Commentary on Galatians, Chapter 1 · Verse extract 1
Verſe. 1. VntoUnto the Churches of Galatia.
Paule had preached the goſpell thorow out all Galatia: and albeit he had not wholy conuerted it vntounto Chriſt, yet he had many Churches in it, into the which the falſe Apoſtles, Satans miniſters had crept. So likewiſe at this day the fantaſticall Anabaptiſts come not to thoſe places where the aduerſaries of the goſpel beare rule: but where Chriſtians and good men are which louelove the goſpel.Theſe fantaſticall ſpirites flie the croſſe, and therfore betake them ſelues to ſuch places vvhere they may liue at eaſe. With ſuch they wind in themſelues euen in the dominions of tyrans and perſecuters of the goſpell; where they creeping into houſes vnderunder craftie pretence, poure out their poyſon to the ſubuerſion of many. But why goe they not rather into the cities, countreis and dominiōs of the papiſts, and there profeſſe & mainteine their doctrine in the preſence of wicked Princes, Biſhops and Doctors in the vniuerſities, as we by Gods helpe & aſſiſtance hauehave done? Theſe tender Martyrs will aduenture no perill, but they reſort thither where ye goſpel hath an harborow already, where they may liue wtout daunger in great peace & quietnes. So the falſe Apoſtles would not endaūger thēſelues to come to Ieruſalem to Caiphas, or to Rome to the Emperour, or to other places where no mā had preached afore, as Paule & the other Apoſtles did: but they came into Galatia, which was wonne vntounto Chriſt already by the labour & trauel of Paule, & into Aſia, Corinth, & ſuch other places, where good mē were & profeſſed ye name of Chriſt, perſecuting no mā, but ſuffring al things quietly. Ther might ye enemies of chriſtes croſſe liue in great ſecurity, & wtout any perſecutiō.
And here we may learne that it is the lot of all godly teachers,The condition of all godly preachers. that beſides the perſecution which they ſuffer of the wicked & vnthankfull world, and the great trauell which they ſuſtaine in planting of churches, they are compelled to ſuffer that thing which they of long time before had purely taught, to be quickly ouerthrowne of fantaſticall ſpirites, who afterwards reigne and rule ouer them. This greueth godly miniſters more then any perſecution of Tyrants. Therefore let him not be a miniſter of the goſpell that is not contēt to be thus deſpiſed, or is loth to beare this reproch: or if he be, let him giuegive ouer his charge to an other.The cōfort of faithfull teachers laboring vnderunder the croſſe. We alſo at this day finde the ſame thing true by experience. We be extreamly deſpiſed and vexed outwardly by Tyraunts, inwardly by thoſe whom we hauehave reſtored to liberty by the goſpell,1. Cor. 2, 9. and alſo by falſe brethern. But this is our comforte and glory, that being called of God, we hauehave a promiſe of euerlaſting life, & looke for that reward, which eie hath not ſeene, nor eare hath heard, nor hath entred into the harte of man.The conſtant faith of Luther For when the greate ſhepard Chriſt ſhal appeare,1 Pet. 5, 4. we ſhall receaue an incorruptible crowne of glory: who here alſo in this world will not ſuffer vsus to periſh for hunger.
Ierome moueth here a greate queſtion, why Paule calleth thoſe churches, which were no churches. Is it (ſaith he) becauſe Paule writeth to the Galathians that were peruerted and turned backe from Chriſt and from grace, vntounto Moiſes and the law? Herevnto I anſwer, that Paule calleth them the Churches of Galatia, by putting a part for the whole, which is a common thing in the ſcriptures. For writing in like maner to the Corinthians, he reioyſeth on their behalfe, that the grace of God was geuen them in Chriſt, namely, that they were made rich thorow him in all vtterance and knowledge: and yet many of thē were miſled by falſe Apoſtles, and beleeued not the reſurrection of the deade.
Allbeit then that the Galathians were fallen away frō the doctrine of Paule, yet did baptiſme, the worde, and the name of Chriſt remaine among them. There were alſo ſome good men that were not reuolted, which had a good opinion of the word and ſacraments, and vſed them rightly. Moreouer theſe things could not be defiled through them that were reuolted. For baptiſme, the goſpell, & other things are not therfore made vnholy becauſe many are polluted and vnholy,The vvord & ſacramentes are not polluted by our vngodlines. and hauehave an euil opinion of them: but they abide holy, and the ſame that they were, whether they be among the godly or the vngodly: by whom they can neither be polluted, nor made holy. By our good or euil conuerſation, by our good or euill life and maners they be polluted or made holy in the ſight of the heathen, but not afore God. Wherefore whereſoeuer the ſubſtance of the word and ſacraments remaineth, there is the holy Church, although Antichriſt there reigne, who (as the ſcripture witneſſeth, (ſitteth not in a ſtable of Feends, or in a Swineſtie,The ſeat of Antichriſt. or in a company of Infidels, but in the higheſt and holieſt place of all, namely in ye temple of God. Wherefore although ſpirituall Tyraunts reigne, yet there muſt be a temple of God,2. Theſ. 2.4. and the ſame muſt be preſerued vnderunder them. Therefore I aunſwere briefly to this queſtion: that the Church is vniuerſall throughout the whole world,The churche diſperſed through the vvorld. whereſoeuer the Goſpell of God and the ſacraments be. The Iewes, the Turcks, and other fantaſticall ſpirites are not the church becauſe they fight againſt theſe things, and do deny them. Now followeth the greeting of Paule.