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Text -- Galatians 5:1-2 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
Freedom of the Believer
5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. 5:2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all!
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Yoke | Works | Perseverance | Minister | Judaism | GALATIANS, THE EPISTLE TO THE | GALATIANS, EPISTLE TO THE | ENTANGLE | Decision | Commandments | Circumcision | BONDAGE | BAPTISM (LUTHERAN DOCTRINE) | Adoni-zedec | ADOPTION | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , Combined Bible , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey , Lapide

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Gal 5:1 - -- With freedom ( tēi eleutheriāi ). Rather dative case instead of instrumental, "for freedom,""for the (article) freedom that belongs to us childre...

With freedom ( tēi eleutheriāi ).

Rather dative case instead of instrumental, "for freedom,""for the (article) freedom that belongs to us children of the freewoman"(Gal 4:31).

Robertson: Gal 5:1 - -- Did Christ set us free ( hēmas Christos ēleutherōsen ). Effective aorist active indicative of eleutheroō (from erchomai , to go, go free).

Did Christ set us free ( hēmas Christos ēleutherōsen ).

Effective aorist active indicative of eleutheroō (from erchomai , to go, go free).

Robertson: Gal 5:1 - -- Stand fast therefore ( stēkete oun ). See Mar 3:31; 1Co 16:13 for this late word from perfect stem of histēmi , "keep on standing therefore,""sta...

Stand fast therefore ( stēkete oun ).

See Mar 3:31; 1Co 16:13 for this late word from perfect stem of histēmi , "keep on standing therefore,""stay free since Christ set you free."

Robertson: Gal 5:1 - -- Be not entangled again ( mē palin enechesthe ). "Stop being held in by a yoke of bondage."Common word for ensnare by trap. The Judaizers were tryin...

Be not entangled again ( mē palin enechesthe ).

"Stop being held in by a yoke of bondage."Common word for ensnare by trap. The Judaizers were trying to lasso the Galatians for the old yoke of Judaism.

Robertson: Gal 5:2 - -- I Paul ( egō Paulos ). Asserts all his personal and apostolic authority. For both words see also 1Th 2:16; 2Co 10:1; Col 1:23; Eph 3:1.

I Paul ( egō Paulos ).

Asserts all his personal and apostolic authority. For both words see also 1Th 2:16; 2Co 10:1; Col 1:23; Eph 3:1.

Robertson: Gal 5:2 - -- If ye receive circumcision ( ean peritemnēsthe ). Condition of third class and present passive subjunctive, a supposable case, but with terrible co...

If ye receive circumcision ( ean peritemnēsthe ).

Condition of third class and present passive subjunctive, a supposable case, but with terrible consequences, for they will make circumcision a condition of salvation. In that case Christ will help them not at all.

Vincent: Gal 5:1 - -- In the liberty wherewith. This is according to the reading τῆ ἐλευθερίᾳ ᾗ . Different connections are proposed, as with st...

In the liberty wherewith. This is according to the reading τῆ ἐλευθερίᾳ ᾗ . Different connections are proposed, as with stand fast , as A.V.: or with the close of chapter 4, as, " we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free with the freedom with which Christ freed us" : or, " of her who is free with the freedom with which ," etc. But ᾗ wherewith must be omitted. A new clause begins with τῇ ἐλευθερίᾳ . Rend. for freedom did Christ set us free . For, not with freedom. It is the dative of advantage; that we might be really free and remain free. Comp. Gal 5:13, and Joh 8:36.

Made (us) free ( ἠλευθέρωσεν )

With the exception of Joh 8:32, Joh 8:36, only in Paul.

Vincent: Gal 5:1 - -- Stand fast ( στήκετε ) Used absolutely, as 2Th 2:15. Mostly in Paul. See on 1Th 3:8.

Stand fast ( στήκετε )

Used absolutely, as 2Th 2:15. Mostly in Paul. See on 1Th 3:8.

Vincent: Gal 5:1 - -- Be not entangled ( μὴ ἐνέχεσθε ) Or, held ensnared . By Paul only here and 2Th 1:4. Lit. to be held within . For an ell...

Be not entangled ( μὴ ἐνέχεσθε )

Or, held ensnared . By Paul only here and 2Th 1:4. Lit. to be held within . For an elliptical usage see on Mar 6:19.

