A commentary of M. I. Calvin upon the Epistle to the GalatiansA commentarie of M. I. Caluine vpon the Epistle to the Galathians

there came, while he was away the false Apostles, who corrupted the true seed (of the Word) with false and corrupt Doctrines. For they taught that the observing of ceremonies was as yet necessary. It might seem a thing of light account in show. but Paul contendeth about it as a principal point of the christian faith: and not without a cause, for it is no small evil to smother the brightness of the Gospel, to lay a snare upon the consciences, to take away the difference of the old and new Testament. he did see besides this, that unto these errors there was joined also a wicked and hurtful opinion of deserving righteousness. This is the cause why he striveth with such vehemency and contention. that we also being admonished how weighty and serious a matter is here handled, may be the more attentive to read it. If a man estimate the cause by the Commentaries of Origen or Jerome, he shall wonder that Paul was so greatly moved for certain outward customs. but whosoever shall look upon the beginning it self, shall confess that they were matters not unmeet to be so sharply contended about. For in that the Galatians by over swift credit, nay rather by lightness and folly suffered themselves to be lead away from the truth: therefore he reprehendeth them the more sharply▪ for I am not of their opinion, which suppose that they were the hardlyer handled for because of the dullness of their wit. The Ephesians and Colossians were assayed also. and if they had so lightly yielded to their deceits, think we that Paul would have dealt any more mildly with them? The nature of the people then moved him not thus frankly to chide them, but it was rather the ⟨image 4⟩hatefulness of the matter that enforced him. Now that we understand the cause why he wrote this Epistle: let us come to the order of the handling thereof. He contendeth in the two first chapters about the authority of his Apostleship: saving that by occasion, about the end of the second chapter, he entereth into the principal (state of the matter): that is to say into the question of the justification of man: whereof nevertheless at the last in the third chapter he openly frameth a full disputation. Although he seem to entreat of many things in these two Chapters: yet this one thing he endeavoureth, to prove himself equal with the highest Apostles:

there came, while he was away the false Apostles, who corrupted the true seede (of the Word) with false and corrupt Doctrines. For they taught that the obseruing of ceremonies was as yet necessarie. It might seeme a thing of light account in shewe. but Paule contendeth about it as a principall poynt of the christian faith: and not without a cause, for it is no smal euill to smother the brightnesse of the Gospell, to lay a snare vpon the consciences, to take awaye the difference of the old and new Testament. he did see besides this, that vnto these erroures there was ioyned also a wicked and hurtfull opinion of deseruing righteousnesse. This is the cause why he striueth with suche vehemencye and contention. that we also being admonished how waightye and serious a matter is here handled, maye be the more attentiue to reade it. If a man estimate the cause by the Commentaries of Origen or Ierome, he shall wonder that Paule was so greatly moued for certaine outward customes. but whosoeuer shall looke vpon the beginning it selfe, shall confesse that they were matters not vnmeete to be so sharpely contended about. For in that the Galathians by ouer swift credite, nay rather by lightnesse and folly suffered themselues to be lead away from the truth: therefore he reprehendeth them the more sharply for I am not of their opinion, which suppose that they were the hardlyer handled for because of the dulnesse of their witte. The Ephesians and Colossians were assayed also. and if they had so lightly yielded to their deceites, thinke we that Paule would haue dealte any more mildely with them? The nature of the people then moued him not thus franklye to chide them, but it was rather the