Ver. 1. O foolish Galatians] Those that are sick of a lethargy must have double the quantity of medicine given them that other men have in other diseases. These Galatians were in a spiritual lethargy, and are therefore thus sharply rebuked, that they might be sound in the faith. Who hath bewitched you] Or, bemisted you, and dazzled your eyes, Titus 1:13. The word properly signifies to overlook, as they call it, or to kill with the eyes, by casting out venomous beams, as the basilisk and as witches are said to do. εβασκανε αρα το φαεσι καινειν. (Plin. vii. 2.) Hath been evidently set forth] As a remedy, by looking whereon ye might have been cured or kept from that bewitching by the eye, like as the stung Israelites were healed by looking on the brazen serpent. Crucified among you] In the evidence of the doctrine of Christ crucified, and in the administration of the Lord’s Supper, that lively picture of Christ on the cross. The Greek word προεγραφη signifieth to paint forth a thing, Romans 15:4, by a theological painting, not artificial, as the Papists would have it to warrant crucifixes.
Ver. 2. Or by the hearing of faith] The manna of the Spirit comes down from heaven in the dews of the ministry of the gospel, Numbers 11:9 1Pe 1:21. If our eyes see not our teachers, we cannot expect to hear the voice behind us, Isaiah 30:20,21.
Ver. 3. Are ye so foolish?] Those then that have the Spirit may play fools in some particulars. Those that are recovered of a frenzy, have yet some mad fits sometimes. Made perfect by the flesh] As Nebuchadnezzar’s image, whose golden head ended in dirty feet.
Ver. 4. If it be in vain] q.d. It is not in vain. God keepeth the feet of the saints, that they cannot altogether lose the things they have wrought, they cannot fall below his supporting grace; the Lord puts under his hand, Psalms 37:1-7 Yet it cannot be denied that a hypocrite may suffer, and all in vain, 1 Corinthians 13:3, as did Alexander the coppersmith, who was near unto martyrdom, Acts 19:34. [See Trapp on “1Co 13:3”]
Ver. 5. Or by the hearing of faith] Faith (and so life) is let into the soul by the sense of hearing, Isaiah 55:1-3, to cross the devil, who by the same door brought death into the world.
Ver. 6. It was accounted to him] This the Papists jeeringly call a putative righteousness. The Jews also deride it, and say, that every fox shall yield his own skin to the flayer. See Romans 4:9,11,12.
Ver. 7. The same are children, &c.] And heirs together with him of the world, Romans 4:14, which is theirs in right, though detained a while from them by the Amorites, till their sins be full.
Ver. 8. And the Scripture foreseeing] Scripture therefore is not a brute dead thing, as the Jesuits blaspheme. Excellently spake he, who called the Scripture, Cor et animam Dei, The heart and soul of God. (Greg. in Reg. 3.) Preached the gospel] There is gospel therefore in the Old Testament. In thee shall all nations] [See Trapp on “Ge 12:3”] “All nations shall be blessed,” i.e. justified by faith.
Ver. 9. Are blessed, &c.] For they only are blessed whose sins are remitted, Psalms 32:1. Oh, the blessedness of that man, saith the Psalmist.
Ver. 10. Are under the curse] Aut faciendum, aut patiendum, Either to obey or to be punished. He that will not have the direction of the law must have the correction. That continueth not in all] Deuteronomy 27:26. Heb. Shall stand firm, as a square stone, םיקי, τετραγωνος. In the book of the law to do them] Done they must be exactly, upon pain of God’s curse. For a groat too short in payment of some dues required, our William the Conqueror forced the monks of Ely to lay down a thousand marks, saith the chronicler. The law is no less strict with those that are not freed by Christ.
Ver. 11. Shall live by faith] As being justified by faith. [See Trapp on “Ro 1:17”]
Ver. 12. And the law is not of faith] Because it promiseth not life to those that will be justified by faith, but requireth works.
Ver. 13. Christ hath redeemed us] As man he bought us, as God he redeemed us, saith Jerome. For to redeem is properly to buy some things back that were mortgaged. Qui redimit, emit quod suum fuit, et suum esse desiit. Cursed is every one that hangeth] The tree whereon a man was hanged, the stone wherewith he was stoned, the sword wherewith he was beheaded, and the napkin wherewith he was strangled, they were all buried, that there might be no evil memorial of such a one, to say, This was the tree, sword, stone, napkin, wherewith such a one was executed. Constantine abolished this kind of death out of the empire. But what an odd custom was that of the Tiberenes to hang their best friends in courtesy, Longasque ex iis literas facere quos charos habebant? The death on the tree (saith one) was accursed above all kinds of death; as the serpent was accursed above all beasts of the field. Both for the first transgression, whereof the serpent was the instrument, the tree the occasion. (Sphinx Philos.) Casaub. ex Maimonide.
