That this Epistle may seeme to be the first that S. Paul vvrote, vvas declared in the Argument of the Epistle to the Romanes, notvvithstanding that in the second chapter it is euid&ebar;t to haue bene vvritten 14 yeres at the least after his Conuersion, and (as it is said) from Ephesus, belike at that time of his being there, vvhich is mentioned Act. 18.

The occasion of it vvere such False apostles, as vve reade of, Act. 15. Et quidam descendentes, &c. And certaine comming dovvne from Ievvrie, taught the brethren (that is the Christian Gentiles at Antioche) that vnles you be circumcised according to the manner of Moyses, you can not be saued. Such commers also to the Galatians (vvhom S. Paul hád conuerted Act. 16, as him self mentioneth Gal. 1. and 4.) did seduce them, saying, that al the other Apostles to vvhom they should rather harken, then to Paul (vvho came they knevv not from vvhence) did vse Circumcision: yea and that Paul himself, vvhen he came among them, durst do none other. And to vvinne them more easily, they did not lay on them the burden of the vvhole Lavv, but of Circumcision only.

Against these deceiuers, S. Paul declareth, that he receiued his Apostleship and learned the Gospel that he preacheth, of Christ him self after his Resurrection: and that the other Apostles (although he learned nothing of them) receiued him into their societie, and allovved vvel of his preaching to the Gentiles though themselues being Ievves, and liuing among the Ievves, had not yet left the ceremonies of the Lavv: hovvbeit they did not put in them any hope of iustification, but in Christ alone vvithout them. He declareth moreouer, that the said False apostles belyed him, in saying that he also preached Circumcision sometimes. Againe, that they themselues in preaching no more but Circumcision, did against the nature of Circumcision, because it is a profe&esset;ion to obserue the vvhole Lavv: finally, vvhatsoeuer they pretended, that in deede they did it onely to please the Ievves, of vvhom othervvise they should be persecuted.

So that in this Epistle he handleth the same matter, vvhich in the Epistle to the Romanes: but here lesse exactly and more briefly, because the Galatians vvere very rude, and the Romanes contrarivvise, repleti omni scientia (Rom. 15) replenished vvith al knovvledge.

THE EPISTLE OF PAVL TO THE GALATIANS. Chap. I. After the foundation laide in the salutation, 6 he exclaimeth against the Galatians, and their false apostles, 11 considering that the Gospel vvhich he preached to th&ebar;, he had it immediatly of Christ him self. 13 Vvhich to shevv he beginneth to tel the storie of his conuersion and preaching since then, that as he learned nothing of the other Apostles; so yet he had their approbation.

1   Pavl an Apostle not of men,09Q1196 neither by man, but by Iesvs Christ, and God the Father that raised him from the dead,

2   and al the brethren that are vvith me: to the churches of Galatia.

3   Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Iesvs Christ,

4   vvho gaue him self for our sinnes, that he might deliuer vs from this present vvicked vvorld, according to the vvil of our God and father:

5   to vvhom is glorie for euer and euer. Amen.

6   I maruel that thus so soone you are transferred from him that called you into the grace of Christ, vnto an other Gospel:

7   vvhich is not an other, vnles there be some that trouble you, and vvil ^note inuett the Gospel of Christ.

8   But although we,09Q1197 or an Angel from heauen, eu&abar;gelize to you beside that vvhich vve haue euangelized to you, be he anáthema.

9   As vve haue said before, so novv I say againe, If any euangelize to you, beside that vvhich you haue receiued, be he anáthema.

10   For do I novv vse persuasion to men, or to God? Or do I seeke to please men? If I yet did please men, I should not be the seruant of Christ.

11    ^noteFor I doe you to vnderstand, brethren, the Gospel that

vvas euangelized of me, that it is not according to man.

12   For neither did I receiue it of man, nor learne it: but by the reuelation of Iesvs Christ.

13   For you haue heard my c&obar;uersation sometime in Iudaisme, that aboue measure I persecuted the Church of God, and expugned it, ^note

14   and profited in Iudaisme aboue many of mine equales in my nation, being more aboundantly an emulator of the traditions of my fathers.

15   But vvhen it pleased him that separated me from my mothers vvombe, and called me by his grace, to reueale his sonne in me,

16   that I should euangelize him among the Gentils, incontinent I condescended not to flesh and bloud,

17   neither came I to Hierusalem to the Apostles my antecessors: but I vvent into Arabia, and againe I returned to Damascus.

