Galatians 6
PNTGalatians 6:1
If I must needs glory, etc. If compelled to boast, this boast will be of his own infirmities and sufferings for Christ, such as he has just narrated.
Galatians 6:2
The God and Father . . . knoweth that I lie not. He has given as astonishing catalogue of suffering. Yet, God knows that every word is true.
Galatians 6:3
In Damascus. This seems to be cited to show that the very beginning of his Christian career was amid peril. See Acts 9:23-25. The governor under Aretas the king. Aretas was king of Petra, and the father-in-law of Herod Antipas. Damascus was usually, at these times, under Roman rule. Aretas engaged in war with Herod because he sent off his daughter and took Herodias for a wife. He defeated Herod and became embroiled with the Romans. It is likely that in the contest Damascus fell into his hands for a time. The language, Kept the city . . . with a garrison, shows that it was war times. The Jews, who were very strong in Damascus, doubtless induced the governor to try to seize Paul.
Galatians 6:4
Through a window in a basket was I let down. Houses in these Oriental walled cities are built against walls with windows looking out over them. It was, no doubt, from such a window that he was let down and thus escaped.
Galatians 6:6
Paul’s Revelations and Thorn in the Flesh SUMMARY OF II CORINTHIAN 12: Visions and Revelations. Caught Up into Paradise. The Thorn in the Flesh. God’s Answer to Prayer. Weakness Made Strength. The Signs of the Apostle. Coming Now the Third Time to Corinth. Paul’s Unselfish Course at Corinth. It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. It was distasteful for him to speak on himself, and he could only do it when compelled by the disparagement of adversaries. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. Supernatural things revealed to the spiritual eye and divine truths revealed to the human spirit.
Galatians 6:7
I knew a man in Christ. “Know”, as in the Revised Version, not “knew”. He knows the man and could name him, since the man was himself. See 2 Corinthians 12:7. Above fourteen years ago this man was caught up, etc. This letter was written A.D. 57. The being caught up was then in A.D. 43. This is about the time that Paul was at Antioch with Barnabas, or at Tarsus (Acts 9:29,30). It could not have been at conversion, for that was about twenty years earlier than A.D. 57, nor could it be the trance in the temple for that was too late (Acts 22:17). Whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell. A person could then be caught up, see and hear, without his body, in Paul’s view. Hence the human spirit is not material. The third heaven. A Jewish expression for that heaven which was beyond (1) the air, and (2) beyond the sun and stars; the secret place of the Almighty.
Galatians 6:8
I knew such a man. “Know”, as in the Revised Version. Why does he not use the first person? Because it would seem more like he was glorying in his own exaltation.
Galatians 6:9
He was caught up into paradise. “Paradise” and “the third heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:2) evidently mean the same. The term applied to a blessed abode beyond the life in Lu 23:43 Revelation 2:7. Heard unspeakable words. Words that would be neither right nor possible to reveal in human speech.
Galatians 6:10
Of such one will I glory. One so favored had ground for boasting. Yet of myself I will not glory. While he glories of such an one, if he glories of himself it will be in his weaknesses. But of himself personally he will not glory, save in my infirmities. See PNT 2 Corinthians 11:30.
Galatians 6:11
For though I would desire to glory, I should not be a fool. He could declare things truthfully that would show that his boast was not empty vanity.
Galatians 6:12
Lest I should be exalted, etc. This verse shows that 2 Corinthians 12:2 refers to himself. There was given me a thorn in the flesh. Generally supposed to be some painful physical infirmity. See Galatians 4:13,14. The messenger of Satan. All physical evils are due to sin and hence are ascribed to Satan. This thorn was (1) in the flesh; (2) it buffeted or assailed him; (3) it was permitted to prevent undue exaltation, hence must have been humiliating.
Galatians 6:13
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice. Prayed thrice that the thorn might be removed.
Galatians 6:14
My grace is sufficient for thee. The Lord answered his prayer, not by removing the thorn, but by giving grace to bear it, and by the assurance that Paul’s sense of weakness, caused by it, fitted him to receive the divine strength. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities. Because his infirmities fit him to enjoy the power that Christ bestows. What was true of Paul is true of every saint. It is when we feel our weakness that God strengthens us.
Galatians 6:15
Therefore I take pleasure, etc. The unparalleled distress, sufferings and persecutions, described in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, even give him pleasure for when I am weak, then am I strong. Because they bring him to a sense of his helplessness and then God makes him strong.
Galatians 6:16
I am become a fool in glorying. As he looks back on what he has written he finds that he has done what he condemned as a folly, commended himself. Ye have compelled me. Compelled to; a thing that ought not to have been necessary, for the Corinthians ought to have commended him. Behind the very chiefest apostles. The false teachers who had claimed at Corinth to be leading apostles.
Galatians 6:17
Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you. While preaching at Corinth he demonstrated his apostleship.
Galatians 6:18
What is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, etc.? They had enjoyed every privilege of the most highly favored churches, and, perhaps, complained that he had preached without charge to them. See notes on 2 Corinthians 11:7-12. Forgive me this wrong. If this was a wrong, he asked forgiveness.