Vincent: Gal 5:1 - -- Yoke ( ζυγῷ ) Metaphorical, of a burden or bondage. Comp. Mat 11:29, Mat 11:30; Act 15:10; 1Ti 6:1. Similarly lxx, Gen 27:40; Lev 26:13; ...

Yoke ( ζυγῷ )

Metaphorical, of a burden or bondage. Comp. Mat 11:29, Mat 11:30; Act 15:10; 1Ti 6:1. Similarly lxx, Gen 27:40; Lev 26:13; 2Ch 10:4, 2Ch 10:9, 2Ch 10:10, 2Ch 10:11, 2Ch 10:14. So always in N.T. except Rev 6:5, where it means a pair of scales . See note, and comp. Lev 19:35, Lev 19:36; Pro 11:1; Pro 16:11; Hos 12:7.

Vincent: Gal 5:2 - -- Behold ( ἴδε ) Imperative singular , appealing to each individual reader.

Behold ( ἴδε )

Imperative singular , appealing to each individual reader.

Vincent: Gal 5:2 - -- I Paul Comp. 2Co 10:1; Eph 3:1; Col 1:23. Asserting his personal authority.

I Paul

Comp. 2Co 10:1; Eph 3:1; Col 1:23. Asserting his personal authority.

Vincent: Gal 5:2 - -- If ye be circumcised ( ἐὰν περιτέμνησθε ) Better, receive circumcision . The verb does not mean that they have already be...

If ye be circumcised ( ἐὰν περιτέμνησθε )

Better, receive circumcision . The verb does not mean that they have already been circumcised. It states the case as supposable, implying that they were in danger of allowing themselves to be circumcised.

Vincent: Gal 5:2 - -- Christ will profit you nothing Circumcision is the sign of subjection to the Jewish " yoke" - the economy of the law. The question with the Gala...

Christ will profit you nothing

Circumcision is the sign of subjection to the Jewish " yoke" - the economy of the law. The question with the Galatians was circumcision as a condition of salvation . See Gal 2:3, Gal 2:5; Act 15:1. It was a choice between salvation by law and salvation by Christ. The choice of the law involved the relinquishment of Christ. Comp. Gal 2:21. Chrysostom says: " He who is circumcised is circumcised as fearing the law: but he who fears the law distrusts the power of grace: and he who distrusts gains nothing from that which he distrusts."

Wesley: Gal 5:1 - -- From the ceremonial law.

From the ceremonial law.

Wesley: Gal 5:1 - -- And all believers, free; and be not entangled again with the yoke of legal bondage.

And all believers, free; and be not entangled again with the yoke of legal bondage.

Wesley: Gal 5:2 - -- And seek to be justified thereby.

And seek to be justified thereby.

Wesley: Gal 5:2 - -- The Christian institution.

The Christian institution.

Wesley: Gal 5:2 - -- For you hereby disclaim Christ, and all the blessings which are through faith in him.

For you hereby disclaim Christ, and all the blessings which are through faith in him.

JFB: Gal 5:2 - -- That is, Mark what I say.

That is, Mark what I say.

JFB: Gal 5:2 - -- Though you now think less of my authority, I nevertheless give my name and personal authority as enough by itself to refute all opposition of adversar...

Though you now think less of my authority, I nevertheless give my name and personal authority as enough by itself to refute all opposition of adversaries.

JFB: Gal 5:2 - -- Not as ALFORD, "If you will go on being circumcised." Rather, "If ye suffer yourselves to be circumcised," namely, under the notion of its being neces...

Not as ALFORD, "If you will go on being circumcised." Rather, "If ye suffer yourselves to be circumcised," namely, under the notion of its being necessary to justification (Gal 5:4; Act 15:1). Circumcision here is not regarded simply by itself (for, viewed as a mere national rite, it was practiced for conciliation's sake by Paul himself, Act 16:3), but as the symbol of Judaism and legalism in general. If this be necessary, then the Gospel of grace is at an end. If the latter be the way of justification, then Judaism is in no way so.

JFB: Gal 5:2 - -- (Gal 2:21). For righteousness of works and justification by faith cannot co-exist. "He who is circumcised [for justification] is so as fearing the la...

(Gal 2:21). For righteousness of works and justification by faith cannot co-exist. "He who is circumcised [for justification] is so as fearing the law, and he who fears, disbelieves the power of grace, and he who disbelieves can profit nothing by that grace which he disbelieves [CHRYSOSTOM].

