Galatians 3:1 Commentary

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Galatians 3:1

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‘O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?’ Only now does Paul address the Galatians again and begin to apply to them all that he has just related. They had once embraced the gospel with such conviction and made Christ their only confidence, and yet now they were drifting away at a frightening speed. They had been persuaded by these false teachers to change their minds about this message which they had once received as from God, and to question the authority of Paul who they had welcomed as the Lord’s messenger. This was not due to any overwhelming evidence to the contrary but only to their carelessness in failing to hold on to God’s message. The word ‘bewitched’ seems to be used ironically as if there must be some very unusual explanation for such a catastrophic fall when in fact Paul knows there is not. They were in danger of losing all on account of what was presented by the Judaizers as a necessary but harmless addition to Christ. Actually it took away everything of real value and returned them once again to a works-based religion.They had not of course seen Christ crucified with their physical eyes, but Paul had so clearly centred his preaching on the cross of Christ that he could now use this vivid language to describe their understanding at the time. It was as if they had stood beneath the cross with the assembled disciples. But what was really important was not that they saw the crucifixion with their own eyes, but that they understood its meaning and what the Son of God accomplished for them. We do not see Christ with the physical eye but with the eye of faith, for his glory was hidden from those who did not trust in him.

Application

There are times when we feel a sense of helplessness about reaching people even though they once trusted us. An invisible barrier has grown up between us, and we seem unable to return to the previous situation of trust. Suspicion or prejudice has arisen in their minds and nothing that we say can penetrate it. In the case of the Galatians Paul approaches this problem as he approaches all problems: with prayer and with dependence on God, coupled with a strenuous effort. He is completely open with them, using straightforward words. He avoids all flattery and tells them plainly the error they are guilty of, rebuking them for their departure from the truth. But he also shows them his concern for them and his genuine desire that they should recover from this fall. He was encouraged by the signs of life he had seen in the Galatians to believe that God would use his efforts to restore them.

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Galatians 3:1 Commentary and Bible Study