Page 267
ANNOTATIONS UPON THE Epistle of PAUL the Apostle, to the GALATIANS. (Book Galatians)
CHAP. I.
GAlatia was a most brave Province of lesser Asia neere Phrygia.* 1.1 See Acts 18.
The Apostle handleth the same argument here that he doth in the Romans; this is as it were an Epitome of that, and hath many the same sentences, reasons, and phrases with that.
Vers. 1. An Apostle] That is, called or designed to be an Apostle. Paul in his sa∣lutations is wont to stile himselfe an Apostle, that he may win authority to his do∣from his person.
Not of men] as Princes send civill Ambassadors, or as the Jewes sent false Apo∣stles.* 1.2
Neither by man] as Timothy, Titus, Luke, who were ordained by man; or else not by the commendation, paines or instruction of any man.
But by Iesus Christ and God the Father] That is immediately by God. Whosoever will take to him the place of teaching, it behoves him to speake in the name of God or Christ. But because the Galatians did more doubt of Pauls calling, therefore he expresseth more here then in his other Epistles, to assert that. He doth not barely af∣firme that he was called by God, but on the contrary denies that he either received it from men, or by men. He speaks not of the common Offices of Pastors, but of the Apostleship.
Vers. 4. From the present evill World] From bondage under the custome of it;* 1.3 from the fellowship with the men of it, and from the plagues that belong unto it.
Vers. 6. I marvell that ye are so soon removed] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is properly to be trans∣ferred or transported from one place to another, as Plants or Trees are wont to be transported, Hos. 5.10. the Septuagint useth this word, whence the Apostle borrows it. He speaks here of the apostasie or seduction of the Galatians by false Apostles.* 1.4 He alludes (saith Ierome) to the word Galal to roll; as if he should say, You are Ga∣latians that is, rolling and changing, falling from the Gospell of Christ to the law of Moses.