John Bengel Commentary - Galatians 3:4 - 3:4

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John Bengel Commentary - Galatians 3:4 - 3:4


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Gal 3:4. Ἐπάθετε) have you suffered? While you suffered and bore with me most patiently (and this patience is the fruit of the Spirit), when I portrayed before your eyes Christ and His cross, Gal 3:1, note, and laboured among you in the weakness of the flesh; as he speaks more explicitly afterwards at Gal 4:11 (where the word εἰκῆ, in vain, is repeated), 13, etc. He does not say, have you done (comp. 2 John Gal 3:8), because he refutes in this passage those that work; but he says, have you suffered, with great propriety of language (for he suffers, who is brought to the birth[19] [in Christ], Gal 4:19; as also, he who runs, Gal 5:7); also appositely to his argument, in order to amplify the indignity of their loss. There is a use of this verb not dissimilar, at Amo 6:6; Zec 11:5. Sometimes εὐ πάσχειν, ἀγαθὸν πάσχειν, is to receive [to be favoured with] a benefit, Bar 6:33 (34): but this is not the notion of the word adopted by Paul.-εἴγε καὶ εἰκῆ, if it be yet in vain) This is as it were a correction;[20] ye have not suffered so many things in vain; for God has given you the Spirit, and has wrought mighty works [‘virtutes,’ miracles, Gal 3:5] in you. Comp. Heb 10:32.

[19] The patitur qui paritur of the original cannot be imitated in a translation.-TR.

[20] See App.