Galatians 6 · Robertson's Word Pictures
1If a man be overtaken (ean ka prolemphthe anthropos). Condition of third class, first aorist passive subjunctive of prolambano, old verb to take beforehand, to surprise, to detect.
Trespass (paraptomat). Literally, a falling aside, a slip or lapse in the papyri rather than a wilful sin. In Polybius and Diodorus. Koine word.
Ye which are spiritual (o pneumatiko). See on 1Co 3:1 . The spiritually led ( 5:18), the spiritual experts in mending souls.
Restore (katartizete). Present active imperative of katartizo, the very word used in Mt 4:21 of mending nets, old word to make artios, fit, to equip thoroughly.
Looking to thyself (skopon seauton). Keeping an eye on as in 2Co 4:18 like a runner on the goal.
Lest thou also be tempted (me ka su peirastheis). Negative purpose with first aorist passive subjunctive. Spiritual experts (preachers in particular) need this caution. Satan loves a shining mark.
2Bear ye one another's burdens (allelon ta bare bastazete). Keep on bearing (present active imperative of bastazo, old word, used of Jesus bearing his Cross in Joh 19:17 . Baros means weight as in Mt 20:12; 2Co 4:17 . It is when one's load (phortion, verse 5) is about to press one down. Then give help in carrying it.
Fulfil (anaplerosate). First aorist active imperative of anapleroo, to fill up, old word, and see on Mt 23:32; 1Th 2:16; 1Co 14:16 . Some MSS. have future indicative (anaplerosete).
3Something when he is nothing (t meden on). Thinks he is a big number being nothing at all (neuter singular pronouns). He is really zero.
He deceiveth himself (phrenapata eauton). Late compound word (phren, mind, apatao, lead astray), leads his own mind astray. Here for first time. Afterwards in Galen, ecclesiastical and Byzantine writers. He deceives no one else.
5Each shall bear his own burden (to idion phortion bastase). Phortion is old word for ship's cargo (Ac 27:10 ). Christ calls his phortion light, though he terms those of the Pharisees heavy (Mt 23:4 ), meant for other people. The terms are thus not always kept distinct, though Paul does make a distinction here from the bare in verse 2.
6That is taught (o katechoumenos). For this late and rare verb katecheo, see on Lu 1:4; Ac 18:25; 1Co 14:19 . It occurs in the papyri for legal instruction. Here the present passive participle retains the accusative of the thing. The active (to katechount) joined with the passive is interesting as showing how early we find paid teachers in the churches. Those who receive instruction are called on to "contribute" (better than "communicate" for koinoneito) for the time of the teacher (Burton). There was a teaching class thus early (1Th 5:12; 1Co 12:28; Eph 4:11; 1Th 5:17 ).
7Be not deceived (me planasthe). Present passive imperative with me, "stop being led astray" (planao, common verb to wander, to lead astray as in Mt 24:4f. ).
God is not mocked (ou mukterizeta). This rare verb (common in LXX) occurs in Lysias. It comes from mukter (nose) and means to turn the nose up at one. That is done towards God, but never without punishment, Paul means to say. In particular, he means "an evasion of his laws which men think to accomplish, but, in fact, cannot" (Burton).
Whatsoever a man soweth (o ean speire anthropos). Indefinite relative clause with ean and the active subjunctive (either aorist or present, form same here). One of the most frequent of ancient proverbs (Job 4:8 ; Arist., Rhet. iii. 3). Already in 2Co 9:6 . Same point in Mt 7:16; Mr 4:26f .
That (touto). That very thing, not something different.
Reap (therise). See on Mt 6:26 for this old verb.
8Corruption (phthoran). For this old word from phtheiro, see on 1Co 15:42 . The precise meaning turns on the context, here plainly the physical and moral decay or rottenness that follows sins of the flesh as all men know. Nature writes in one's body the penalty of sin as every doctor knows.
Eternal life (zoen aionion). See on Mt 25:46 for this interesting phrase so common in the Johannine writings. Plato used aionios for perpetual. See also 2Th 1:9 . It comes as nearly meaning "eternal" as the Greek can express that idea.