18   Then, after three yeres I came to Hierusalem09Q1198 to see Peter: and taried with him fiftene daies.

19   But other of the Apostles savv I none: sauing Iames ^note the brother of our Lord.

20   And the things that I vvrite to you: behold before God, that I lie not. &cross4;

21   After that, I came into the partes of Syria and Cilicia.

22   And I vvas vnknowen by sight to the churches of Ievvrie, that vvere in Christ:

23   but they had heard only, That he vvhich persecuted vs sometime, doth novv euangelize the faith vvhich sometime he expugned:

24   and in me they glorified God. ^{note note}

^note Chap. II. He telleth furth the storie begonne in the last chapter, and hovv he reprehended Peter, 15 and then specially urgeth the ensample of the Christian Ievves, vvho sought vnto Christ for iustification, and that by vvarrant also of their Lavv it self, as also because othervvise Christs death had been needles.

1   Then after fourtene yeres I vvent vp againe to Hierusalem vvith Barnabas, taking Titus also vvith me.

2   And I vvent vp according to reuelation: and 09Q1199 c&obar;ferred with them the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but apart with th&ebar; that seemed to be something, lest perhaps09Q1200 in vaine I should runne or had runne.

3   But neither Titus which vvas with me, vvhere as he vvas a Gentil, vvas compelled to be circumcised:

4   but because of the false brethren craftely brought in, vvhich craftely came in to espie our libertie that vve haue in Christ Iesvs, that they might bring vs into seruitude.

5   To vvhom vve yelded not subiection no not for an houre, that the truth of the Gospel may remaine vvith you.

6   But of them that seemed to be something, (vvhat they vvere sometime, it is nothing to me. ^noteGod accepteth not the person of man) for to me, they that seemed to be something,09Q1201 added nothing.

7   But contrarievvise vvhen they had seen, that to me vvas committed the Gospel of the ^note prepuce, as09Q1202 to Peter of the circumcision

8   (for he that vvrought in Peter to the Apostleship of the circumcision, vvrought in me also among the Gentils)

9   and vvhen they had knovven the grace that vvas giuen me, Iames and Cephas and Iohn, vvhich seemed to be pillers,09Q1203 gaue to me and Barnabas the right handes of societie: that vve vnto the Gentiles, & they vnto the circumcision:

10   only that vve should be mindeful of the poore: the vvhich same thing also I vvas careful to doe.

11   And vvhen Cephas vvas come to Antioche,09Q1204 I resisted him ^{note note} in face, because he vvas09Q1205 reprehensible.

12   For before that certaine came from Iames, he did eate vvith the Gentiles: but vvhen they vvere come, he vvithdrevv and separated him self, fearing them that vvere of the circumcision.

13   And to his simulation c&obar;sented the rest of the Ievves, so that Barnabas also vvas ledde of them into that simulation.

14   But vvhen I savv that they vvalked not rightly to the veritie of the Gospel, I said to Cephas before them al: If thou being a Ievve, liuest Gentile like & not Iudaically: hovv doest thou compel the Gentils to Iudaize.

15   Vve are by nature Ievves, and not of the Gentils, sinners.

16   But knovving that ^note man is not iustified by the

vvorkes ^note of the Lavv, but by the faith of Iesvs Christ: we also beleeue in Christ Iesvs, that we may be iustified by the faith of Christ, and not by the vvorkes of the Lavv: for the vvhich cause, by the workes of the Law no flesh shal be iustified.

17   But if seeking to be iustified in Christ, our selues also be found sinners: is Christ then a minister of sinne? God forbid.

18   For if I build the same things againe vvhich I haue destroied, I make my self a preuaricátour.

19   For I by the Lavv, am dead to the Law, that I may liue to God: vvith Christ I am nailed to the crosse.

20   And I liue, novv not I: but Christ liueth in me. And that that I liue novv in the flesh, I liue in the faith of the sonne of God, who loued me, & deliuered him self for me.

21   I cast not avvay the grace of God. For if iustice be by the Lavv, then Christ died in vaine. ^{note note}

^{note note}

^{note note}

^note Chap. III. By their ovvne conuersion at the first, 6 and by the example of Abraham, and promise made to him, he shevveth that the vvay to obtaine the benediction, is to seeke vnto God by faith in Christ. 10 Seing also that the Lavv curseth euery one that hath not euermore kept the Lavv. 15 And, that the Lavv vvas not giuen to alter Gods testament, 19 but to conuince the Ievves of sinne, 23 and so to be their pædagogue or leader vnto Christ, 25 and then to cease.

