Theodoret of Cyrus — Commentary on Scripture

He has illustrated the perfection of believers. For what is more perfect than to be called sons of God?

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 3.26

It is right to point out that he has linked the sending of the eternal Son with the incarnation. For he does not say “he sent him to come into being as Godhead from a woman,” so that we would misunderstand the sending to be the sending of the Godhead. Instead only the Son, not the Godhead, is born of a woman. Now this is peculiar to the incarnation.

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 4.4-5

Galatians 4:17

He says this with reference to those evil teachers. “For seeing your conspicuous faith,” he says, “they are grieved and all try by every means to rob you of those goods and subject you to their own authority.” For that is what he means by writing “that you may emulate them.”

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 4.16

Galatians 4:28

We were born not according to nature but according to grace. For, just as in Isaac’s case, it was not the law of nature but that of the gospel that fashioned us. Thus the promise given to Abraham engendered us.

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 4.28

Galatians 4:30

By “the words of Scripture” he means those spoken of Sarah explaining the goal of the Scripture, for the sake of which he has written these things afresh, so that after the truth the type also may be explained.

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 4.30

Galatians 5:8

It is for God to call and hearers to obey.

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 5.8

Galatians 5:13

He now shifts to ethical exhortation and commends the practice of virtue. “For it was not in order to sin without fear,” he says, “that we have been freed from the law.” From this it is clear that in rejecting the superfluous parts of the ceremonial law he is commending the observance of the moral law and, above all, love.

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 5.13

Galatians 5:15

Here Paul hints that, while some had been circumcised under duress, others had relied on their faith and stood firm. Nevertheless, they were at odds, some praising the legalistic way of life, others showing due admiration for the gifts of grace. For this reason Paul focuses his attention on the exhortation to love.

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 5.15

Galatians 5:20

Now it is clear that idolatry and sorcery and things of that kind belong not to the flesh but to the soul. In fact it is not the flesh that he is condemning but the wayward mind.

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 5.19-21

Galatians 5:26

Some who were grounded in faith were showing a constant disdain of their oppressors. They were thereby provoking them to strife. Paul exhorts them to offer their hands to those who have inclined toward the law.

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 5.26

Galatians 6:2

This means: “You have one deficiency but not another. The neighbor’s case is the opposite. He has another deficit but not the one you have. You must bear his and he yours. For thus is the law of love fulfilled.” By “the law of Christ” he means love, for he himself said, “I give you a new commandment, to love one another.”

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 6.2

Galatians 6:13

For how can they totally keep the law while they are traveling far from Jerusalem? How can they perform the feasts; how can they offer the sacrifices; how can they be cleansed after touching impure things? No, it is obvious that they have conspired to have you circumcised in their desire to boast of having made you change.

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 6.13

Galatians 6:15

Paul also mentions a new creation in his letter to the Corinthians. … The strict meaning of new creation is the transformation of all things which will occur after the resurrection from the dead. For then the creation will be freed from sin’s burden and redeemed. Paul demonstrates that saving baptism is an image of things to come. In it we put off the old nature and put on the new. And we, ridding ourselves of sin’s burden, receive the grace of the Spirit. Yet neither the most holy baptism nor the life to come recognizes any difference between circumcision and uncircumcision. By world he means the affairs of life—honor, glory and wealth. To these he declares himself dead.

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 6.15