Clarke: Gal 5:1 - -- Stand fast therefore in the liberty - This is intimately connected with the preceding chapter: the apostle having said, just before, So then, brethr...

Stand fast therefore in the liberty - This is intimately connected with the preceding chapter: the apostle having said, just before, So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond woman, but of the free, immediately adds, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. Hold fast your Christian profession; it brings spiritual liberty: on the contrary, Judaism brings spiritual bondage. Among the Jews, the Messiah’ s reign was to be a reign of liberty, and hence the Targum, on Lam 2:22, says: "Liberty shall be publicly proclaimed to thy people of the house of Israel, על יד משיחא al yad Mashicha , by the hand of the Messiah, such as was granted to them by Moses and Aaron at the time of the passover.

The liberty mentioned by the apostle is freedom from Jewish rites and ceremonies, called properly here the yoke of bondage; and also liberty from the power and guilt of sin, which nothing but the grace of Christ can take away.

Clarke: Gal 5:2 - -- If ye be circumcised - By circumcision you take on you the whole obligation of the Jewish law, and consequently profess to seek salvation by means o...

If ye be circumcised - By circumcision you take on you the whole obligation of the Jewish law, and consequently profess to seek salvation by means of its observances; and therefore Christ can profit you nothing; for, by seeking justification by the works of the law, you renounce justification by faith in Christ.

Calvin: Gal 5:1 - -- 1.Stand fast therefore. After having told them that they are the children of the free woman, he now reminds them that they ought not lightly to des...

1.Stand fast therefore. After having told them that they are the children of the free woman, he now reminds them that they ought not lightly to despise a freedom so precious. And certainly it is an invaluable blessing, in defense of which it is our duty to fight, even to death; since not only the highest temporal considerations, but our eternal interests also, animate us to the contest. 81 Many persons, having never viewed the subject in this light, charge us with excessive zeal, when they see us so warmly and earnestly contending for freedom of faith as to outward matters, in opposition to the tyranny of the Pope. Under this cloak, our adversaries raise a prejudice against us among ignorant people, as if the whole object of our pursuit were licentiousness, which is the relaxation of all discipline. But wise and skillful persons are aware that this is one of the most important doctrines connected with salvation. This is not a question whether you shall eat this or that food, — whether you shall observe or neglect a particular day, (which is the foolish notion entertained by many, and the slander uttered by some,) but what is your positive duty before God, what is necessary to salvation, and what cannot be omitted without sin. In short, the controversy relates to the liberty of conscience, when placed before the tribunal of God.

The liberty of which Paul speaks is exemption from the ceremonies of the law, the observance of which was demanded by the false apostles as necessary. But let the reader, at the same time, remember, that such liberty is only a part of that which Christ has procured for us: for how small a matter would it be, if he had only freed us from ceremonies? This is but a stream, which must be traced to a higher source. It is because

“Christ was made a curse, that he might redeem us
from the curse of the law,” (Gal 3:13;)

because he has revolted the power of the law” so far as it held us liable to the judgment of God under the penalty of eternal death; because, in a word, he has rescued us from the tyranny of sin, Satan, and death. Thus, under one department is included the whole class; but on this subject we shall speak more fully on the Epistle to the Colossians.

This liberty was procured for us by Christ on the cross: the fruit and possession of it are bestowed upon us through the Gospel. Well does Paul, then, warn the Galatians, not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage, — that is, not to allow a snare to be laid for their consciences. For if men lay upon our shoulders an unjust burden, it may be borne; but if they endeavor to bring our consciences into bondage, we must resist valiantly, even to death. If men be permitted to bind our consciences, we shall be deprived of an invaluable blessing, and an insult will be, at the same time, offered to Christ, the Author of our freedom. But what is the force of the word again, in the exhortation, “and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage?” for the Galatians had never lived under the law. It simply means that they were not to be entangled, as if they had not been redeemed by the grace of Christ. Although the law was given to Jews, not to Gentiles, yet, apart from Christ, neither the one nor the other enjoys any freedom, but absolute bondage.

Calvin: Gal 5:2 - -- 2.Behold, I Paul. He could not have pronounced a severer threatening than that it would exclude them entirely from the grace of Christ. But what is t...