1   O Sensles Galatians, vvho hath ^note bevvitched you, not to obey the truth, before vvhose eies Iesvs Christ vvas proscribed, being crucified among you?

2   This only I vvould learne of you, By the vvorkes of the Lavv, did you receiue the Spirit, or by the hearing of the faith?

3   Are you so foolish, that vvhereas you began vvith the spirit, now you vvil be consummate vvith the flesh?

4   Haue you suffered so great things vvithout cause? if yet vvithout cause.

5   He therfore that giueth you the Spirit, and vvorketh miracles among you: by the vvorkes of the Lavv, or by the hearing of the faith doeth he it?

6   As, Abraham beleeued God, and it vvas repured to him vnto iustice. ^note

7   Knovv ye therfore that they that are ^note of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8   And the Scripture foreseing that God iustifieth the Gentils by faith, shevved vnto Abraham before, That in thee shal al nations be blessed. ^note

9   Therfore they that are of faith, shal be blessed vvith the faithful Abraham.

10   For vvhosoeuer are of the vvorkes of the Lavv, are vnder curse. For it is vvritten:09Q1206 Cursed be euery one that abideth not in al things that be vvritten in the booke of the Lavv, to doe them. ^note

11   But that in the Lavv no man is iustified vvith God, it is manifest, because

The iust09Q1207 liueth by faith. ^note

12   But the Lavv is not by faith: but, He that doeth those things shal liue in them. ^note

13   Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the Lavv, being made a curse for vs (because it is vvritten, Cursed is euery one that hangeth on a tree) ^note

14   that on the Gentiles the blessing of Abraham might be made in Christ Iesvs: that vve may receiue the promisse of the Spirit by faith.

15    ^noteBrethren (I speake according to man) yet a mans testam&ebar;t being confirmed no man despiseth, or further disposeth.

16   To Abraham vvere the promises said, and to his seede. He saith not, And to seedes, ^note as in many: but as in one, And to thy seede, vvhich is Christ.

17   And this I say, the testament being confirmed of God, the Lavv vvhich vvas made after foure hundred and thirtie yeres, maketh not void to frustrate the promise.

18   For if the inheritance be of the Lavv, novv not of promise. But God gaue it to Abraham by promise.

19   Vvhy vvas the Lavv then? It vvas put for transgressions, vntil the seede came to vvhom he had promised: ordeined by Angels in the hand of a mediatour.

20   And a mediatour is not of one: but God is one.

21   Vvas the Lavv then against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a Lavv giuen that could iustifie, vndoubtedly iustice should be of the Lavv. ^note

22   But the Scripture ^note hath concluded al things vnder sinne: that the promise by the faith of Iesvs Christ might be giuen to them that beleeue. &cross4;

23   But before the faith came, vnder the Lavv we vvere kept shut vp, vnto that faith which vvas to be reuealed.

24   Therfore the Lavv vvas our Pedagogue in Christ: that vve may be iustified by faith.

25   But vvh&ebar; the faith came, novv vve are not vnder a pædagogue.

26   For you are al the children of God by faith in Christ Iesvs.

27   For as many of you as are baptized in Christ,09Q1208 haue put on Christ.

28   There is not Ievve nor Greeke, there is not bond nor free, there is not male nor femal. For al you are one in Christ Iesvs.

29   And if you be Christs, then are you the seede of Abraham, heires according to promise. ^note

^{note note} Chap. IIII. That the Lavv vvas fit for the time of nonnage: but being novv come to ful age, to desire such seruitude is absurd, specially for Gentils. 12 And that he vvriteth this not of any displeasure, but to tel them the truth, remembring hovv pa&esset;ingly they honoured him vvhen he vvas present, and exhorting them therfore not to harken to the false Apostles in his absence. 21 By the allegorie also of Abrahams tvvo sonnes, shevving, that the children of the Ievves Synagogue shal not inherite, but vve vvho are the children of the free vvoman: that is, of the Cath. Church of Christ.

1    ^noteAnd I say, as long as the heire is a litle one, he differeth nothing from a seruant, although he be lord of al,

2   but is vnder tutors and gouernours vntil the time limited of the father:

3   so vve also, vvhen vve vvere litle ones, vvere09Q1209 seruing vnder the ^note elem&ebar;tes of the vvorld.

