Commentary upon the Epistle to the Galatians

Here in the very beginning he toucheth those false teachers, which boasted them selves to be the disciples of the Apostles, and to be sent of them: but despised Paul as one that was neither the Apostles scholar, ⟨p. 10⟩nor sent of any to preach the gospel, but came in some other way, and of his own head thrust him self into that office. Against those Paul defendeth his calling, saying: My calling seemeth base to your preachers. But whosoever they be which have come unto you, are sent either of men or by man: that is to say, they have entered either of them selves being not called, or else called by others. But my calling is neither of men nor by man, but it is above all manner of calling that can be done by the Apostles, for it is by Jesus Christ and by God the father &c.

Here in the very beginning he toucheth those false teachers, which boasted them selues to be the disciples of the Apostles, and to be sent of them: but despised Paule as one that was neither the Apostles scholler, ⟨p. 10⟩nor sent of any to preach the gospell, but came in some other way, and of his owne head thrust him selfe into that office. Against those Paule defendeth his calling, saying: My calling seemeth base to your preachers. But whosoeuer they be which haue come vnto you, are sent either of men or by man: that is to say, they haue entred either of them selues being not called, or els called by others. But my calling is neither of men nor by man, but it is aboue all maner of calling that can be done by the Apostles, for it is by Iesus Christ and by God the father &c.

Where he saith of men, I mean such as call & thrust in themselves when neither God nor man calleth nor sendeth them, but they run & speak of them selves. As at this day certain fantastical spirits, which either creep in corners and seek places where they may pour out their poison, and come not into public congregations: or else they go thither, where the gospel is planted already. These I call such as are sent of men. But where he saith, by man, understand such as have a divine calling, but yet by man as by means. God calleth then two manner of ways: by means and without means. He calleth us to the ministry of his word at this day, not immediately by him self but by other means, that is to say, by man. But the Apostles were called immediately of Christ him self, as the Prophets in the old time were called of God himself. Therefore when Paul saith: Not of men, neither by man, he beateth down the false Apostles. As though he would say: Albeit those vipers brag never so much, what can they brag more then that they are either come from men, that is to say, of them selves with out any calling, or, by man, that is to say: sent of others. I pass not upon any of these things, neither ought you to regard them.