2.Behold, I Paul. He could not have pronounced a severer threatening than that it would exclude them entirely from the grace of Christ. But what is the meaning of this, that Christ will profit nothing to all who are circumcised? Did Christ profit nothing to Abraham? Nay, it was in order that Christ might profit him that he received circumcision. If we say that it was in force till the coming of Christ, what reply shall we make to the case of Timothy? We must observe, that Paul’s reasoning is directed not so properly against the outward rite or ceremony, as against the wicked doctrine of the false apostles, who pretended that it was a necessary part of the worship of God, and at the same time made it a ground of confidence as a meritorious work. These diabolical contrivances made Christ to profit nothing; not that the false apostles denied Christ, or wished him to be entirely set aside, but that they made such a division between his grace and the works of the law as to leave not more than the half of salvation due to Christ. The apostle contends that Christ cannot be divided in this way, and that he “profiteth nothing,” unless he is wholly embraced.

And what else do our modern Papists but thrust upon us, in place of circumcision, trifles of their own invention? The tendency of their whole doctrine is to blend the grace of Christ with the merit of works, which is impossible. Whoever wishes to have the half of Christ, loses the whole. And yet the Papists think themselves exceedingly acute when they tell us that they ascribe nothing to works, except through the influence of the grace of Christ, as if this were a different error from what was charged on the Galatians. They did not believe that they had departed from Christ, or relinquished his grace; and yet they lost Christ entirely, when that important part of evangelical doctrine was corrupted.

The expression Behold, I Paul, is very emphatic; for he places himself before them, and gives his name, to remove all appearance of hesitation. And though his authority had begun to be less regarded among the Galatians, he asserts that it is sufficient to put down every adversary.

TSK: Gal 5:1 - -- Stand : Pro 23:23; 1Co 15:58, 1Co 16:13; Eph 6:14; Phi 1:27; 1Th 3:8; 2Th 2:15; Heb 3:6, Heb 3:14, Heb 4:14, Heb 10:23, Heb 10:35-39; Jud 1:3, Jud 1:2...

TSK: Gal 5:2 - -- I Paul : 1Co 16:21; 2Co 10:1; 1Th 2:18; Phm 1:9 that : Gal 5:4, Gal 5:6, Gal 2:3-5; Act 15:1, Act 15:24, Act 16:3, Act 16:4; Rom 9:31, Rom 9:32, Rom 1...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Gal 5:1 - -- Stand fast, therefore - Be firm and unwavering. This verse properly belongs to the previous chapter, and should not have been separated from it...

Stand fast, therefore - Be firm and unwavering. This verse properly belongs to the previous chapter, and should not have been separated from it. The sense is, that they were to be firm and unyielding in maintaining the great principles of Christian liberty. They had been freed from the bondage of rites and ceremonies; and they should by no means, and in no form, yield to them again.

In the liberty ... - Compare Joh 8:32, Joh 8:36; Rom 6:18; Notes, Gal 4:3-5.

And be not entangled again - Tyndale renders this, "And wrap not yourselves again."The sense is, do not again allow such a yoke to be put on you; do not again become slaves to any rites, and customs, and habits.

The yoke of bondage - Of servitude to the Jewish laws; see the note at Act 15:10.

Barnes: Gal 5:2 - -- Behold, I Paul say unto you - I, who at first preached the gospel to you; I, too, who have been circumcised, and who was formerly a strenuous a...

Behold, I Paul say unto you - I, who at first preached the gospel to you; I, too, who have been circumcised, and who was formerly a strenuous assertor of the necessity of observing the laws of Moses; and I, too, who am charged (see Gal 5:11) with still preaching the necessity of circumcision, now solemnly say to you, that if you are circumcised with a view to being justified by that in whole or in part, it amounts to a rejection of the doctrine of justification by Christ, and an entire apostacy from him. He is to be "a whole Saviour."No one is to share with him in the honor of saving people; and no rite, no custom, no observance of law, is to divide the honor with his death. The design of Paul is to give them the most solemn assurance on this point; and by his own authority and experience to guard them from the danger, and to put the matter to rest.