9Let us not be weary in well-doing (to kalon poiountes me enkakomen). Volitive present active subjunctive of enkakeo on which see Lu 18:1; 2Th 3:13; 2Co 4:1,16 (en, kakos, evil). Literally, "Let us not keep on giving in to evil while doing the good." It is curious how prone we are to give in and to give out in doing the good which somehow becomes prosy or insipid to us.
In due season (kairo idio). Locative case, "at its proper season" (harvest time). Cf. 1Ti 2:6; 6:15 (plural).
If we faint not (me ekluomeno). Present passive participle (conditional) with me. Cf. ekluo, old verb to loosen out. Literally, "not loosened out," relaxed, exhausted as a result of giving in to evil (enkakomen).
10As we have opportunity (os kairon echomen). Indefinite comparative clause (present subjunctive without an). "As we have occasion at any time."
Let us work that which is good (ergazometha to agathon). Volitive present middle subjunctive of ergazoma, "Let us keep on working the good deed."
Of the household of faith (tous oikeious tes pisteos). For the obvious reason that they belong to the same family with necessary responsibility.
11With how large letters (pelikois grammasin). Paul now takes the pen from the amanuensis (cf. Ro 16:22 ) and writes the rest of the Epistle (verses 11-18) himself instead of the mere farewell greeting (2Th 3:17; 1Co 16:21; Col 4:18 ). But what does he mean by "with how large letters"? Certainly not "how large a letter." It has been suggested that he employed large letters because of defective eyesight or because he could only write ill-formed letters because of his poor handwriting (like the print letters of children) or because he wished to call particular attention to this closing paragraph by placarding it in big letters (Ramsay). This latter is the most likely reason. Deissmann, (St. Paul, p. 51) argues that artisans write clumsy letters, yes, and scholars also. Milligan (Documents, p. 24; Vocabulary, etc.) suggests the contrast seen in papyri often between the neat hand of the scribe and the big sprawling hand of the signature.
I have written (egrapsa). Epistolary aorist.
With mine own hand (te eme cheir). Instrumental case as in 1Co 16:21 .
12To make a fair show (euprosopesa). First aorist active infinitive of euprosopeo, late verb from euprosopos, fair of face (eu, prosopon). Here only in N.T., but one example in papyri (Tebt. I. 19 12 B.C. 114) which shows what may happen to any of our N.T. words not yet found elsewhere. It is in Chrysostom and later writers.
They compel (anankazousin). Conative present active indicative, "they try to compel."
For the cross of Christ (to stauro tou Christou). Instrumental case (causal use, Robertson, Grammar, p. 532). Cf. 2Co 2:13 . "For professing the cross of Christ" (Lightfoot).
13They who receive circumcision (o peritemnomeno). Present causative middle of peritemno, those who are having themselves circumcised. Some MSS. read o peritetmemeno), "they who have been circumcised" (perfect passive participle). Probably the present (peritemnomeno) is correct as the harder reading.
14Far be it from me (emo me genoito). Second aorist middle optative of ginoma in a negative (me) wish about the future with dative case: "May it not happen to me." See 2:17. The infinitive kauchastha (to glory) is the subject of genoito as is common in the LXX, though not elsewhere in the N.T.
Hath been crucified unto me (emo estaurota). Perfect passive indicative of stauroo, stands crucified, with the ethical dative again (emo). This is one of the great sayings of Paul concerning his relation to Christ and the world in contrast with the Judaizers. Cf. 2:19f.; 3:13; 4:4f.; 1Co 1:23f.; Ro 1:16; 3:21ff.; 4:25; 5:18 .
World (kosmos) has no article, but is definite as in 2Co 5:19 . Paul's old world of Jewish descent and environment is dead to him (Php 3:3f. ).
15A new creature (kaine ktisis). For this phrase see on 2Co 5:17 .
16By this rule (to kanon touto). For kanon, see on 2Co 10:13,15f .
17From henceforth (tou loipou). Usually to loipon, the accusative of general reference, "as for the rest" (Php 3:1; 4:8 ). The genitive case (as here and Eph 6:10 ) means "in respect of the remaining time."
