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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 3:1-5

The apostle is here dealing with those who, having embraced the faith of Christ, still continued to seek for justification by the works of the law; that is, who depended upon their own obedience to the moral precepts as their righteousness before God, and, wherein that was defective, had recourse to the legal sacrifices and purifications to make it up. These he first sharply reproves, and then endeavours, by the evidence of truth, to convince them. This is the right method, when we reprove any... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 3:1-9

3:1-9 O senseless Galatians, who has put the evil eye on you--you before whose very eyes Jesus Christ was placarded upon his Cross? Tell me this one thing--did you receive the Spirit by doing the works the law lays down, or because you listened and believed? Are you so senseless? After beginning your experience of God in the Spirit, are you now going to try to complete it by making it dependent upon what human nature can do? Is the tremendous experience you had all for nothing--if indeed you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 3:3

Are ye so foolish ?.... Is it possible you should be so stupid? and do you, or can you continue so? having begun in the Spirit ; that is, either in the Spirit of God, whom they had received through the preaching of the Gospel. They set out in a profession of religion in the light, under the influence, and by the assistance of the Spirit; they began to worship the Lord in spirit, and in truth, without any confidence in the flesh; they entered upon the service of God, and a newness of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:3

Having begun in the Spirit - Having received a spiritual religion, which refined and purified your hearts; and having received the Holy Spirit of God, by which ye were endued with various miraculous influences; and the spirit of adoption, by which he were assured of the remission of sins, and incorporation with the family of God: Are ye now made perfect by the flesh? - Are ye seeking to complete that spiritual religion, and to perfect these spiritual gifts, by the carnal rite of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 3:3

Verse 3 3.Are ye so foolish? Commentators are not agreed as to what he means by the Spirit and by the flesh. He alludes, in my opinion, to what he had said about the Spirit. As if he had said, “As the doctrine of the gospel brought to you the Holy Spirit, the commencement of your course was spiritual; but now ye have fallen into a worse condition, and may be said to have fallen from the Spirit into the flesh.” The flesh denotes either outward and fading flyings, such as ceremonies are,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:1-14

The bewitchery of Law. Paul, having stated his position as dead to the Law and inspired by Christ, goes on in the present paragraph to appeal to the Galatians to free themselves from the bewitching power of Law, and to yield themselves to the faith in a crucified and now risen Christ, which alone secures justification and its cognate blessings. And here we notice— I. HOW LAW CAN COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY WITH A CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR FOR THE HOMAGE OF THOUGHTLESS ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:1-14

Appeal to experience and Scripture. I. FOOLISHNESS OF THE GALATIANS SHOWN FROM THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE . 1 . Expression of astonishment in view o f their first impressions of the cross. "O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified?" Paul's address to Peter concluded with his presenting the dreadful supposition of Christ having died for nought. He with that turns to the Galatians, and calls to their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:2-5

The apostle's first argument in this controversy. I. APPLICATION OF THE TEST OF EXPERIENCE . "Received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith?" He begins by a practical test, which can be easily settled by experience and history. He refers to the time of awakening grace and first love. They had "received the Spirit." 1 . He concedes that they were Christians , though they were neither faithful, nor stable, nor sound. "The Holy Spirit is the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 3:3

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? ( οὕτως ἀνόητοί ἐστε ἐναρξάμενοι , πνεύματι νῦν σαρκὶ ἐπιτελεῖσθε ); are ye so foolish ? having begun with the Spirit , are y¢ now finishing with the flesh ? πνεύματι , as contrasted with σαρκί , means the element of spiritual existence (comp. the use of πνεῦμα in Romans 1:4 ; 1 Peter 3:18 ) into which they had been brought at their conversion by the Holy Spirit's... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 3:3

Are ye so foolish? - Can it be that you are so unwise? The idea is, that Paul hardly thought it credible that they could have pursued such a course. They had so cordially embraced the gospel when he preached to them, they had given such evidences that they were under its influence, that he regarded it as hardly possible that they should have so far abandoned it as to embrace such a system as they had done.Having begun in the Spirit - That is, when the gospel was first preached to them. They had... read more

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