the Hebrew word Galath, which means fallen or carried away, as though Paul
wanted to say, "You are true Galatians, i.e., fallen away in name and in
fact." Some believe that the Germans are descended from the Galatians. There
may be something to that. For the Germans are not unlike the Galatians in
their lack of constancy. At first we Germans are very enthusiastic, but
presently our emotions cool and we become slack. When the light of the Gospel
first came to us many were zealous, heard sermons greedily, and held the
ministry of God's Word in high esteem. But now that religion has been
reformed, many who formerly were such earnest disciples have discarded the
Word of God, have become sow-bellies like the foolish and inconsistent
Galatians.


VERSE 6. From him that called you into the grace of Christ.

The reading is a little doubtful. The sentence may be construed to read: "From
that Christ that called you into grace"; or it may be construed to read: "From
God that called you into the grace of Christ." I prefer the former for it
seems to me that Paul's purpose is to impress upon us the benefits of Christ.
This reading also preserves the implied criticism that the Galatians withdrew
themselves from that Christ who had called them not unto the law, but unto
grace. With Paul we decry the blindness and perverseness of men in that they
will not receive the message of grace and salvation, or having received it
they quickly let go of it, in spite of the fact that the Gospel bestows all
good things spiritual: forgiveness of sins, true righteousness, peace of
conscience, everlasting life; and all good things temporal: good judgment,
good government and peace.

Why does the world abhor the glad tidings of the Gospel and the blessings that
go with it? Because the world is the devil's. Under his direction the world