That if ye be circumcised - This must be understood with reference to the subject under consideration. If you are circumcised with such a view as is maintained by the false teachers that have come among you; that is, with an idea that it is necessary in order to your justification. He evidently did not mean that if any of them had been circumcised before their conversion to Christianity; nor could he mean to say, that circumcision in all cases amounted to a rejection of Christianity, for he had himself procured the circumcision of Timothy, Act 16:3. If it was done, as it was then, for prudential considerations, and with a wish not necessarily to irritate the Jews, and to give one a more ready access to them, it was not to be regarded as wrong. But if, as the false teachers in Galatia claimed, as a thing essential to salvation, as indispensable to justification and acceptance with God, then the matter assumed a different aspect; and then it became in fact a renouncing of Christ as himself sufficient to save us. So with anything else. Rites and ceremonies in religion may be in themselves well enough, if they are held to be matters not essential; but the moment they are regarded as vital and essential, that moment they begin to infringe on the doctrine of justification by faith alone, and that moment they are to be rejected; and it is because of the danger that this will be the case, that they are to be used sparingly in the Christian church. Who does not know the danger of depending upon prayers, and alms, and the sacraments, and extreme unction, and penance, and empty forms for salvation? And who does not know how much in the papal communion the great doctrine of justification has been obscured by numberless such rites and forms?

Christ shall profit you nothing - Will be of no advantage to you. Your dependence on circumcision, in these circumstances, will in fact amount to a rejection of the Saviour, and of the doctrine of justification by him.

Poole: Gal 5:1 - -- Gal 5:1 Paul exhorteth the Galatians to maintain their Christian liberty, Gal 5:2-6 and showeth that by being circumcised they would forfeit t...

Gal 5:1 Paul exhorteth the Galatians to maintain their

Christian liberty,

Gal 5:2-6 and showeth that by being circumcised they would

forfeit their hopes in Christ,

Gal 5:7-12 he disclaimeth the preaching of circumcision himself,

and condemneth it in others.

Gal 5:13-15 He adviseth them not to abuse their liberty, but to serve

one another in love, which comprehendeth the whole law.

Gal 5:16-18 The opposition between the flesh and the Spirit,

Gal 5:19-21 the works of the flesh,

Gal 5:22-24 the fruits of the Spirit.

Gal 5:25,26 Advice to walk in the Spirit, and not in vain glorious

emulation.

The

liberty here spoken of, is a right which a person hath to action, that he may do or forbear the doing of things at his pleasure, as he apprehends them suitable or not, without the let or hinderance of another. This is either in things of a civil nature, or of a spiritual nature. The former is not understood here, for it is none of

the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free for subjects to be free from the lawful commands of princes, or children to be free from the laws of their parents, or servants to be free from the commands of masters. There is hardly any book in the New Testament wherein obedience of this nature, in things that are lawful, is not either exemplified as our duty in Christ and the apostles, or urged by very strong arguments. The liberty here, is that freedom from the law, of which the apostle hath been speaking all along this Epistle: from the curse of the moral law, and from the co-action of it; and principally from the ceremonial law contained in ordinances. This is the liberty which Christ hath purchased for us, and in which the apostle willeth all believers to stand fast; not being again entangled with a yoke, which God had taken off from their necks. The apostles, in their synod, Act 15:10 , had called it a yoke, which neither they nor their fathers were able to bear.

Poole: Gal 5:2 - -- It is manifest that the apostle is speaking here concerning circumcision, looked upon as necessary to justification, now under the gospel state. For...

It is manifest that the apostle is speaking here concerning circumcision, looked upon as necessary to justification, now under the gospel state. For under the Old Testament undoubtedly Christ profited the fathers, though circumcised; yea, Christ undoubtedly profiled Timothy, even under the gospel, though he was circumcised, Act 16:3 , that being done to prevent a scandal, and during a time whilst, for the gaining of the Jews to the Christian faith, the Jewish ceremonies, though dead, were (as it were) kept above ground, unburied for a time. But for men, after a sufficient time indulged them for their satisfaction concerning the abolition of the ceremonial law, still to adhere to it, and religiously to observe the rites of it, as in obedience to a Divine precept, and as necessary, over and above faith in Christ for justification, was indeed to deny Christ, and disclaim his sufficiency to save, who

is able to save to the utmost them that come to God by him Heb 7:25 ; and besides whom there is no name given under heaven, by which men can be saved, neither is there salvation in any other, Act 4:10,12 ; and who is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth, Rom 10:4 . So that to join any thing with Christ, and faith in him, for the justification of the soul before God, is plainly to deny and disclaim him, and to make him insignificant to us. This Paul affirms with an apostolical authority and gravity:

I Paul say unto you

Haydock: Gal 5:1 - -- Be not held again under the yoke of bondage, of the old law. (Witham) --- This verse must be understood in the same manner as the 9th verse of the ...

Be not held again under the yoke of bondage, of the old law. (Witham) ---

This verse must be understood in the same manner as the 9th verse of the preceding chapter. See the annotations upon it.

