Galatians 3:5

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:1-5

1-5 Several things made the folly of the Galatian Christians worse. They had the doctrine of the cross preached, and the Lord's supper administered among them, in both which Christ crucified, and the nature of his sufferings, had been fully and clearly set forth. Had they been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, by the ministration of the law, or on account of any works done by them in obedience thereto? Was it not by their hearing and embracing the doctrine of faith in Christ alone for... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Galatians 3:1-99

Galations 3 THE APOSTLE CALLS them “foolish” or senseless, for they had not themselves had the spiritual sense to see whither these false teachers had been leading them. They had been like men bewitched, and under a spell of evil, and they had been led to the brink of the awful conclusion that Christ had died for nothing that His death had been in fact a huge mistake! On the edge of this precipice they were standing, and the Apostle’s pungent reasoning had come as a flash of light amidst their... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Galatians 3:1-5

Salvation Is Not of Works, but by Faith. Paul appeals to the experience of the Galatians: v. 1. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? v. 2. This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith? v. 3. Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? v. 4. Have ye suffered so... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Galatians 3:1-5

IIPaul opposes the LEGAL VIEW itself, which through the false teachers had found entrance among the GalatiansGalatians 3:1 to Galatians 6:10A. Remonstrance and expression of astonishment, at the contradiction into which this brings them with their own experience respecting the receiving of the Spirit(Galatians 3:1-5)1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched [did bewitch]1 you, that ye should not obey the truth [omit this clause]2 before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been [was]3 evidently set... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Galatians 3:1-10

Righteousness Based on Faith Galatians 3:1-10 The strong tendency of the Galatian Christians to depend upon ceremonies or upon legal obedience, in addition to their faith in Christ, elicits in this chapter a magnificent demonstration of the simplicity and sufficiency of faith alone. Faith had underlain the commencement of their Christian life, Galatians 3:1-5 . They had found peace with God through faith. Through faith they had received the fullness of the Holy Spirit. As they had begun,... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Galatians 3:1-29

Here begins the second division of the epistle, in which Paul deals with the doctrine of liberty. He begins with the exclamation, "O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you?" He then inquired, Did they receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or, having begun in the Spirit, are they now perfected in the flesh? Was their suffering in vain? Was that Spirit supplied, and those miracles wrought by the works of the law? The answers to these questions are perfectly clear, and reveal a positive... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:1-9

Paul Confirms What He Has Said By Pointing Out That Every Blessing They Have Received Was Received Through Faith (Galatians 3:1-9 ). Paul now reminds the Galatians of how they first came to Christ, and what had been their experience then. They had responded to the working of the Holy Spirit. They had believed in Christ as their Saviour and Lord. They had accepted free forgiveness through the cross. Surely then they will not now try to be saved by their own actions and by following someone... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:5-6

‘He therefore who supplies to you the Spirit, and works powerful works among you (or ‘within you’), does he do it by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.’ The example of Abraham is now cited as evidence that God’s gifts come in response to faith. How did Abraham become a participant in God’s blessing? It was by ‘believing God’, and taking Him at His word. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:1-14

Galatians 3:1 to Galatians 5:12 . Doctrinal Section. Paul Sets the Choice before them— Christ or the Law— and Argues for its Urgency. Galatians 3:1-2 Chronicles : . It was a strange folly which could lead them to forget the picture, so plainly shown them, of the suffering Saviour. ( 1 ) Their own experience had been of “ the Spirit,” as ( a) the source of ecstatic prayer ( Galatians 4:6), in which the sacred scrap of Aramaic speech ( Mark 14:36) once used by Jesus was employed throughout... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Galatians 3:5

He had asked them, Galatians 3:2, whether they had received the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing the gospel? Some think what he saith here to be a continuation of the same argument, but it rather seems a new one: there he spake of their receiving the Spirit, here he speaks of the ministration of the Spirit. Some understand it of God, who gives his Holy Spirit to them that ask him, and who was the Author of those miraculous operations wrought by the Spirit. I should rather... read more

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