Galatians 3
A plain-spoken deep dive on the whole chapter. Read the chapter →
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
O foolish Galatians - O infatuated people; you make as little use of reason as those who have none; you have acted in this business as those do who are fascinated - they are led blindly and unresistingly on to their own destruction. That ye should not obey the truth - This clause is wanting in ABD*FG, some others, the Syriac, Erpenian, Coptic, Sahidic, Itala, Vulgate MS., and in the most important of the Greek and Latin fathers. Of the clause Professor White says, Certissime delenda, "It should certainly be expunged." There are several various readings on this verse, from which it appears that the verse in the best ancient MSS. and versions was read thus: O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you? Before whose eyes Jesus Christ crucified hath been plainly set forth. Among you? - Εν ὑμιν is wanting in ABC, several others, the Syriac, Erpenian, Coptic, Sahidic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Vulgate MS., one copy of the Itala, and in several of the fathers. The words appear to disturb the sense, and have obliged commentators to have recourse to a sort of technical meaning; viz. "The doctrine of the Gospel had been so fully preached among these people that it might be said Jesus Christ had been crucified among them; so fully had his sufferings been detailed, and the design of them pointed out."
Open source ↗REPROOF OF THE GALATIANS FOR ABANDONING FAITH FOR LEGALISM. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH VINDICATED: THE LAW SHOWN TO BE SUBSEQUENT TO THE PROMISE: BELIEVERS ARE THE SPIRITUAL SEED OF ABRAHAM, WHO WAS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH. THE LAW WAS OUR SCHOOLMASTER TO BRING US TO CHRIST, THAT WE MIGHT BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH. (Gal. 3:1-29) that ye should not obey the truth--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. bewitched--fascinated you so that you have lost your wits. THEMISTIUS says the Galatians were naturally very acute in intellect. Hence, Paul wonders they could be so misled in this case. you--emphatical. "You, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been graphically set forth (literally, in writing, namely, by vivid portraiture in preaching) among you, crucified" (so the sense and Greek order require rather than English Version). As Christ was "crucified," so ye ought to have been by faith "crucified with Christ," and so "dead to the law" (Gal 2:19-20). Reference to the "eyes" is appropriate, as fascination was supposed to be exercised through the eyes. The sight of Christ crucified ought to have been enough to counteract all fascination.
Open source ↗O foolish Galatians,.... Referring not to any national character, as some have thought, by which they were distinguished from others for their rudeness in knowledge, their ignorance and folly, as the Cretians for their lying, &c. nor to their former state in unregeneracy, it being common to all men, to God's elect themselves, before conversion, to be foolish in a moral and spiritual sense; but to their present stupidity about the article of justification, it being an instance of most egregious folly to leave Christ for Moses, the Gospel for the law, and the doctrine of free justification by the righteousness of Christ, which brings so much solid peace and comfort with it, for the doctrine of justification, by the works of the law, which naturally leads to bondage. Now this was said, not rashly, nor in anger, or on purpose to reproach and provoke, and so not at all contrary to Mat 5:22 but in like manner as Christ said to his disciples, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe", &c. Luk 24:25. So the apostle here, as pitying the Galatians, grieved for them, and as one surprised and astonished that ever people of such light, that had had the Gospel so clearly preached to them, should ever give into such a notion. Who hath bewitched you? some false teacher or another had, or it cannot be conceived how their heads should ever have been turned this way; which must be understood, not in a literal and proper sense, as Simon Magus bewitched the people of Samaria with his sorceries, but in a figurative and improper one; that as sorcerers and enchanters cast a mist before people's eyes, or, by some evil arts or juggling tricks, deceive their sight, and make objects seem to appear which do not, or in a different form than they really do, so these deceitful workers, who had transform…
Open source ↗The apostle is here dealing with those who, having embraced the faith of Christ, still continued to seek for justification by the works of the law; that is, who depended upon their own obedience to the moral precepts as their righteousness before God, and, wherein that was defective, had recourse to the legal sacrifices and purifications to make it up. These he first sharply reproves, and then endeavours, by the evidence of truth, to convince them. This is the right method, when we reprove any for a fault or an error, to convince them that it is an error, that it is a fault. He reproves them, and the reproof is very close and warm: he calls them foolish Galatians, Gal 3:1. Though as Christians they were Wisdom's children, yet as corrupt Christians they were foolish children. Yea, he asks, Who hath bewitched you? whereby he represents them as enchanted by the arts and snares of their seducing teachers, and so far deluded as to act very unlike themselves. That wherein their folly and infatuation appeared was that they did not obey the truth; that is, they did not adhere to the gospel way of justification, wherein they had been taught, and which they had professed to embrace. Note, It is not enough to know the truth, and to say we believe it, but we must obey it too; we must heartily submit to it, and stedfastly abide by it. Note, also, Those are spiritually bewitched who, when the truth as it is in Jesus is plainly set before them, will not thus obey it. Several things proved and aggravated the folly of these Christians. 1. Jesus Christ had been evidently set forth as crucified among them; that is, they had had the doctrine of the cross preached to them, and the sacrament of the Lord's supper administered among them, in both which Christ crucified had been set before them…