Ver. 14. The promise of the Spirit] That is, the spiritual promise made to Abraham and his spiritual posterity.
Ver. 15. I speak after the manner] I set the matter forth to you by a familiar comparison. Though it be but a man’s testament] William Tracy, Esq., of Gloucestershire, made in his will, that he would have no funeral pomp at his burying, neither passed he upon a mass. And he further said, that he trusted in God only, and hoped by him to be saved, and not by any saint. This gentleman died, and his son as executor brought the will to the bishop of Canterbury to be proved, which he showed to the Convocation; and there most cruelly they judged that he should be taken out of the ground and be burnt as a heretic, A. D. 1532. Dr Parker, chancellor of Worcester, executed the sentence, and was afterwards sent for by King Henry VIII, who laid high offence to his charge, &c. It cost him 300 pounds to have his pardon. (Acts and Mon.)
Ver. 16. Which is Christ] Mystical Christ, that is, whole Christ; for he accounts not himself complete without his members, who are therefore called his fulness, Ephesians 1:23. Caput et corpus, unus est Christus, saith Augustine, the head and members make but one Christ.
Ver. 17. Four hundred and thirty, &c.] This space of time between the promise and the law, the Divine providence cast into two equal portions, of 215 before the people’s going down into Egypt, and 215 after their being there. (Lightfoot’s Har. Prolegom.)
Ver. 18. Gave it to Abraham] Gr. κεχαρισται, freely gave it. What is more free than a gift? And what better freehold than the divine promise?
Ver. 19. Because of transgressions] Which are discovered by the law. Sight of misery must go before sense of mercy. Lex, lux, the law is a light (saith Solomon), which lays all open, as 1 Corinthians 14:25, and threateneth destruction to transgressors. And it was ordained, &c.] Therefore it is not to be disrespected, though we cannot attain eternal life by it. In the hand of a mediator] That is, of Moses, who was a mediator of that communication of the law to the people, Exodus 20:19. Christ is the only Mediator of expiation. And of Christ alone some take this text.
Ver. 20. Is not a mediator of one] q.d. God and men were at odds, else what use of a mediator? Sin is the makebate (mischief maker), as being a transgression of the law. But God is one] One and the same now as of old in taking vengeance on the law’s transgressors. Or, God is one party disagreeing or displeased.
Ver. 21. Have given life] That is, have justified a sinner. But herein lay the law’s weakness through the flesh, Romans 8:3.
Ver. 22. But the Scripture] The law and the prophets. Hath concluded all] Gr. Hath clapped them up close prisoners. All in the neuter gender (both men and women), to prevent cavi ls, συνεκλεισεν παντα. That the promise, &c.] That he might have mercy upon all, Romans 11:32. [See Trapp on “Ro 11:32”]
Ver. 23. But before faith came, &c.] i.e. Before Christ came; faith is put for the object of faith. We were kept under the law] φρουρουμεθα, as in a prison or garrison, being circled with a compassing strength. The sinner, having transgressed, is kept by the law, as with a guard or garrison, that he cannot escape unless he be delivered by Christ. Some learned men make this expression of the apostle here, “Kept under the law,” to denote the duty of a schoolmaster; as one who is to give an account of such as are committed to his charge.
Ver. 24. The law was our schoolmaster] Such a one as that Livy and Florus speak of in Italy, who brought forth his scholars to Hannibal; and if he had not been more merciful than otherwise, they had all perished.
Ver. 25. But after that faith] That is, the gospel, or Christ the author and matter of the gospel. See Galatians 3:23.
Ver. 26. The children of God] Gr. The sons of God, grown up at man’s estate; Qui magnum ferulae subduximus, who are no longer under a schoolmaster. How we are the children of God by faith. [See Trapp on “Joh 1:12”]
Ver. 27. Baptized into Christ] And so have had your adoption sealed up unto you, like as in the civil adoption there were certain rites and ceremonies usually performed. Have put on Christ] To justification and sanctification. [See Trapp on “Ro 13:14”] This is to be clothed with the sun, Revelation 12:2. Some think the apostle alludeth here to a custom they had in the primitive times, that those that were to be baptized should come to the church on Whit Sunday (called therefore Dominica in albis) and put upon them white clothing.
Ver. 28. Ye are all one in Christ] Souls have no sexes, and Christ is no respecter of persons. The servant paid the half shekel, as well as the master, Exodus 30:12-16
Ver. 29. Heirs according] Heirs are kept short in their under age, and sometimes forced to borrow of servants; but when once at years, they have all. So shall the saints in heaven, though here hard put to it.