Galatians 5:7 - Exposition

Ye did run well ( ἐτρέχετε καλῶς ); full well ye were running. "To run" is a favourite figure with St. Paul, drawn from the foot-races of the Isthmian Games or other public games common throughout the Roman empire, and applied above ( Galatians 2:2 ) to his own course of apostolic service, but here, as in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ; 2 Timothy 4:17 ; and Philippians 3:14 , in a wider reference to the course of general Christian obedience. In Philippians 3:5 , Philippians 3:6 the apostle has indicated the proper character of a Christian believer's life, as one which is animated by a faith energizing through love, and by the anticipation of attaining hereafter the awards to be rendered to the justified. Compare the general strain of thought, strikingly similar to that in the present context, pursued in Philippians 3:12-15 . Obviously, one Important element in the comparison is the Christian's forward advance in self-improvement, as well as his continuing prosecution of work for Christ's cause. These characteristics had, and not long before, marked the manner of life of the Galatian Christians. Upon the recurrence of this recollection, here again, as in Galatians 3:1-4 ; Galatians 4:13-16 , the apostle bewails the change that had taken place. They had been so full of joy and of love in believing ( Galatians 4:14 , Galatians 4:15 ). But now an incipient relinquishment of their hope in Christ had left them cheerless, and, in consequence, ready to look abroad in quest of other grounds of assured confidence; while also the thence ensuing conflicts of controversy and faction had marred their once happy mutual concord ( Galatians 4:15 ). The form of Christian life which the Galatian Churchmen had in those days presented to view was apparently similar to that which at an earlier date he had described as marking the Thessalonian Church ( 1 Thessalonians 1:3 ), and at a later time applauds in the Colossian ( Colossians 1:4-6 , Colossians 1:8 ). Who aid hinder you ; or, who did drive you back ( τίς ὑμᾶς ἐνέκοψε [Receptus, ἀνέκοψε ]). The ἀνέκοψε of the Textus Receptus would mean, as in the margin of our English Bibles, "Who has driven [or, beaten, struck] you back," and would be illustrated by the use of the verb in Wis. 18:23, "Standing between, he beat back the wrath," as Aaron did. But ἐνέκοψε is the reading of all recent editors. The precise meaning of ἐγκόπτω does not seem to be, as some suppose, "to stop," but rather "to hamper, shackle, impede." It occurs Acts 24:4 , "be tedious;" 1 Thessalonians 2:18 , "Satan hindered;" Romans 15:22 and 1 Peter 3:7 , "hindered." So the substantive ἐγκοπή , 1 Corinthians 9:12 , "That we may cause no hindrance to [clog the success of] the gospel." Possibly this sense is derived from the hindrance caused to the traveller by the road being "cut into" or cut up before he goes over it. But it is more probably connected with the use of κόπτω in the sense of "worry," as in Demosthenes, 'Olynth.,' it. p. 22, "Worried from time to time by these expeditions up and down." So here, "Who was it that clogged your steps in running your race?" Not positively "arrested your steps:" this disastrous result, it was to be hoped, was not yet brought about; they were only as yet lagging in their course. This interrogation "who" does not so much demand that the evil worker shall be named and brought to light, as express the pity of it, that any one should have been able to work them so much mischief; as in Galatians 3:1 . Nevertheless, the author of the mischief had cause to tremble (see Galatians 3:12 , and note). That ye should not obey the truth? ( τῇ ἀληθείᾳ [T. Tr., Lightfoot, omit the τῇ ] μὴ πείθεσθαι ;); that ye should not be hearkening unto the truth (or, unto truth )? "The truth" directly cites the gospel; that is, the gospel which proclaims righteousness as theirs who believe in Christ apart from works of the ceremonial law; comp. Galatians 3:5 , "That the truth of the gospel might continue with you," the particular phase of the gospel there intended being clearly evinced from the circumstances referred to. "Truth," without the article, denoting "that which is true," cites the same by implication. The verb πείθομαι , frequently rendered in the Authorized Version by "obey," as Romans 2:8 and Hebrews 13:17 , properly means to lend a compliant ear to advice or persuasion; "to hearken," as Acts 5:36 , Acts 5:37 , Acts 5:40 ; Acts 23:1-35 . 21; Acts 27:11 . The apostle means that they were turning their ears away from the truth to listen to pernicious counsels or teaching. The verb is in the present tense with reference to the continued attention which they ought to be now giving to the gospel.