Gal 5:7-9 | Clarke | STEP | Verse 7 Ye did run well - Ye once had the faith that worked by love - ye were genuine, active, useful Christians. Who doth hinder - Who prevented you from continuing to obey the truth? Ye could only be turned aside by your own consent. St. Paul here, as in (note), compares Christianity to a race. See the notes on the above text.

Galatians 5:7-9

Verse 7

Ye did run well - Ye once had the faith that worked by love - ye were genuine, active, useful Christians.

Who doth hinder - Who prevented you from continuing to obey the truth? Ye could only be turned aside by your own consent. St. Paul here, as in 1Cor 9:24 (note), compares Christianity to a race. See the notes on the above text. Verse 8

This persuasion - Of the necessity of your being circumcised and obeying the law of Moses, is not of him that calleth you. I never preached such a doctrine to you; I called you out of bondage to liberty, from a galling yoke to a cheerful service. Some translate πεισμονη, obedience or subjection. This subjection of yours to the Mosaic law is opposed to the will of God, and never was preached by me. Verse 9

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump - A proverbial expression, see 1Cor 5:6, very aptly applied to those who receive the smallest tincture of false doctrine, relative to the things essential to salvation, which soon influences the whole conduct, so that the man becomes totally perverted. They might have argued, "It is a small thing, and should not be made a subject of serious controversy, whether we be circumcised or not." Granted, that in itself it is a small matter; but, as every man who is circumcised is a debtor to do the whole law, Gal 5:3, then your circumcision leads necessarily to your total perversion; as the little portion of leaven, mixed with the batch, soon leavens the whole lump.