Open source ↗3:1–5:12 Paul now defends the truth of his message—that right relationship with God comes by faith in Christ alone—and proves the fallacy of the message that Gentiles must keep the law in order to be acceptable to God. 3:1-9 Paul compares the Galatians’ spiritual experience (3:1-5) with Abraham’s (3:6-9), showing that they were made right with God in the same way, through faith and not through the law (Eph 2:8-9). 3:1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Their foolishness was both intellectual and spiritual (cp. Luke 24:25; see 1 Sam 25:1-38) as they turned away from Christ (Gal 1:6) and put faith in the law. • The Galatians were deceived by the teachers’ evil spell (cp. Gen 3:1-7)—not literal witchcraft, but enticing arguments. • For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross (literally Before your eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified): Paul’s proclamation of the Good News clearly portrayed Christ’s death and explained its significance (see Rom 10:14-17).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
ὦ (ō, G5599) — as a sign of the vocative case, O; as a note of exclamation, oh ἀνόητος (anóētos, G453) — unintelligent; by implication, sensual Γαλάτης (Galátēs, G1052) — a Galatian or inhabitant of Galatia τίς (tís, G5101) — an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions) βασκαίνω (baskaínō, G940) — to malign, i.e. (by extension) to fascinate (by false representations) ὑμᾶς (hymâs, G5209) — you (as the objective of a verb or preposition) πείθω (peíthō, G3982) — to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other… μή (mḗ, G3361) — (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer… ἀλήθεια (alḗtheia, G225) — truth κατά (katá, G2596) — (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case… ὅς (hós, G3739) — the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmós, G3788) — the eye (literally or figuratively); by implication, vision; figuratively, envy (from the… Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs, G2424) — Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites Χριστός (Christós, G5547) — anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
Open source ↗τοῦτο (toûto, G5124) — that thing μόνον (mónon, G3440) — merely θέλω (thélō, G2309) — to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas G1014 (βούλομαι)… μανθάνω (manthánō, G3129) — to learn (in any way) ἀπό (apó, G575) — "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation;… ὑμῶν (hymōn, G5216) — of (from or concerning) you λαμβάνω (lambánō, G2983) — while G138 (αἱρέομαι) is more violent, to seize or remove)) πνεῦμα (pneûma, G4151) — a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit,… ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) ἔργον (érgon, G2041) — toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act νόμος (nómos, G3551) — law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of… ἤ (ḗ, G2228) — disjunctive, or; comparative, than ἀκοή (akoḗ, G189) — hearing (the act, the sense or the thing heard) πίστις (pístis, G4102) — persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of…
Open source ↗ἐστέ (esté, G2075) — ye are οὕτω (hoútō, G3779) — in this way (referring to what precedes or follows) ἀνόητος (anóētos, G453) — unintelligent; by implication, sensual ἐνάρχομαι (enárchomai, G1728) — to commence on πνεῦμα (pneûma, G4151) — a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit,… ἐπιτελέω (epiteléō, G2005) — to fulfill further (or completely), i.e. execute; by implication, to terminate, undergo νῦν (nŷn, G3568) — "now" (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or… σάρξ (sárx, G4561) — flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by…
Open source ↗πάσχω (páschō, G3958) — to experience a sensation or impression (usually painful) τοσοῦτος (tosoûtos, G5118) — apparently from G3588 (ὁ) and G3739 (ὅς)) and G3778 (οὗτος) (including its variations);… εἰκῆ (eikē, G1500) — idly, i.e. without reason (or effect) εἴγε (eíge, G1489) — if indeed, seeing that, unless, (with negative) otherwise καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other…
Open source ↗οὖν (oûn, G3767) — (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly ἐπιχορηγέω (epichorēgéō, G2023) — to furnish besides, i.e. fully supply, (figuratively) aid or contribute ὑμῖν (hymîn, G5213) — to (with or by) you πνεῦμα (pneûma, G4151) — a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit,… καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… ἐνεργέω (energéō, G1754) — to be active, efficient δύναμις (dýnamis, G1411) — force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a… ἐν (en, G1722) — "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc. ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) ἔργον (érgon, G2041) — toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act νόμος (nómos, G3551) — law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of… ἤ (ḗ, G2228) — disjunctive, or; comparative, than ἀκοή (akoḗ, G189) — hearing (the act, the sense or the thing heard) πίστις (pístis, G4102) — persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of…
Open source ↗καθώς (kathṓs, G2531) — just (or inasmuch) as, that Ἀβραάμ (Abraám, G11) — Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch πιστεύω (pisteúō, G4100) — to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by… θεός (theós, G2316) — figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… λογίζομαι (logízomai, G3049) — to take an inventory, i.e. estimate (literally or figuratively) αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… εἰς (eis, G1519) — to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively)… δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosýnē, G1343) — equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification
Open source ↗γινώσκω (ginṓskō, G1097) — to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as… ἄρα (ára, G686) — a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive (as follows) ὅτι (hóti, G3754) — demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) πίστις (pístis, G4102) — persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of… οὗτος (hoûtos, G3778) — the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated) εἰσί (eisí, G1526) — they are υἱός (huiós, G5207) — a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively,… Ἀβραάμ (Abraám, G11) — Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch
