Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Galatians 3:2 - 3:2

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Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Galatians 3:2 - 3:2


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

2. μαθεῖν. Luther insists on its strongest meaning, “Go to now, answer me, I pray you, which am your scholar (for ye are so suddenly become Doctors, that ye are my masters and teachers)” (p. 98b). But doubtless the weak sense of “be informed,” Act 23:27, is right. The tense is punctiliar, “ascertain,” as in Acts and frequently in the papyri (Moulton, Proleg., 1906, p. 117).

ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, Gal 2:16, note. This was impossible, because you were heathen.

τὸ πνεῦμα ἐλάβετε. They knew this partly by the miracles that took place, Gal 3:5. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place so generally that the coincidence of Act 13:52 proves little for the South Galatian theory. Bp Chase thinks this refers to confirmation (Confirmation in the Apostolic Age, pp. 85 sqq.).

ἢ ἐξ ἀκοῆς πίστεως, Gal 3:5, cf. Rom 10:17; also 1Th 2:13; Heb 4:2. ἀκοή here is not passive, “the message which treats of faith” (cf. Mat 4:24; Joh 12:38, a quotation, and probably Heb 4:2), but active, the power and exercise of hearing (1Co 12:17; 2Ti 4:3; 2Pe 2:8). πίστεως is appended almost as an epithet, “hearing marked by faith.” Thus the phrase is doubly contrasted with ἐξ ἔργων νόμου, ἀκοή with ἔργα, and πίστις with νόμος. “Exquisite sic denotatur natura fidei, non operantis, sed recipients” (Beng.). Faith is receptive, works productive.

So Luther, “The Law never bringeth the Holy Ghost, but only teacheth what we ought to do: therefore it justifieth not. But the Gospel bringeth the Holy Ghost, because it teacheth what we ought to receive.… Now, to exact and to give, to take and to offer are things contrary, and cannot stand together.… Therefore if the Gospel be a gift, it requireth nothing. Contrariwise, the law giveth nothing, but it requireth and straightly exacteth of us, yea even impossible things” (p. 102a).