The marks of Jesus (ta stigmata tou Iesou). Old word from stizo, to prick, to stick, to sting. Slaves had the names or stamp of their owners on their bodies. It was sometimes done for soldiers also. There were devotees also who stamped upon their bodies the names of the gods whom they worshipped. Today in a round-up cattle are given the owner's mark. Paul gloried in being the slave of Jesus Christ. This is probably the image in Paul's mind since he bore in his body brandmarks of suffering for Christ received in many places (2Co 6:4-6; 11:23ff. ), probably actual scars from the scourgings (thirty-nine lashes at a time). If for no other reason, listen to me by reason of these scars for Christ and "let no one keep on furnishing trouble to me."
18The farewell salutation is much briefer than that in 2Co 13:13 , but identical with that in Phm 1:25 . He calls them "brethren" (adelpho) in spite of the sharp things spoken to them.
THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS
FROM ROME A.D. 63
BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION
There are some problems of a special nature that confront us about the so-called Epistle to the Ephesians.
THE AUTHORSHIP
It is not admitted by all that Paul wrote it, though no other adequate explanation of its origin has ever been given. So far as subject matter and vocabulary and style are concerned, if Colossians is Pauline, there is little or nothing to be said against the Pauline authorship of this Epistle.
RELATION TO COLOSSIANS
As we have seen, the two Epistles were sent at the same time, but clearly Colossians was composed first. Ephesians bears much the same relation to Colossians that Romans does to Galatians, a fuller treatment of the same general theme in a more detached and impersonal manner.
THE DESTINATION
The oldest documents (Aleph and B) do not have the words en Epheso (in Ephesus) in Eph 1:1 (inserted by a later hand). Origen did not have them in his copy. Marcion calls it the Epistle to the Laodiceans. We have only to put here Col 4:16 "the letter from Laodicea" to find the probable explanation. After writing the stirring Epistle to the Colossians Paul dictated this so-called Epistle to the Ephesians as a general or circular letter for the churches in Asia (Roman province). Perhaps the original copy had no name in Eph 1:1 as seen in Aleph and B and Origen, but only a blank space. Marcion was familiar with the copy in Laodicea. Basil in the fourth century mentions some MSS. with no name in the address. Most MSS. were copies from the one in Ephesus and so it came to be called the Epistle to the Ephesians. The general nature of the letter explains also the absence of names in it, though Paul lived three years in Ephesus.
THE DATE
The same date must be assigned as for Philemon and Colossians, probably A.D. 63.
THE PLACE OF WRITING
This would also be the same, that is Rome, though Deissmann and Duncan argue for Ephesus itself as the place of writing. Some scholars even suggest Caesarea.
THE CHARACTER OF THE EPISTLE
The same Gnostic heresy is met as in Colossians, but with this difference. In Colossians the emphasis is on the Dignity of Christ as the Head of the Church, while in Ephesians chief stress is placed upon the Dignity of the Church as the Body of Christ the Head. Paul has written nothing more profound than chapters Eph 1-3 of Ephesians. Stalker termed them the profoundest thing ever written. He sounds the depths of truth and reaches the heights. Since Ephesians covers the same ground so largely as Colossians, only the words in Ephesians that differ or are additional will call for discussion.
SPECIAL BOOKS ON EPHESIANS
One may note Abbott (Int. Crit. Comm. 1897), Gross Alexander (1910), Beet (1891), Belser (1908), Candlish (1895), Dale (Lectures on Ephesians), Dibelius (Handbuch, 1912), Eadie (1883), Ellicott (1884), Ewald (Zahn Komm., 2 Auf. 1910), Findlay (1892), Gore (Practical Exposition, 1898), Haupt (Meyer Komm., 8 Auf. 1902), Hitchcock (1913), Hort (Intr. 1895), Knabenbauer (1913), Krukenberg (1903), Lidgett (1915), Lock (1929), Lueken (1906), Martin (New Century Bible), McPhail (1893), McPherson (1892), Meinertz (1917), Moule (1900), Mullins (1913), Murray (1915), Oltramare (1891), Robinson (1903), Salmond (1903), E. F. Scott (Moffatt Comm., 1930), Stroeter (The Glory of the Body of Christ, 1909), Von Soden (2 Aufl. 1893), F. B. Westcott (1906), Wohlenberg (1895).
Ephesians 1