Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin (continued)
Chapter
Galatians 5:1-6
Galatians 5:1-6
1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
1. In libertate igitur, qua Christus nos liberavit, state; et ne rursum jugo servitutis implicemini.
2. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
2. Ecee, ego Paulus denuncio vobis, quod, si circumcidamini, Christus vobis nihil proderit.
3. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
3. Testificor enim rursum cuivis homini, qui circumciditur, quod debitor sit totius Legis faciendae.
4. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
4. Exinaniti estis a Christo, quicunque per Legem justificamini, a gratia excidistis.
5. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 5. Nos enim Spiritu, ex fide, spem justitiae expectamus. 6. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
6. Nam in Christo Iesu neque Circumcisio quicquam valet, neque Praeputium; sed fides per dilectionero operans.
1. Stand fast therefore. After having told them that they are the children of the free woman, he now reminds them that they ought not lightly to despise a freedom so precious. And certainly it is an invaluable blessing, in defense of which it is our duty to fight, even to death; since not only the highest temporal considerations, but our eternal interests also, animate us to the contest. 94 Many persons, having never viewed the subject in this light, charge us with excessive zeal, when they see us so warmly and earnestly contending for freedom of faith as to outward matters, in opposition to the tyranny of the Pope.
94"Car il n'est pas yci seulement question du monde et des eommoditez de ceste vie, mais aussi des choses sainctes et qui eoncernent le service de Dieu." "For the present subject comprehends not merely the world and the benefits of this life, but also holy things, and those which relate to the worship of God."