Open source ↗δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. γραφή (graphḗ, G1124) — a document, i.e. holy Writ (or its contents or a statement in it) προείδω (proeídō, G4275) — foresee ὅτι (hóti, G3754) — demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because θεός (theós, G2316) — figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very δικαιόω (dikaióō, G1344) — to render (i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent ἔθνος (éthnos, G1484) — a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one… ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) πίστις (pístis, G4102) — persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of… προευαγγελίζομαι (proeuangelízomai, G4283) — to announce glad news in advance Ἀβραάμ (Abraám, G11) — Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch ἐν (en, G1722) — "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc. σοί (soí, G4671) — to thee ἐνευλογέω (eneulogéō, G1757) — to confer a benefit on
Open source ↗ὥστε (hṓste, G5620) — so too, i.e. thus therefore (in various relations of consecution, as follow) ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) πίστις (pístis, G4102) — persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of… εὐλογέω (eulogéō, G2127) — to speak well of, i.e. (religiously) to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon,… σύν (sýn, G4862) — with or together (but much closer than G3326 (μετά) or G3844 (παρά)), i.e. by… πιστός (pistós, G4103) — objectively, trustworthy; subjectively, trustful Ἀβραάμ (Abraám, G11) — Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch
Open source ↗γάρ (gár, G1063) — properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often… ὅσος (hósos, G3745) — as (much, great, long, etc.) as εἰσί (eisí, G1526) — they are ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) ἔργον (érgon, G2041) — toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act νόμος (nómos, G3551) — law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of… ὑπό (hypó, G5259) — under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or… κατάρα (katára, G2671) — imprecation, execration γράφω (gráphō, G1125) — to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe ἐπικατάρατος (epikatáratos, G1944) — imprecated, i.e. execrable πᾶς (pâs, G3956) — all, any, every, the whole ὅς (hós, G3739) — the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that ἐμμένω (emménō, G1696) — to stay in the same place, i.e. (figuratively) persevere οὐ (ou, G3756) — the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb; no or not
Open source ↗δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. ὅτι (hóti, G3754) — demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because οὐδείς (oudeís, G3762) — not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e. none, nobody, nothing δικαιόω (dikaióō, G1344) — to render (i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent ἐν (en, G1722) — "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc. νόμος (nómos, G3551) — law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of… παρά (pará, G3844) — properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with… θεός (theós, G2316) — figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very δῆλος (dēlos, G1212) — clear δίκαιος (díkaios, G1342) — equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively) ζάω (záō, G2198) — to live (literally or figuratively) ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) πίστις (pístis, G4102) — persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of…
Open source ↗δέ (dé, G1161) — but, and, etc. νόμος (nómos, G3551) — law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of… ἐστί (estí, G2076) — he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are οὐ (ou, G3756) — the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb; no or not ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) πίστις (pístis, G4102) — persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of… ἀλλά (allá, G235) — properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations) ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos, G444) — from G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι)); man-faced, i.e. a human being ποιέω (poiéō, G4160) — to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct) αὐτός (autós, G846) — the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the… ζάω (záō, G2198) — to live (literally or figuratively) ἐν (en, G1722) — "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
Open source ↗Χριστός (Christós, G5547) — anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus ἐξαγοράζω (exagorázō, G1805) — to buy up, i.e. ransom; figuratively, to rescue from loss (improve opportunity) ἡμᾶς (hēmâs, G2248) — us ἐκ (ek, G1537) — literal or figurative; direct or remote) κατάρα (katára, G2671) — imprecation, execration νόμος (nómos, G3551) — law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of… γίνομαι (gínomai, G1096) — to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with… ὑπέρ (hypér, G5228) — "over", i.e. (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the… ἡμῶν (hēmōn, G2257) — of (or from) us γάρ (gár, G1063) — properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often… γράφω (gráphō, G1125) — to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe ἐπικατάρατος (epikatáratos, G1944) — imprecated, i.e. execrable πᾶς (pâs, G3956) — all, any, every, the whole κρεμάννυμι (kremánnymi, G2910) — to hang
Open source ↗ἵνα (hína, G2443) — compare G3588 (ὁ)); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result) εὐλογία (eulogía, G2129) — fine speaking, i.e. elegance of language; commendation ("eulogy"), i.e. (reverentially)… Ἀβραάμ (Abraám, G11) — Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch γίνομαι (gínomai, G1096) — to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with… εἰς (eis, G1519) — to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively)… ἔθνος (éthnos, G1484) — a race (as of the same habit), i.e. a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-Jewish) one… ἐν (en, G1722) — "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc. Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs, G2424) — Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites Χριστός (Christós, G5547) — anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus λαμβάνω (lambánō, G2983) — while G138 (αἱρέομαι) is more violent, to seize or remove)) ἐπαγγελία (epangelía, G1860) — an announcement (for information, assent or pledge; especially a divine assurance of good) πνεῦμα (pneûma, G4151) — a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit,… διά (diá, G1223) — through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional) πίστις (pístis, G4102) — persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.
But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.
Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh?
With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.
Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.