Haydock: Gal 5:2 - -- If you converted from heathenism be circumcised, it must be by believing and professing it necessary, which is false doctrine, and the Christ will...

If you converted from heathenism be circumcised, it must be by believing and professing it necessary, which is false doctrine, and the Christ will profit you nothing: not that the practice of those ceremonies was at the time sinful, especially for those that had been Jews, but it was an error to judge them necessary for converted Gentiles. Besides, he that judges circumcision necessary, must also judge himself bound to keep all the other ceremonies and precepts of the law. (Witham)

Gill: Gal 5:1 - -- Stand fast therefore in the liberty,.... There is the liberty of grace, and the liberty of glory; the former of these is here meant, and lies in a fre...

Stand fast therefore in the liberty,.... There is the liberty of grace, and the liberty of glory; the former of these is here meant, and lies in a freedom from sin; not from the indwelling of it, but from the dominion, guilt, and damning power of it; from the captivity and tyranny of Satan, though not from his temptations and insults; from the law, the ceremonial law, as an handwriting of ordinances, a rigid severe schoolmaster, and a middle wall of partition, and from all its burdensome rites and institutions; from the moral law as a covenant of works, and as administered by Moses; and from the curse and condemnation of it, its bondage and rigorous exaction, and from all expectation of life and righteousness by the deeds of it; but not from obedience to it, as held forth by Christ, and as a rule of walk and conversation; and from the judicial law, or those laws which concerned the Jews as Jews: moreover, this liberty lies in the free use of things indifferent, as eating any sort of food without distinction, so that it be done in faith, with thankfulness to God, in moderation, and with temperance, and so as that the peace and edification of fellow Christians are not hurt; also in the free use of Gospel ordinances, which they that are fellow citizens with the saints have a right unto, but not to lay aside or neglect at pleasure; which is not to use, but to abuse their liberty: again, another branch of it is access to God, with freedom and boldness at the throne of grace, through the Mediator, under the influences of the divine Spirit; to which may be added, a deliverance from the fears of death corporeal, who is a king of terrors to Christless sinners, and which kept Old Testament saints, all their lifetime subject to bondage and eternal, or the second death, by which Christ's freemen are assured they shall not be hurt: now, in this liberty, the children of the free woman, believers under the Gospel dispensation, are very pertinently exhorted to stand fast, in consequence and consideration of their character; that is, they should highly prize and esteem it, as men do their civil liberty; and maintain it and defend it, at all hazards; abide by the doctrine of it without wavering, and with intrepidity; not giving up anyone part of it, however, and by whomsoever, it may be opposed, maligned, and reproached; and keep up the practice of it, by obeying from the heart the doctrine of it, by becoming the servants of righteousness, by frequent attendance at the throne of grace, and continual observance of the ordinances of Christ; and then should take heed of everything that tends to break in upon it, as any doctrine or commandment of men; particularly the doctrine of justification by works, and all sorts of superstition and will worship: and the rather, because of the concern Christ has in this liberty, it is that

wherewith Christ hath made us free; we are not free born, but on the contrary homeborn slaves, as Ephraim was; nor could this liberty in any of its branches be obtained by us, by any merit, righteousness, act, or acts of ours, but is wholly of Christ's procuring for us, both by price and power; whereby he has ransomed and delivered us out of the hands of all our spiritual enemies, sin, Satan, the law, and death; and it is of his proclaiming in the Gospel, and of his applying by his Spirit, whom he sends down into our hearts as a free Spirit, to acquaint us with it, and lead us into it, who works faith in us to lay hold upon, and receive this blessing of grace as others:

and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. The metaphor is taken from oxen put under a yoke, and implicated with it, from which they cannot disengage themselves: some of the members of this church had been Jews, who had formerly been under the yoke of the law, and seemed desirous to return to their former state of bondage, from which the apostle dissuades, and therefore uses the word again: or else he may refer to the bondage of corruption and idolatry, which they as Gentiles were in, before their conversion; and intimates, that to give into the observance of; Jewish rites and ceremonies would be involving themselves in a state of bondage again; for by "the yoke of bandage" he means the law, which the Jews frequently call עול מצות "the yoke of the commandments" l; particularly the ceremonial law, as circumcision; which Peter, Act 15:10 represents as a yoke intolerable; the observation of days, months, times, and years; the multitude of sacrifices, and which could not take away sin; but proclaimed their guilt and obligation to punishment, and were an handwriting of ordinances against them, and thereby they were held and kept in bondage, and such a yoke is the moral law as delivered by Moses, requiring perfect obedience, but giving no strength to perform, nor pointing where any is to be had; showing a man his sin and misery, and so working wrath in his conscience, but giving not the least intimation of a Saviour, or of life and righteousness by another; accusing, pronouncing guilty, cursing, and condemning; hence such as seek for righteousness by it are in a miserable subjection to it, and are sadly implicated and entangled with the yoke of it: every doctrine and ordinance of men is a yoke of bondage which should not be submitted to; nay, any action whatever, performed in a religious way and in order for a man's acceptance with God, and to obtain his favour, and according to his observance of which he judges of his state, and speaks peace and comfort to himself, or the reverse, is a yoke of bondage: as, for instance prayer at such and so many times a day, reading such a number of chapters in the Bible every day, fasting so many times in the week, and the like; so that what are branches of Christian liberty, such as frequent prayer to God, reading the sacred writings for instruction and comfort, and the free use of the creatures, are turned into a yoke of bondage, which should be guarded against.

Gill: Gal 5:2 - -- Behold, I Paul say unto you,.... The apostle proceeds to give some reasons and arguments to enforce the above exhortation and dissuasion: the first of...

Behold, I Paul say unto you,.... The apostle proceeds to give some reasons and arguments to enforce the above exhortation and dissuasion: the first of which is introduced with a note of attention, "behold"; what he was about to say being matter of great moment and importance; and also mentions himself by name, as the assertor of it; and that, either because his name was well known to them, and the rather because of his apostolical authority; and to show his full assurance of this matter, and his intrepidity, and that he was no ways ashamed of it, they might, if they pleased, say it to whomsoever they would, that Paul the apostle affirmed,

that if ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing: he speaks of circumcision, not as when it was an ordinance of God, but as it was now abolished by Christ; and that got as singly performed on some certain accounts for he himself circumcised Timothy for the sake of the Jews; but as done in order to salvation, or as necessary unto it; which was the doctrine the false apostles taught and these Galatians were ready to give into: now circumcision submitted to on this consideration, and with this view rendered Christ unprofitable, made his death to be in vain, his sacrifice of no effect, and his righteousness useless: besides, Christ is a whole Saviour, or none at all; to join anything with him and his righteousness, in the business of justification and salvation, is interpreted by him as a contempt and neglect of him, as laying him aside, and to such persons he is of no profit; and if he is not, what they have, and whatsoever they do, will be of no advantage; wealth and riches, yea, the whole world could it be gained, their works and righteousness, whatever show they make before men, God has declared shall not profit them; and trusting to these renders Christ unprofitable to them. This is directly contrary to the notions of the Jews, who think they shall be saved for their circumcision, and that that will secure them from hell; they say m no circumcised person goes down to hell, and that whoever is circumcised shall inherit the land; but there is none shall inherit the land, save a righteous person; but everyone that is circumcised is called a righteous man n; so that circumcision is their righteousness, on account of which they expect heaven and happiness.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Gal 5:1 Here the yoke figuratively represents the burdensome nature of slavery.

Geneva Bible: Gal 5:2 ( 1 ) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be ( a ) circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. ( 1 ) Another entreaty in which he plainly witne...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Gal 5:1-26 - --1 He wills them to stand in their liberty,3 and not to observe circumcision;13 but rather love, which is the sum of the law.19 He reckons up the works...

Combined Bible: Gal 5:1 - --color="#000000"> this chapter the Apostle Paul presents the doctrine of Christian liberty in a final effort to persuade the Galatians to give up the n...

Combined Bible: Gal 5:2 - --color="#000000"> 2. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.      Paul ...

MHCC: Gal 5:1-6 - --Christ will not be the Saviour of any who will not own and rely upon him as their only Saviour. Let us take heed to the warnings and persuasions of th...

Matthew Henry: Gal 5:1-12 - -- In the former part of this chapter the apostle cautions the Galatians to take heed of the judaizing teachers, who endeavoured to bring them back und...

Barclay: Gal 5:1-12 - --It was Paul's position that the way of grace and the way of law were mutually exclusive. The way of law makes salvation dependent on human achievemen...

Constable: Gal 3:1--5:1 - --III. THEOLOGICAL AFFIRMATION OF SALVATION BY FAITH 3:1--4:31 Here begins the theological section of the epistle,...