4   But vvhen the fulnes of time came, God sent his sonne made of a vvoman, made vnder the Lavv:

5   that he might redeeme them that vvere vnder the Lavv, that vve might receiue the adoption of sonnes.

6   And because you are sonnes, ^note God hath sent the Spirit of his sonne into your hartes crying: Abba, Father.

7   Therfore novv he is not a seruant, but a sonne. And if a sonne, an heire also by God. &cross4;

8   But then in deede not knowing God, you serued them that by nature are not Gods.

9   But novv vvhen you haue knovven God, or rather are knovven of God: hovv turne you againe to the09Q1210 vveake & poore elements, vvhich you vvil serue againe?

10   09Q1211You obserue daies, and moneths, and times, and yeres.

11   I feare you,

lest perhaps I haue laboured in vaine among you.

12   Be ye as I, because I also am as you: brethren, I beseeche you, you haue hurt me nothing.

13   And you knovv that by infirmitie of the flesh I euangelized to you heretofore:

14   and your tentation in my flesh you despised not, neither reiected, but ^note as an Angel of God you receiued me, as Christ Iesvs.

15   Vvhere is then your blessednes? for I giue you testimonie that if it could be done, you vvould haue plucked out your eies and haue giuen them to me.

16   Am I then become your enemie, telling you the truth?

17   They emulate you not vvel: but they vvould exclude you, that you might emulate them.

18   But do you emulate the good in good alvvaies: and not only vvhen I am present vvith you.

19   My litle children, vvhom I trauail vvithal againe, vntil Christ be formed in you.

20   And I vvould be vvith you now and chaunge my voice: because I am confounded in you.

21   Tel me you that vvil be vnder the Lavv, haue you not read the Lavv? ^note

22   For it is vvritten that ^note Abraham had tvvo sonnes: one of the bond-vvoman, and one of the free-vvoman.

23   But he that of the bond-vvoman, vvas borne according to the flesh: and he that of the free-vvoman, by the promisse.

24   vvhich things are said09Q1212 by an allegorie. For these are the tvvo testaments. The one from mount Sina, gendring vnto bondage: vvhich is Agar,

25   (for Sina is a mountaine in Arabia, ^note vvhich hath affinitie to that vvhich novv is Hierusalem) and serueth vvith her children.

26   But that Hierusalem vvhich is aboue, is free: vvhich is our mother.

27   For it is vvritten: Reioyce thou barren, that bearest not: breake forth and crie, that trauailest not: because many are the children of the desolate, more then of her that hath a husband. ^note

28   But ^note we brethren, according to Isaac, are the children of promis.

29   But ^note as then he that vvas borne according to the flesh, persecuted him that vvas after the spirit: so novv also.

30   But vvhat saith the Scripture? Cast out the bond-vvoman and her sonne. for the sonne of the bond-vvoman shal not be heire vvith the sonne of the free-vvoman. ^note

31   Therfore brethren vve are not the children of the bond-vvoman, but of the free: by the09Q1213 freedom vvherevvith Christ hath made vs free. &cross4;

^{note note}

^note

^{note note} Chap. V. Against the lie of the false Apostles, be protesteth his mind of Circumcision. 18 and testifieth, that they are called to libertie. But yet lest any misconster Christian libertie, he telleth them that they shal not inherite the kingdom, vnles they abstaine from the vvorkes of the flesh, vvhich are al mortal sinnes: and do the fruitful vvorkes of the Spirit, fulfilling al the commaundements of the Lavv by Charitie.

1   Stand, and be not holden in againe vvith the yoke of seruitude.

2   Behold I Paul tel you that if you be circumcised, Christ shal profite you nothing.

3   And I testifie againe to euery man circumciding him self, that he is a detter to doe the vvhole Lavv.

4   You are euacuated from Christ, that are iustified in the Lavv: you are fall&ebar; from grace.

5   For vve in spirit, by faith, expect the hope of iustice.

6   For in Christ Iesvs ^note neither circumcision auaileth ought, nor prepuce: but09Q1214 faith that vvorketh by charitie.

7   You ranne vvel, vvho hath hindered you not to obey the truth?

8   The persuasion is not of him that calleth you. ^note

9   A litle leauen corrupteth the vvhole paste.

10   I haue confidence in you in our Lord: that you vvil be of no other minde: but he that troubleth you, shal beare the iudgement, vvhosoeuer he be.

