Galatians 5

Galatians 5:1

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, etc. Most critics think that the verse is ironical. The Judaizers so perverted the gospel that it was really another gospel (Galatians 1:6). Hence Paul is supposed to say that if these men preach another Jesus, another Spirit, and another gospel than those you received, which they do, you might well bear with them! Perhaps, however, he only means to say that these men discredit me, but have no new gospel, Spirit or Christ to offer than what you have received through me. This harmonizes better with what follows.

Galatians 5:2

I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. The Greek implies that these men claimed to be apostles. Paul says he is not behind these “pre-eminent apostles” (Revised Version, margin)–a stroke of sarcasm.

Galatians 5:3

Though [I am] rude in speech, yet not in knowledge. He had not the rhetoric of a Corinthian orator, but he was not wanting in divine knowledge. See 1 Corinthians 1:17 2:4. His revealed knowledge had been manifest among them.

Galatians 5:4

Have I committed an offence in absing myself, etc. He had at Corinth supported himself in part by his own labor (Acts 18:3). See PNT 1 Corinthians 9:13. Yet these false apostles seemed to have charged that he did not dare to ask for the support which was due an apostle.

Galatians 5:5

I robbed other churches, taking wages [of them], to do you service. Other churches sustained him when he came to Corinth. This seems to have been the usual custom. Philippi aided him more than once while preaching in Thessalonica (Philippians 4:16). The churches of Macedonia aided him at Corinth.

Galatians 5:6

When I was present with you, and wanted. When his supplies fell short, he work at tent-making (Acts 18:3) until Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia with supplies (Acts 18:5). These were the “brethren which came from Macedonia”.

Galatians 5:7

No man shall stop me of this boasting. As he has done, so he will do. It shall be his boast that his gospel was freely preached in Achaia.

Galatians 5:8

Wherefore? because I love you not? Why this course in Achaia? Not because he does not love them.

Galatians 5:9

That I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion. One reason that he did this was to give no excuse to these opposers to call on the church to maintain them. He would force them by his example to be found even as we, that is, to maintain themselves.

Galatians 5:10

Such [are] false apostles. He now tears off the mask. These men are not real, but false apostles, deceitful workers, pretending to be Christ’s apostles.

Galatians 5:11

And no marvel. Is it said that they appear to be Christ’s ministers? For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Even Satan can take the shape of an angel of light. He always seeks to destroy by coming in a false guise.

Galatians 5:12

Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers, etc. It is not strange if persons really doing Satan’s work should appear as ministers of righteousness. The sorest wounds of the church are not found from without, but from agents of Satan within.

Galatians 5:13

Let no man think me a fool. Even though he should boast, let no one regard him foolish, since he compelled to by the disparagement of his labors. Whether he be regarded as foolish or wise, let his words be received. See 2 Corinthians 11:1.

Galatians 5:14

That which I speak, I speak [it] not after the Lord. What he is about to say, with an appearance of boasting, is not compromising Christ. The folly, if there be folly, is his own.

Galatians 5:15

I will glory also. This is the folly for which he apologizes. He will show that he is not behind those who have been claiming so much credit at Corinth.

Galatians 5:16

For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye [yourselves] are wise. See 1 Corinthians 4:10. It was a part of their superior wisdom to tolerate fools. This is perhaps said in derision. It is explained in 2 Corinthians 11:20.

Galatians 5:17

For ye suffer. They must “suffer fools gladly” (2 Corinthians 11:19) for they let men bring them into bondage to the law (Galatians 2:4); to devour their property by their greed for gain; to take them by the cunning snares laid for them; to exalt themselves unduly. Smite you on the face. This perhaps refers to an actual case of violence.

Galatians 5:18

I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. The opposers had said that “his bodily presence was weak” (2 Corinthians 10:10). They had suffered what he had described in 2 Corinthians 11:20, but he had never been so bold. Yet, wherein any were bold, he had the right to be bold also. He next states grounds which he might have for boasting.

Galatians 5:19

Are they Hebrews? so [am] I. Of pure Hebrew stock? So was Paul. See Philippians 3:5. Are they Israelites? so [am] I. He was of the seed of Jacob, and the heir of the promises to Israel. Are they the seed of Abraham? so [am] I Not only of the fleshly, but of the spiritual seed of Abraham.

Galatians 5:20

Are they ministers of Christ? . . . I [am] more. Not only a minister, but a pre-eminent sufferer for Christ. To show how much he exceeded them, he gives some account of his sufferings. I speak as a fool. Speaking foolishly, that is, commending himself. See 2 Corinthians 11:1. In labours more abundant. The record of Acts shows how his labors abounded. In stripes above measure. See 2 Corinthians 11:24,25. In prisons more frequent. Clement, who wrote about the close of the first century, says in his Epistle to the Corinthians that Paul was imprisoned seven times. In Acts only one occurrence is named before the date of this letter, that at Philippi (Acts 16:24). It is evident from this enumeration that Acts is only a part of the history of his labors. In deaths oft. Often in peril of death. Dean Stanley says that the catalogue of sufferings given in 2 Corinthians 11:25-33 shows that Paul’s life was then without precedent in the history of the world. The only explanation of such a life, continued now for more than fourteen years, is that given by himself: “The love of Christ constraineth us” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

Galatians 5:21

Of the Jews fives times received I forty [stripes] save one. See Deuteronomy 25:3. The Jews were not allowed to exceed this number.

Galatians 5:22

Thrice was I beaten with rods. This was the Roman scourging. Only one of these instances is reported in Acts 16:23. Once was I stoned. See Acts 14:19. Thrice I suffered shipwreck. No account elsewhere is given of these. The shipwreck, on the way to Italy (Acts 27:44), was of later date. A night and a day I have been in the deep. In an open boat, or on driftwood, after a shipwreck.

Galatians 5:23

Perils of waters. In crossing swollen rivers. Perils of robbers. In his travels he was often exposed to danger from this source. Perils by [mine own] countrymen. The Jews, who constantly persecuted him. See 2 Corinthians 11:24. Perils by the heathen. The Gentiles. As an illustration, see 2 Corinthians 11:25. Perils in the city. Damascus (Acts 9:22-24), Jerusalem (Acts 21:28-31), Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:44,45,50), Lystra (Acts 14:11-13), Philippi (Acts 16:18-24), and Corinth (Acts 18:12) will at once occur as instances.

Galatians 5:24

In weariness and painfulness, etc. Often weary and in pain. The verse shows the self-denial made necessary in preaching the gospel. Often in want, hungry, naked and cold. Why should all these have been endured? Nothing but overwhelming conviction and love could have led him to this sacrifice himself.

Galatians 5:25

Besides those things that are without. His physical sufferings and labors were not all. There was constant care and anxiety for the churches.

Galatians 5:26

Who is weak, and am I not weak? His sympathy for the churches was so great that if they suffered, he suffered with them.