Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin
Chapter 1
COMMENTARIES ON THE
EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE GALATIANS. CHAPTER 1
Galatians 1:1-5
Galatians 1:1-5
1. Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead,)
1. Paulus apostolus, non ab hominibus, neque per hominem, sed per Iesum Christum, et Deum Patrem, qui suscitavit illum ex mortuis,
2. And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 2. Et qui mecum sunt fratres omnes, ecclesiis Galatiae: 3. Grace be to you, and peace, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
3. Gratia vobis et pax a Deo Patre, et Domino nostro Iesu Christo, 4. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
4. Qui dedit se ipsum pro peccatis nostris, ut nos eriperet a praesenti saeculo maligno, secundum voluntatem Dei et Patris nostri,
5. To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 5. Cui gloria in saecula saeculorum. Amen. 1. Paul, an apostle. In the salutations with which he commenced his Epistles, Paul was accustomed to claim the title of "an Apostle." His object in doing so, as we have remarked on former occasions, was to employ the authority of his station, for the purpose of enforcing his doctrine. This authority depends not on the judgment or opinion of men, but exclusively on the calling of God; and therefore he demands a hearing on the ground of his being "an Apostle." Let us always bear this in mind, that in the church we ought to listen to God alone, and to Jesus Christ, whom he has appointed to be our teacher. Whoever assumes a right to instruct us, must speak in the name of God or of Christ.
But as the calling of Paul was more vehemently disputed among the Galatians, he asserts it more strongly in his address to that church, than in his other Epistles; for he does not simply affirm that he was called by God, but states expressly that it was not either from men or by men. This statement,