Genuineness and Authenticity of the Epistle
BISHOP CHARLES J. ELLICOTT, D. D.—The Epistle to the Galatians was written in A. D. 57 or 58. With regard to its genuineness and authenticity, no writer of any credit or respectability has expressed any doubts. The testimony of the early church is most decided and unanimous. Beside references to the Epistle, we have direct citations found as early as the time of the Apostolic Fathers. See Polyc. ad Phil., c. 3.—Smith's Dict. of Bible, p. 856.
DR. JOHN SAUL HOWSON.—The Roman province of Galatia may be roughly described as the central region of the peninsula of Asia Minor, with the provinces of Asia on the west, Cappadocia on the east, Pamphylia and Cilicia on the south, and Bithynia and Pontus on the north. It would be difficult to define the exact limits. In fact they were frequently changing.—Smith's Dict. of Bible, p. 854.
IDEM.—The " Galatia" of the New Testament was really the " Gaul" of the East. The Epistle to the Galatians would more literally and more correctly be called the " Epistle to the Gauls." When Livy, in his account of the Roman campaigns in Galatia, speaks of its inhabitants, he always calls them " Gauls." When the Greek historians speak of the inhabitants of ancient France, the Nord they use is "Galatians." The two terms are merely the Greek and Latin forms of the same appellation.—Life and Epistles of St. Paul, I., 244.
Galatian Character
DR. JOHN SAUL HOWSON.—The Christians of Galatia were they who received the Apostle " as if he had been an angel "—who " if it had been possible, would have plucked out their eyes and given them to him"—and then were " so soon removed " by new teachers " from him that canal them, to another gospel,"—who began to " run well," and then were "t hindered,"—who were " bewitched" by that zeal which compasseth sea and land to make one "proselyte,"—arid who were as ready, in the fervor of their party spirit, to " bite and devour one another," as they were willing to change their teachers and their gospels. It is, no mere fancy which discovers, in these expressions of St. Paul's Epistle, indications of the character of that remarkable race of mankind (the Gauls or French) which all writers, from Caesar to Thierry, have described as susceptible of quick impressions and sudden changes, with a fickleness equal to their courage and enthusiasm, and a constant liability to that disunion, which is the fruit of excessive vanity.—Life and Epists. of St. Paul, I., 243.
PROF. LIGHTFOOT.—The main features of the Gaulish or Galatian character are traced with great distinctness by the Roman writers. Quickness of apprehension, promptitude in action, great impressibility, and eager craving after knowledge, this is the brighter aspect of the Celtic character. Inconstant and quarrelsome, treacherous in their dealings, incapable of sustained effort, easily disheartened by failure, such they appear when viewed on their darker side. "Fickleness" is the term used to express their temperament. This instability of character was the great difficulty against which Caesar had to contend in his dealings with the Gauls. He complains that they all with scarcely an exception are impelled by the desire of change. Nor did they show more constancy in the discharge of their religious than of their social obligations. The hearty zeal with which they embraced the Apostle's teaching, followed by their rapid apostacy, is only an instance out of many of the reckless facility with which they adopted and discarded one religious system after another.—On Galatians, p. 1-17.
Plucking Out the Eyes for Another
LUCIAN.—Dandamis, wishing to ransom his friend Amizoces, and having been already despoiled of all his goods, the Sarmates promised to release his friend if he would redeem him with his eyes. Dandamis instantly offered his eyes to be, plucked out. Which being done, and the Sarmates having thus received their ransom, he took Amizoces by the arm, went away leaning on him, and thus both together swam across the river to their camp. Amizoces, who could not bear to see the brave Dandamis wandering about without his eyes, afterward put out his own.—Toxar., c. 39.
Flesh and Spirit
SENECA.—What is it, Lucilius, that when we intend to go one way, still drives us another? What is it that thwarts our spirit?—Epistola, 52.
PLUTARCH.—The soul consists of two parts, the one being addicted to the truth, and loving honesty and reason,—the other brutish, deceitful, and sensuous. —De adul. et am., c. 20.
Restoring the Fallen
VIRGIL.—This is a common evil; at one time or other we have all done wrong.
Either we are, or have been, or may be, as bad as he whom we condemn.— Ec de hon. amor.
Bearing One Another's Burden
Gal. 6:22Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2) and 6.—Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth, in all good things.
LUCIAN.—When Perigrinus was in prison, several came from different cities in Asia, as deputies from the Christians in those parts, to offer their assistance, to be his advocates on his trial, and to comfort him. For these people, in all such cases where the interest of the whole community is concerned, are inconceivably alert and active, sparing neither trouble nor expense.—De Mort. Pereg., c. 13.
Self-Deception
PLATO.—If my sons, when they grow up, think themselves to be something when they are nothing, reproach them for it.—Apol. Socr., c. 33.
EPICTETUS.—Whoever is ignorant what he is, and wherefore he was born, will wander up and down, deaf and blind, supposing himself to be somebody, while he is, in reality, nobody.—Epict., II., 24.
As We Sow so Shall We Reap
DEMOSTHENES.—The sower of the seed is surely the author of the whole harvest of mischief.— De Coron.
ARISTOTLE.—As one swallow does not make spring, nor one day; so neither does one day, nor a little time, make a man blessed and happy. —Eth., I., 7.