Constable: Gal 5:1--6:11 - --IV. PRACTICAL APPLICATION TO CHRISTIAN LIVING 5:1--6:10 Paul moved next from theology (chs. 3-4) to ethics, from...

Constable: Gal 5:1-26 - --A. Balance in the Christian life ch. 5 Having ruled out the Mosaic Law as a regulatory standard for Chri...

Constable: Gal 5:1-12 - --1. Living without the Law 5:1-12 The apostle warned his readers not to think that they could satisfy the demands of the Mosaic Law by obeying only a f...

College: Gal 5:1-26 - --GALATIANS 5 III. APPLICATION: LIVING FOR FREEDOM (5:1-6:18) A. FREEDOM OR A YOKE? (5:1-6) 1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand f...

McGarvey: Gal 5:1 - --For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage. [This verse continues the thought of the la...

McGarvey: Gal 5:2 - --Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. [By the use of an exclamation followed by his name, Pau...

Lapide: Gal 5:1-26 - --CHAPTER 5 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. S. Paul proceeds to urge the Galatians not to submit to the yoke of the Old Law, lest they be deprived of the ...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: Galatians (Book Introduction) The Epistle To The Galatians Probable Date a.d. 56 Or 57 By Way of Introduction It is a pity that we are not able to visualize more clearly the ...

JFB: Galatians (Book Introduction) THE internal and external evidence for Paul's authorship is conclusive. The style is characteristically Pauline. The superscription, and allusions to ...

JFB: Galatians (Outline) SUPERSCRIPTION. GREETINGS. THE CAUSE OF HIS WRITING IS THEIR SPEEDY FALLING AWAY FROM THE GOSPEL HE TAUGHT. DEFENSE OF HIS TEACHING: HIS APOSTOLIC CA...

TSK: Galatians (Book Introduction) The Galatians, or Gallograecians, were the descendants of Gauls, who migrated from their own country, and after a series of disasters, got possession ...

TSK: Galatians 5 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Gal 5:1, He wills them to stand in their liberty, Gal 5:3, and not to observe circumcision; Gal 5:13, but rather love, which is the sum o...

Poole: Galatians 5 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 5

MHCC: Galatians (Book Introduction) The churches in Galatia were formed partly of converted Jews, and partly of Gentile converts, as was generally the case. St. Paul asserts his apostoli...

MHCC: Galatians 5 (Chapter Introduction) (Gal 5:1-12) An earnest exhortation to stand fast in the liberty of the gospel. (Gal 5:13-15) To take heed of indulging a sinful temper. (Gal 5:16-2...

Matthew Henry: Galatians (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians This epistle of Paul is directed not to the church or churches...

Matthew Henry: Galatians 5 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter the apostle comes to make application of his foregoing discourse. He begins it with a general caution, or exhortation (Gal 5:1), wh...

Barclay: Galatians (Book Introduction) A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTERS OF PAUL The Letters Of Paul There is no more interesting body of documents in the New Testament than the letter...

Barclay: Galatians 5 (Chapter Introduction) The Personal Relationship (Gal_5:1-12) Christian Freedom (Gal_5:13-15) The Evil Things (Gal_5:16-21) The Lovely Things (Gal_5:22-26)

Constable: Galatians (Book Introduction) Introduction Historical Background "The most uncontroverted matter in the study of Gal...

Constable: Galatians (Outline)

Constable: Galatians Galatians Bibliography Allen, Kenneth W. "Justification by Faith." Bibliotheca Sacra 135:538 (April-June 1978):...

Haydock: Galatians (Book Introduction) THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, THE APOSTLE, TO THE GALATIANS. INTRODUCTION. The Galatians, soon after St. Paul had preached the gospel to them, were...

Gill: Galatians (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO GALATIANS The persons to whom this epistle is written were not such who made up a single church only, in some certain town or city,...

Gill: Galatians 5 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO GALATIANS 5 In this chapter the apostle exhorts to stand fast in Christian liberty, and warns against the abuse of it; and directs ...

College: Galatians (Book Introduction) FOREWORD Since the earliest days of the concept of a commentary series jointly authored by church of Christ and Christian church scholars, I have eag...

College: Galatians (Outline) OUTLINE I. AUTHORITY: The Apostolic Gospel - 1:1-2:21 A. Greeting - 1:1-5 B. Paul's Astonishment - 1:6-10 C. Paul's Call by God - 1:11-17 ...

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