11   And as for me, brethren, if as yet I preach circumcision, vvhy doe I yet suffer persecution? then is the scandal of the crosse euacuated.

12   I would they vvere also cut of that trouble you.

13   For you, brethr&ebar;, are called into libertie: only make not this09Q1215 libertie an occasion to the flesh, but by charitie serue

one an other. ^note

14   For al the Lavv is fulfilled in one vvord: Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy self. ^note

15   But if you bite and eate one an other: take heede you be not consumed one of an other.

16   And I say, vvalke in the spirit, and the lustes of the flesh you shal not accomplish.

17   For the flesh lusteth against the spirit: and the spirit against the flesh. for these are aduersaries one to an other: ^note that not vvhat things soeuer you vvil, these you doe.

18   But if you be ledde by the spirit, you are not vnder the Lavv.

19   And the vvorkes of the flesh be manifest, vvhich are, fornication, vncleannes, impudicitie, lecherie,

20   seruing of Idols, vvitch craftes, enmities, c&obar;tentions, emulations, angers, bravvles, dissensions, sectes,

21   enuies, murders, ebrieties, commessations, and such like. vvhich I foretel you, as I haue foretold you, that they vvhich doe ^note such things, shal not obteine the kingdom of God.

22   But the fruite of the Spirit is, Charitie, ioy, peace, patience, benignitie, goodnes, longanimitie,

23   mildnes, faith, modestie, c&obar;tinencie, chastitie. Against such there is no lavv.

24   And they that be Christs, haue crucified their flesh vvith the vices and concupiscences. &cross4;

25    ^noteIf vve liue in the spirit, in the spirit also let vs vvalke.

26   Let vs not be made desirous of vaine glorie, prouoking one an other, enuying one an other. ^note

^note Chap. VI. If any do sinne, the rest that do the vvorkes of the Holy Ghost, must not therfore take pride in them selues, but rather make humilitie of it, partly by fearing their ovvne fall, partly by looking straitly to their ovvne vvorkes. 6 He exhorteth earnestly to good vvorkes, assuring them that they shal reape none other then here they sovv. 11 With his ovvne hand he vvriteth, telling them, the true cause vvhy those false Apostles preach circumcision, to be only to please the Ievves: 17 and a plaine argument that he preacheth it not, to be this, that he is persecuted of the Ievves.

1   Brethren, and if a man be preoccupated in any fault, you that are spiritual, instruct such an one in the spirit of lenitie, considering thine ovvne self, lest thou also be tempted.

2   Beare ye one an others burdens: & so you shal fulfil the lavv of Christ.

3   For if any man esteeme him self to be something, vvhereas he is nothing, he seduceth him self.

4   But let euery one proue his ovvne vvorke, & so in him self only shal he haue the glorie, and not in an other.

5   For euery one shal beare his ovvne burden.

6   And let ^note him that is catechized in the vvord, 09Q1216 communicate to him that catechizeth him, in al his goods.

7   Be not deceiued, God is not mocked.

8   For what things a m&abar; shal sow, those also shal he reape. For he that sovveth in his flesh, of the flesh also shal reape corrupti&obar;. but he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shal reape life euerlasting.

9   And ^note doing good, let vs not faile. For in due time vve shal ^note reape

not failing.

10   Therfore vvhiles vve haue time, let vs vvorke good to al, but09Q1217 especially to the domesticals of the faith. &cross4;

11   See vvith vvhat maner of letters I haue written to you vvith mine ovvne hand.

12   Vvhosoeuer vvil please in the flesh, they force you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer the persecution of the crosse of Christ.

13   For neither they that are circumcised, do keepe the Lavv: but they vvil haue you to be circumcised, that they may glorie in your flesh.

14    ^noteBut ^note God forbid that I should glorie, sauing in the crosse of our Lord Iesvs Christ: by vvhom the vvorld is crucified to me, and I to the vvorld.

15   For in Christ Iesvs neither circumcision auaileth ought, nor prepuce, but09Q1218 a nevv creature.

16   And vvhosoeuer shal folovv this rule, peace vp&obar; them, and mercie, and vpon the Israël of God.

17   From hencefurth let no man be troublesome to me. for I beare the markes of our Lord Iesvs in my body. The grace of our Lord Iesvs Christ be vvith your spirit brethren. Amen. &cross4; ^{note note note}

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