Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Book: Galatians
Chapters: 1 ·
2 ·
3 ·
4 ·
5 ·
6 ·
The churches in
Galatia were formed partly of converted Jews,
and partly of Gentile converts, as was generally the case. St.
Paul asserts his apostolic character and the doctrines he
taught, that he might confirm the Galatian churches in the
Faith
of
Christ, especially with respect to the important point of
Justification By Faith alone. Thus the subject is mainly the
same as that which is discussed in the epistle to the
Romans,
that is,
Justification By Faith alone. In this epistle, however,
attention is particularly directed to the point, that men are
justified
By Faith without the
Works of the
Law of
Moses. Of the
importance of the doctrines prominently set forth in this
epistle, Luther thus speaks: "We have to fear as the greatest
and nearest danger, lest
Satan take from us this doctrine of
Faith, and bring into the
Church again the doctrine of
Works and
of men's traditions. Wherefore it is very necessary that this
doctrine be kept in continual practice and public
Exercise, both
of reading and hearing. If this doctrine be lost, then is also
the doctrine of
Truth,
Life and
Salvation, lost and gone."