加拉太书 6章18节 到 6章18节 背景资料 上一笔

     * the grace.
     # Ro 16:20,24; 2Co 13:14; 2Ti 4:22; Phm 1:25; Re 22:21|

            CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS.

     The Galatians, or Gallograecians, were the descendants of Gauls,
     who migrated from their own country, and after a series of
     disasters, got possession of a large district in Asia Minor,
     from them called Galatia.  (Pausanias, Attic. c. iv.)  They are
     mentioned by historians as a tall and valiant people, who went
     nearly naked, and used for arms only a buckler and sword; and
     the impetuosity of their attack is said to have been
     irresistible.  Their religion, before their conversion was
     extremely corrupt and superstitious;  they are said to have
     worshipped the mother of the gods, under the name of Adgistis;
     and to have offered human sacrifices of the prisoners they took
     in war.  Though they spoke the Greek language in common with
     almost all the inhabitants of Asia Minor, yet it appears from
     Jerome that they retained their original Gaulish language even
     as late as the fifth century.  Christianity appears to have been
     first planted in these regions by St. Paul himself, (ch. 1:6;
     4:13;) who visited the churches at least twice in that country,
     (Ac 16:6; 18:23.)  It is evident that this epistle was written
     soon after their reception of the gospel, as he complains of
     their speedy apostasy from his doctrine, (ch. 1. 6;) and as
     there is no notice of his second journey into that country, it
     has been supposed, with much probability, that it was written
     soon after his first, and consequently about A.D. 52; or 53.  It
     appears that soon after the Apostle had left them, some
     Judaizing teachers intruded themselves into the churches;
     drawing them off from the true gospel, to depend on ceremonial
     observances, and to the vain endeavour of "establishing their
     own righteousness."  It was in order to oppose this false gospel
     that St. Paul addressed the Galatians, and after saluting the
     churches of Galatia, and establishing his apostolic commission
     against the attacks of the false teachers, he reproves them for
     departing from that gospel which he had preached to them, and
     confirmed by the gift of the Holy Ghost;--proves that
     justification is by faith alone, and not by the deeds of the
     law, from the example of Abraham, the testimony of Scripture,
     the curse of the law, the redemption of Christ, and the
     Abrahamic covenant, which the law could not disannul;--shows the
     use of the law in connection with the covenant of grace;
     concludes that all believers are delivered from the law, and
     made the spiritual seed of Abraham by faith in Christ;
     illustrates his inference by God's treatment of the Jewish
     church, which he put under the law, as a father puts a minor
     under a guardian; shows the weakness and folly of the Galatians
     in subjecting themselves to the law, and that by submitting
     themselves to circumcision they become subject to the whole law,
     and would forfeit the benefits of the covenant of grace; gives
     them various instructions and exhortations for their Christian
     conduct, and particularly concerning the right use of their
     Christian freedom; and concludes with a brief summary of the
     topics discussed, and by commending them to the grace of Christ.