Chapter 1:
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| Jamieson Faussett Brown
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| Wesley
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 2 Corinthians Ephesians
Galatians 1
Verse 1. Paul, an apostle - Here it was necessary for St. Paul to assert his
authority; otherwise he is very modest in the use of this title. He
seldom mentions it when he mentions others in the salutations
with himself, as in the Epistles to the Philippians and
Thessalonians; or when he writes about secular affairs, as in that
to Philemon; nor yet in writing to the Hebrews because he was not
properly their apostle. Not of men - Not commissioned from
them, but from God the Father. Neither by man - Neither by any
man as an instrument, but by Jesus Christ. Who raised him from
the dead - Of which it was the peculiar business of an apostle to
bear witness.
Verse 2. And all the brethren - Who agree with me in what I now write.
Verse 4. That he might deliver us from the present evil world - From the
guilt, wickedness, and misery wherein it is involved, and from its
vain and foolish customs and pleasures. According to the will of
God - Without any merit of ours. St. Paul begins most of his
epistles with thanksgiving; but, writing to the Galatians, he alters
his style, and first sets down his main proposition, That by the
merits of Christ alone, giving himself for our sins, we are
justified: neither does he term them, as he does others, either
saints," elect," or churches of God."
Verse 5. To whom be glory - For this his gracious will.
Verse 6. I marvel that ye are removed so soon - After my leaving you.
From him who called you by the grace of Christ - His gracious
gospel, and his gracious power.
Verse 7. Which, indeed, is not properly another gospel. For what ye
have now received is no gospel at all; it is not glad, but heavy,
tidings, as setting your acceptance with God upon terms
impossible to be performed. But there are some that trouble you -
The same word occurs, Acts xv, 24. And would - If they were
able. Subvert or overthrow the gospel of Christ - The better to
effect which, they suggest, that the other apostles, yea, and I
myself, insist upon the observance of the law.
Verse 8. But if we - I and all the apostles. Or an angel from heaven - If it
were possible. Preach another gospel, let him be accursed - Cut
off from Christ and God.
Verse 9. As - He speaks upon mature deliberation; after pausing, it
seems, between the two verses. We - I and the brethren who are
with me. Have said before - Many times, in effect, if not in terms.
So I say - All those brethren knew the truth of the gospel. St. Paul
knew the Galatians had received the true gospel.
Verse 10. For - He adds the reason why he speaks so confidently. Do I
now satisfy men - Is this what I aim at in preaching or writing? If
I still - Since I was an apostle. Pleased men - Studied to please
them; if this were my motive of action; nay, if I did in fact please
the men who know not God. I should not be the servant of Christ -
Hear this, all ye who vainly hope to keep in favour both with God
and with the world!
Verse 11. But I certify you, brethren - He does not till now give them
even this appellation. That the gospel which was preached by me
among you is not according to man - Not from man, not by man,
not suited to the taste of man.
Verse 12. For neither did I receive it - At once. Nor was I taught it -
Slowly and gradually, by any man. But by the Revelation of Jesus
Christ - Our Lord revealed to him at first, his resurrection,
ascension, and the calling of the gentiles, and his own apostleship;
and told him then, there were other things for which he would
appear to him.
Verse 13. I Persecuted the church of God - That is, the believers in
Christ.
Verse 14. Being zealous of the unwritten traditions - Over and above
those written in the law.
Verse 15. But when it pleased God - He ascribes nothing to his own
merits, endeavours, or sincerity. Who separated me from my
mother's womb - Set me apart for an apostle, as he did Jeremiah
for a prophet. Jer. i, 5. Such an unconditional predestination as
this may consist, both with God's justice and mercy. And called
me by his grace - By his free and almighty love, to be both a
Christian and an apostle.
Verse 16. To reveal his Son in me - By the powerful operation of his
Spirit, chap. iv, 6; as well as to me, by the heavenly vision. That I
might preach him to others - Which I should have been ill
qualified to do, had I not first known him myself. I did not confer
with flesh and blood - Being fully satisfied of the divine will, and
determined to obey, I took no counsel with any man, neither with
my own reason or inclinations, which might have raised
numberless objections.
Verse 17. Neither did I go up to Jerusalem - The residence of the
apostles. But I immediately went again into Arabia, and returned
again to Damascus - He presupposes the journey to Damascus, in
which he was converted, as being known to them all.
Verse 18. Then after three years - Wherein I had given full proof of my
apostleship. I went to visit Peter - To converse with him.
Verse 19. But other of the apostles I saw none, save James the brother
(that is, the kinsman) of the Lord - Therefore when Barnabas is
said to have "brought him into the apostles," Acts ix, 27, only St.
Peter and St James are meant.
Verse 24. In me - That is, on my account.
Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Luther
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 2 Corinthians Ephesians
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
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Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
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Song of Solomon
Isaiah
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Lamentations
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Daniel
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Obadiah
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Nahum
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Malachi
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John
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Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
