Homilies on Galatians — Chapter 1

St. John Chrysostom

1. 0. Greeting

Verse 1-3

Paul, an Apostle, (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead;) and all the brethren which are with me, unto the Churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

The exordium is full of a vehement and lofty spirit, and not the exordium only, but also, so to speak, the whole Epistle. For always to address one's disciples with mildness, even when they need severity is not the part of a teacher but it would be the part of a corrupter and enemy. Wherefore our Lord too, though He generally spoke gently to His disciples, here and there uses sterner language, and at one time pronounces a blessing, at another a rebuke. Thus, having said to Peter, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, [[Matthew 16.17]] and having promised to lay the foundation of the Church upon his confession, shortly afterwards He says, Get behind Me, Satan: you are a stumbling block unto Me. [[Matthew 16.23]] Again, on another occasion, Are you also even yet without understanding? [[Matthew 15.16]] And what awe He inspired them with appears from John's saying, that, when they beheld Him conversing with the Samaritan woman, though they reminded Him to take food, no one ventured to say, What seekest Thou, or why do you speak with her? [[John 4.27]] Thus taught, and walking in the steps of his Master, Paul has varied his discourse according to the need of his disciples, at one time using knife and cautery, at another, applying mild remedies. To the Corinthians he says, What will you? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in a spirit of meekness? [[1 Corinthians 6.21]] but to the Galatians, O foolish Galatians. [[Galatians 3.1]] And not once only, but a second time, also he has employed this reproof, and towards the conclusion he says with a reproachful allusion to them, Let no man trouble me; [[Galatians 6.17]] but he soothes them again with the words, My little children, of whom I am again in travail: [[Galatians 4.19]] and so in many other instances.

Now that this Epistle breathes an indignant spirit, is obvious to every one even on the first perusal; but I must explain the cause of his anger against the disciples. Slight and unimportant it could not be, or he would not have used such vehemence. For to be exasperated by common matters is the part of the little- minded, morose, and peevish; just as it is that of the more redolent and sluggish to lose heart in weighty ones. Such a one was not Paul. What then was the offense which roused him? It was grave and momentous, one which was estranging them all from Christ, as he himself says further on, Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing; [[Galatians 5.2]] and again, You who would be justified by the Law, you are fallen away from Grace. [[Galatians 5.4]] What then is this? For it must be explained more clearly. Some of the Jews who believed, being held down by th