Commentary on Galatians, Chapter 1 · Verse extract 1 – Verse extract 2
Verſe. 1. And by God the Father, vvhichwhich hath raiſed him from the dead.
Paule is ſo enflamed heere with zeale, that he can not tary till he come to the matter it ſelfe, but forthwith in the very title he burſteth out and vttereth what he hath in his heart.The ſumme of the Epiſtle to the Galathiās. His intent in this Epiſtle is to treate of the righteouſnes that cometh by faith, and to defend the ſame: Againe, to ouerthrowe the lawe, and the righteouſnes that cometh by workes. Of ſuch cogitations he is full, and out of this wonderfull and exceeding great abundance of the excellent wiſedome and knowledge of Chriſt in his heart, his mouth ſpeaketh. This flame,Math. 12.34. this great burning fire of his heart cā not be hid, nor ſuffer him to hold his tongue: and therfore he thought it not enough to ſay that he was an Apoſtle ſent by Ieſus Chriſt, but alſo addeth: by God the Father vvhichwhich raiſed him vp from the dead.
But the adding of theſe words: And by God the father &c, ſemeth not neceſſary. But becauſe (as I ſayd) Paule ſpeaketh out of the abundance of his heart: his minde burneth with deſire to ſet forth euen in the very entrie of his Epiſtle, the vnſearchable riches of Chriſt, and to preach the righteouſnes of God, which is called the reſurrection of the dead. Chriſt who liueth and is riſen againe, ſpeaketh out of him, and moueth him thus to ſpeake: therfore not without cauſe he addeth, that he is alſo an Apoſtle By God the father, vvhichwhich hath raiſed vp Ieſus Chriſt from the dead. As if he would ſay: I hauehave to deale with Satan and with thoſe vipers, the inſtrumēts of Satan, which go about to ſpoile me of the righteouſnes of Chriſt, who was raiſed vp by God the to ſpoile me of the righteouſnes of Chriſt, who was raiſed vp by God ye father frō the dead: by which alone we are made righteous, by which alſo we ſhalbe raiſed vp in the laſt day from death to euerlaſting life. But they that in ſuch ſort goe about to ouerthrow Chriſtes righteouſnes, do reſiſt the father and the ſonne, and the worke of them bothe.
VVhat Paule goeth about in this Epiſtle.Thus Paule euen at the firſt entrance, burſteth out into the whole matter wherof he treateth in this Epiſtle. For (as I ſayd) he treateth of the reſurrection of Chriſt, who roſe againe to make vsus righteous, and in ſo doing he hath ouercome the lawe,Rom. 4.24.25. ſinne, death, and all euels. Chriſtes victorie then is the ouercōming of the law,The victorie of Chriſt is ours. of ſinne, our fleſh, the world, the deuil, death, hel & all euils: and this his victorie hath he geuen vntounto vsus. Although then that theſe tyraunts and enemies of ours do accuſe vsus and make vsus afraid: yet can they not driue vsus to deſpaire, nor condemne vsus. For Chriſt whom God the father hath raiſed vp frō the dead,1. Cor. 15.57. is our righteouſnes and victory. Therfore thanks be to God, who hath geuen vsus victorie by our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Amen.
But marke how fitly and to the purpoſe Paule here ſpeaketh. He ſayth not by God that hath made heauen and earth, which is Lord of the Angels: which commaunded Abraham to goe out of his owne coū trey: which ſent Moiſes to Pharao the king: which brought Iſrael out of Egypt, (as the falſe Apoſtles did, who boaſted of the God of their fathers, the creator, maintainer, and preſeruer of all things, working wonders among his people): but Paule had an other thing in his hart, namely the righteouſnes of Chriſt, & therfore he ſpeaketh words that make much for this his matter, ſaying: I am an Apoſtle, neither of men nor by men, but by Ieſus Chriſt and God the father, vvho hath raiſed him vp from the dead. Ye ſee then with what feruencie of ſpirit Paule is led in this matter which he goeth about to eſtabliſh and maintaine againſt the whole kingdom of hell, the power and wiſdom of the world, and againſt the Deuill and his apoſtles.
Verſe. 2. And all the Brethern vvith me.
This maketh much for the ſtopping of the mouthes of theſe falſe Apoſtles. For al his arguments tend to the aduauncing & magnifying of his miniſterie, & contrariwiſe to the diſcrediting of theirs. As if he ſhould thus ſay: Although it be enough, yt I through a diuine calling am ſent as an Apoſtle by Ieſus Chriſt & God the father, which hath raiſed him vp from the dead, yet leſt I ſhould be alone, I adde ouer & beſides (which is more then needeth) all the brethern which are not Apoſtles, but fellow ſouldiers: they wryte this Epiſtle as well as I, and beare witnes with me that my doctrine is true & godly. Wherfore we be ſure that Chriſt is preſent with vsus, & that he teacheth and ſpeaketh in the middeſt of vsus and in our church. As for the falſe Apoſtles, if they be any thing, they be but ſent either of mē or by men: but I am ſent of God the Father, and of Ieſus Chriſt, who is our life and reſurrection.Iohn. 11.25. My other brethern are ſent from God, howbeit by mā, that is to wit, by me. Therfore leſt they might ſay,VVhy he ſaith and all the brethern. that I onelyonly ſet my ſelfe proudly againſt them, I hauehave my brethern with me all of one minde, as faithfull witneſſes: which thinke, wryte, & teach the ſelfe ſame thing that I doe. Thus much concerning the title of the wryter. Now to the parties to whom he wryteth.