirm this because of the weightiness of the matter see Romans 9:1] that I lye not.

21. Afterwards I came into the quarters of Syria and Cilicia [these are countries lying in Asia see of the same Matthew 4:24 Acts 15:23,41 and 18.18 and 27.5.]

22. And I was unknown by face to the church of Judea [namely seeing I according to my calling preached the gospel not among the Jews there but amongst the Gentiles see verse 16]which are in Christ [that is who have received and profess the Christian doctrine.]

23. But they had only heard man say he that [namely Paul these are the words of the foresaid churches which Paul relates] persecuted us [namely Christians] in former times now publisheth the faith [that is the doctrine of the gospel which men must believe to salvation see the like phrase 1 Timothy 1:19 compare with 2 Timothy 2:18] which he formerly wasted [see verse 13.]

24. And they glorified God in me [Gr for my sake that is for the grace which God had bestowed in me.]