ACC ~ Galatians 1 v6 - 9

OVERVIEW:

Showing that the Galatians have been carried away by Satan (JEROME), Paul both blames and flatters them by professing astonishment, asserting that they have sinned against the Father (CHRYSOSTOM), who is the author of the gospel (THEODORET). Any other gospel is no gospel (AUGUSTINE)—indeed, an illusion (JEROME). The slightest innovation is an apostasy (THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA), though the gospel can never be overthrown (JEROME). Not sparing himself (THEODORET) or even angels (JEROME), Paul expresses his indignation (AMBROSIASTER) yet shows by repetition that he has neither spoken in haste (CHRYSOSTOM) nor cursed without warning (JEROME).

1:6a | Their Quick Desertion

WHO HAS PROMPTED THE DESERTION? JEROME: The word for “being carried away” is first found in Genesis where God carries Enoch away and he is not found. … The one whom God carries away is not found by his enemies … but he whom the devil carries away is carried into that which appears to be but is not. EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 1.1.6.

THE ABRUPTNESS OF THEIR LAPSE. CHRYSOSTOM: The one who is carried away after a long time is worthy of blame, but the one who falls at the first attack and in the initial skirmish has furnished an example of the greatest weakness. And with this he charges them also, saying “What is this, that those who deceive you do not even need time, but the first assault suffices to rout and capture you?” … At the same time he shows in what great and high estimation he holds them. For if he had thought them mere nobodies and easily deceived, he would not have been surprised by what occurred. HOMILY ON GALATIANS 1.6.

1:6b | Called in the Grace of Christ

THE DECEITFULNESS OF THE LAPSE. CHRYSOSTOM: And he did not say “from the gospel” but “from God,” for he used terms that were more horrifying and more likely to astound them. For those who wished to deceive them did not do so all at once but gently estranged them from the faith in fact, leaving the names unchanged. For such are the wiles of the devil, not to make apparent the instruments of his hunt. For if they had said, “Depart from Christ,” the Galatians would have shunned them as deceivers and corrupters. As it was, the deceivers allowed them still to remain in the faith while they were undermining the whole edifice with impunity. The language these tunnelers used was covered with these familiar names as with awnings. HOMILY ON GALATIANS 1.6.

DEPARTING FROM THE ONE WHO CALLS US TO GRACE. THEODORET: He is saying, “You have not departed from this teaching to that but from the one who called you. … The very Father who gave the law is the one who called you to this gospel. … And if you desert this gospel, you will not find another. For the Lord does not preach some things through us and others through the other apostles.” EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 1.6-7.

1:6c-7a | Turning to a Different Gospel

WHY IS IT NOT A GOSPEL? AUGUSTINE: If it were another gospel other than the one that the Lord has given through himself or through some other, it would not be a gospel. EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 4 [1B.1.6-9].

THERE IS NO OTHER GOSPEL. JEROME: Not another gospel, because all that is false is insubstantial, and that which is contrary to truth finally has no existence. EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 1.1.6.

1:7b | Perverting the Gospel of Christ

THEY CAN DO NO MORE THAN “WANT TO” PERVERT THE GOSPEL. JEROME: They wish, he says, to disturb the gospel of Christ but cannot prevail, because it is of such a nature that it cannot be other than the truth. EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 1.1.6.

DEBASING THE CURRENCY. THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: Just as with royal currency—anyone who cuts off a little from the impress has debased the whole currency—so one who makes even the smallest change in sound faith adulterates the whole. EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS.

1:8a | An Angel and a Contrary Gospel

COULD ANGELS EVER DECEIVE? JEROME: This could be understood as a hyperbolic statement, not meaning that an apostle or an angel could preach otherwise than they had spoken. … [Yet] angels are also mutable if they have not held fast to their ground. … Lucifer, who rose in the morning, also fell. He who dispensed deceit to all nations is to be trampled on the earth. EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 1.1.8.

MIGHT A HOLY ANGEL DENY THE GOSPEL? THEODORET: He mentioned the angels, not speculating that any of the holy angels would say something contrary to the divine gospel, for he knew this to be impossible. But through this he reprehended every novelty of humanity. EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 1.8.

1:8b | Let False Teachers Be Accursed

INDIGNANT FOR THEIR SALVATION. AMBROSIASTER: Let no one be surprised that the apostle, when quieting ferocious characters, was so annoyed. He is indignant, for the sake of the Galatians’ salvation, with the enemies of the Christian way of life. For this indignation shows that it is no light sin to transfer allegiance to the law after receiving faith. EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 1.9.1.

1:9a | The Apostle’s Reiteration

WHY HE REPEATS. CHRYSOSTOM: Lest you should think that the words came from passion or were spoken hyperbolically or through a loss of self-control, he says the same things over again. HOMILY ON GALATIANS 1.9.

1:9b | An Anathema

HAS PAUL CURSED WITHOUT WARNING? JEROME: He indicates that he initially, fearing this very thing, denounced an anathema on those who would preach in this way. Now, after it has been preached, he decrees the anathema that he formerly predicted. EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 1.1.8.