We are free. The Son has made us free, and we are free indeed, though not free to disobey the dictates and promptings of our new nature. We are set free from minute prescriptions, from priestly rules and requisitions, from all that would cramp and hinder our spiritual development; but we are still under the law of Christ, who will see to it that the essential righteousness of the Mosaic law is fulfilled in us, "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit," Romans 8:1.
If the Mosaic law is kept as a means of salvation, we must fulfill it all, Galatians 5:3. For himself, as "we" suggests, Galatians 5:5, Paul had an assured confidence that his hope could not be disappointed. Christ is ever calling us upward, Galatians 5:8. Be on guard against the ferment of false teaching, Galatians 5:9. The Apostle shows the absurdity of supposing that he was in favor of circumcision, since, if that were the case, the long persecution of his life would cease, Galatians 5:11. These verses were in Bunyan's mind when he depicted Mr. Worldly Wiseman, of the town of Carnal Policy, as endeavoring to turn Christian out of the Way of the Cross to the house of Mr. Legality. [source]
Chapter Summary: Galatians 5
1He wills them to stand in their liberty, 3and not to observe circumcision; 13but rather love, which is the sum of the law 19He lists the works of the flesh, 22and the fruits of the Spirit, 25and exhorts to walk in the Spirit
Greek Commentary for Galatians 5:9
[] This proverb Paul has in 1 Corinthians 5:6 . It is merely the pervasive power of leaven that is involved in the proverb as in Matthew 13:33 , not the use of leaven as a symbol of evil. [source]
A little leaven [μικρὰ ζύμη] A proverbial warning, which appears also 1 Corinthians 5:6. It refers, not to the doctrine of the false teachers, but to the false teachers themselves. Comp. Mark 8:15. With the single exception of the parable, Matthew 13:33, leaven, in Scripture, is always a symbol of evil. Comp. Exodus 12:15,Exodus 12:19; Exodus 13:3,Exodus 13:7; Exodus 23:18; Leviticus 2:11; Deuteronomy 16:3. This, however, is no warrant for the nonsense which has been deduced from it, as that Jesus' parable of the leaven contains a prophecy of the corruption of Christianity. Because leaven in Scripture is habitually the type of corruption, we are “none the less free to use it in a good sense as Christ did. One figure need not always stand for one and the same thing. The devil is 'a roaring lion,' but Christ is also 'the lion of the tribe of Judah'” (Trench). It is an apt figure of secret, pervading energy, whether bad or good. A new interest is given to the figure by Pasteur's discovery that fermentation is a necessary consequence of the activity and growth of living organisms. A very few of these Judaising intruders are sufficient to corrupt the whole church. [source]
1 Corinthians 5:6A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump [μικρα ζυμη ολον το πυραμα ζυμοι] This proverb occurs verbatim in Galatians 5:9. υμη Zumē (leaven) is a late word from ζεω zeō to boil, as is ζυμοω zumoō to leaven. The contraction is regular Some of the members may have argued that one such case did not affect the church as a whole, a specious excuse for negligence that Paul here answers. The emphasis is on the “little” Lump (πυραμα phurama from πυραω phuraō to mix, late word, in the papyri mixing a medical prescription) is a substance mixed with water and kneaded like dough. Compare the pervasive power of germs of disease in the body as they spread through the body. [source]
What do the individual words in Galatians 5:9 mean?
Greek Commentary for Galatians 5:9
This proverb Paul has in 1 Corinthians 5:6 . It is merely the pervasive power of leaven that is involved in the proverb as in Matthew 13:33 , not the use of leaven as a symbol of evil. [source]
A proverbial warning, which appears also 1 Corinthians 5:6. It refers, not to the doctrine of the false teachers, but to the false teachers themselves. Comp. Mark 8:15. With the single exception of the parable, Matthew 13:33, leaven, in Scripture, is always a symbol of evil. Comp. Exodus 12:15, Exodus 12:19; Exodus 13:3, Exodus 13:7; Exodus 23:18; Leviticus 2:11; Deuteronomy 16:3. This, however, is no warrant for the nonsense which has been deduced from it, as that Jesus' parable of the leaven contains a prophecy of the corruption of Christianity. Because leaven in Scripture is habitually the type of corruption, we are “none the less free to use it in a good sense as Christ did. One figure need not always stand for one and the same thing. The devil is 'a roaring lion,' but Christ is also 'the lion of the tribe of Judah'” (Trench). It is an apt figure of secret, pervading energy, whether bad or good. A new interest is given to the figure by Pasteur's discovery that fermentation is a necessary consequence of the activity and growth of living organisms. A very few of these Judaising intruders are sufficient to corrupt the whole church. [source]
PoSee on Romans 9:21. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Galatians 5:9
This proverb occurs verbatim in Galatians 5:9. υμη Zumē (leaven) is a late word from ζεω zeō to boil, as is ζυμοω zumoō to leaven. The contraction is regular Some of the members may have argued that one such case did not affect the church as a whole, a specious excuse for negligence that Paul here answers. The emphasis is on the “little” Lump (πυραμα phurama from πυραω phuraō to mix, late word, in the papyri mixing a medical prescription) is a substance mixed with water and kneaded like dough. Compare the pervasive power of germs of disease in the body as they spread through the body. [source]