Ver. 1. Be not again entangled] ενεχεσθε. As oxen tied to the yoke. Those that followed Judas Galileus, Acts 5:37, chose rather to undergo any death than to be in subjection to any mortal. (Joseph. xviii. 2.) If civil servitude be so grievous, what ought spiritual to be? Those poor misled and muzzled souls that are held captive in the pope’s dark dungeon, have an ill time of it. Ever since, being reconciled to the Roman Church, I subjected myself and my kingdoms (said King John of England) to the pope’s authority, never anything went well with me, but all against me, Nulla mihi prospera, sed omnia adversa evenerunt.
Ver. 2. Behold I Paul] q.d. As true as I am Paul, and do write these things. Christ shall profit you nothing] For he profits none but those that are found in him, not having their “own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God through faith,” Philippians 3:9. As Pharaoh said of the Israelites, “they are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in,” Exodus 14:3; so may it be said of Pharisaical and Popish justiciaries, they are entangled in the fond conceits of their own righteousness, they cannot come to Christ. A man will never truly desire Christ till soundly shaken, Haggai 2:7.
Ver. 3. That he is a debtor] viz. If he be circumcised with an opinion of meriting thereby. Christ will be our sole Saviour, or none; he will not mingle his precious blood with our puddle stuff. Those that will look unto him must look off all things else, as the apostle’s word αφορωντες importeth, Hebrews 12:2.
Ver. 4. Christ is become of none effect] Woe then to popish merit mongers. William Wickham, founder of New College, though he did many good works, yet he professed he trusted to Jesus Christ alone for salvation. So did Charles V, emperor of Germany. So did many of our forefathers in times of Popery. (Parei Hist. Profan. medul. Dr Ussher on Ephesians 4:13) Ye are fallen from grace] It cannot hence be concluded that the apostle speaks conditionally, and it may be understood of the true doctrine of God’s free grace.
Ver. 5. For we through the Spirit] We apostles hope for righteousness by faith. If you will go to heaven any other way, you must erect a ladder, and go up alone, as Constantine said to Acesins the Novatian heretic, Erigito scalam, Acesi, et solus ascendito.
Ver. 6. Neither circumcision] Unregenerate Israel is as Ethiopia, Amos 9:7. But faith that worketh] Iustificamur tribus modis, Effective a Deo, apprehensive a fide, declarative ab operibus. Faith justifies the man, and works justify faith. To be a mother in Israel, is having Rachel’s eye and Leah’s womb.
Ver. 7. Ye did run well] Why do ye now stop or step back? Tutius recurrere quam male currere, was the Emperor Philip’s symbol. (Reusner Symb.) Better run back than run amiss; for in this case, “He that hasteth with his feet, sinneth,” Proverbs 19:2. But to run well till a man sweats, and then to sit down and take cold, may cause a consumption. Who did let you?] Gr. “Threw a block in your way,” εγκοπτειν, transversum aliquid struere.
Ver. 8. This persuasion] Sectarians and seducers have a strange art in persuading, πιθανολογια, Colossians 2:4. And although we think ourselves able enough to answer and withstand their arguments, yet it is dangerous dealing with them. The Valentinian heretics had a trick to persuade before they taught. (Tertullian.) Arius could cog a dice, and deceive the simple and heedless hearer. (Dicing.) To practise certain tricks in throwing dice. From contextual evidence it would seem that ‘cogging’ generally designated some sleight of hand, made use of to control the falling of a die; occasionally it may mean the substitution of a false die for the true one. ŒD
Ver. 9. A little leaven] viz. Of false doctrine, Matthew 16:6. [See Trapp on “Mt 16:6”]
Ver. 10. But he that troubleth you] That heresiarch, or ringleader of the faction. The beast and the false prophet are taken and cast alive into a lake, &c., when the common sort seduced by them had an easier judgment, Revelation 19:20,21.
Ver. 11. Why do I yet suffer persecution] From the Jews zealous of the law. It is well observed that the nearer any are unto a conjunction in matters of religion, and yet some difference retained, the deeper is the hatred. A Jew hates a Christian worse than he doth a Turk or Pagan. A Papist hates a Protestant worse than he doth a Jew, &c. Dr Day upon 1 Corinthians 16:9.
Ver. 12. I would they were even cut] Not circumcised only, cut round, but cut off, Non circumcidantur modo, sed et abscindantur. (Chrys.) That trouble you] That turn you upside down, or that turn you out of house and home.