Galatians Commentary:
I. Introduction (1:1-9)
II. Paul's Gospel and Authority (1:10-2:21)
III. Faith Alone Against Works-Gospel (3:1-5:12)
IV. New Life in the Spirit and Love (5:13-6:18)
A. Spirit and Flesh (5:13-26)
B. Keep Watch and do Good (6:1-10)
C. Final Warning and Benediction (6:11-18)
Take my Life and Let It Be by Russell's Hymns
Ambrose writes, "And Isaac 'smelled the fragrance of his garments' [Gen. 27:27]. And perhaps that means that we are not justified by works but by faith, because the weakness of the flesh is a hindrance to works but the brightness of faith puts the error that is in man’s deeds in the shadow and merits for him the forgiveness of his sins." (Jacob and the Happy Life, II:9, pp. 150-51).
Gregory the Great writes, "For contemplating the strictness of Divine Justice, we justly fear even for the very works themselves, which we flattered ourselves we had so done that they were strong... And hence, when Paul both perceived that he had the bones of the several virtues, and yet that these same bones trembled under the searching scrutiny, he saith, But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment; yea, I judge not mine own self; for I know nothing against myself: [1 Cor 4:3-4] Yet because, when the ‘veins’ of the divine ‘whispering’ were heard, these same bones quaked, he thereupon added, For I am not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me is the Lord. As though be were to say, ‘I remember that I have done light things, yet I presume not on my merits; for our life is brought to the scrutiny of Him, under Whom even the bones of our strength are dismayed." (Morals on the Book of Job, 5.56).
Origen writes, "Before God, no living being will be justified. This shows that in comparision with God, and the righteousness that is in him, no one (not even the most perfect of saints) will be justified. We might take a different illustration and say that no candle can give light before the sun. We do not mean that the candle will not give out light, but that it will not be seen when the sun outshines it." (Commentary on John, ANF, 1:467).
Bernard writes, " 'Our glory,' says the great Apostle, 'is this, the testimony of our conscience' (2 Cor. ii. I2). Not such testimony as the proud Pharisee obtained, for although his deceived and deceiving conscience gave testimony to him, we know that testimony was not true (Luke xviii, II, I2, John xix. 35); but the testimony which 'the Spirit Himself giveth to our spirit' (Rom viii. I6)—it is in this testimony we place our glory. Now it seems to me that this divine testimony consists in three convictions. For we ought to believe, in the first place, that we cannot obtain the pardon of our sins otherwise than through the mercy of God; secondly, that we are powerless to do any good work whatever except by His grace; thirdly, that by no works of ours can we merit eternal life, unless it is His good pleasure to bestow upon us this also as a free gift." (First Sermon for the Feast of the Annunciation, para 1).
Bernard writes, "Sorrow for sin is indeed necessary, but it should not be an endless preoccupation. You must dwell also on the glad remembrance of God's loving- kindness, otherwise sadness will harden the heart and lead it more deeply into despair. Let us mix honey with our absinthe, it is more easily drunk when sweetened, and what bitterness it may still retain will be wholesome. You must fix your attention on the ways of God, see how he mitigates the bitterness of the heart that is crushed, how he wins back the pusillanimous soul from the abyss of despair, how he consoles the grief-stricken and strengthens the wavering with the sweet caress of his faithful promise." (On the Song of Songs, 11.2).
Athanasius writes, "One day when he had gone forth because all the monks had assembled to him and asked to hear words from him, he spoke to them in the Egyptian tongue as follows: ‘The Scriptures are enough for instruction, but it is a good thing to encourage one another in the faith, and to stir up with words... Wherefore as a servant would not dare to say, because I worked yesterday, I will not work today; and considering the past will do no work in the future; but, as it is written in the Gospel, daily shows the same readiness to please his master... Very often also without appearing they imitate the music of harp and voice, and recall the words of Scripture. Sometimes, too, while we are reading they immediately repeat many times, like an echo, what is read. They arouse us from our sleep to prayers; and this constantly, hardly allowing us to sleep at all. At another time they assume the appearance of monks and feign the speech of holy men, that by their similarity they may deceive and thus drag their victims where they will. But no heed must be paid them even if they arouse to prayer, even if they counsel us not to eat at all, even though they seem to accuse and cast shame upon us for those things which once they allowed. For they do this not for the sake of piety or truth, but that they may carry off the simple to despair; and that they may say the discipline is useless, and make men loathe the solitary life as a trouble and burden, and hinder those who in spite of them walk in it." (His Address to Monks, 16, 18, and 25).
Duns Scotus writes, "About our theology I say that is not about all things, because, just as the theology of the blessed has a limit, so also does ours, from the will of God revealing. But the limit fixed by the divine will as to general revelation is the things that are in divine Scripture, because – as is contained in the last chapter of Revelation – 'he who adds to these things, to him will God add the plagues that are set down in this book.' Therefore, our knowledge is de facto only of the things contained in Scripture and of the things that can be elicited from them." (Ordinatio, 204).
Thomas Watson comments, "It will be our comfort on our deathbed, to review a well-spent life. It was Augustine's wish that he might have a quiet, easy death. If anything makes our pillow easy at death, it will be this: that you have been unwearied in God's work. This will be a deathbed cordial. Did you ever know any to repent at death, that they had been too holy? Many have repented that they have followed the world too much—but not that they have prayed too much—not that they have repented too much. What has made death sweet but that they have finished their course and kept the faith." (Let Us Not Grow Weary).
Ambrose writes, "Perfect liberality is proved by its good faith, the case it helps, the time and place when and where it is shown. But first we must always see that we help those of the household of faith. [ Galatians 6:10 ] It is a serious fault if a believer is in want, and you know it, or if you know that he is without means, that he is hungry, that he suffer distress, especially if he is ashamed of his need. It is a great fault if he is overwhelmed by the imprisonment or false accusation of his family, and thou dost not come to his help. If he is in prison, and— upright though he is— has to suffer pain and punishment for some debt (for though we ought to show mercy to all, yet we ought to show it especially to an upright man); if in the time of his trouble he obtains nothing from you; if in the time of danger, when he is carried off to die, your money seems more to you than the life of a dying man; what a sin is that to you! Wherefore Job says beautifully: 'Let the blessing of him that was ready to perish come upon me.' [ Job 29:13 ]" (On the Duties of the Clergy, 1.148).
Ver 1. Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.
Ver 2. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Ver 3. For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Ver 4. But let each man examine his own work, and then he will have reason to boast in himself, and not in someone else.
Ver 5. For each man will bear his own burden.
Ver 6. But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.
Ver 7. Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Ver 8. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Ver 9. Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we don’t give up.
Ver 10. So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.