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

13 Christ hath redeemed us. He had made all who were under the law guilty to the curse. And thereof sprang a great difficulty, for that the Jews could not rid themselves from the curse of the Law▪ and therefore setting forth a remedy, he resolveth this doubt by teaching that we are delivered by christ. whereby he doth the more confirm his intent and purpose. For if we be therefore saved because we are delivered from the curse of the law: than is not righteousness by the law. afterward he joineth the manner of deliverance. It is written, cursed is every one which shall be hanged on Tree. Deut. 21.23. Christ was hanged, therefore he went under that curse. and now it is certainly true that he suffered not this punishment for his own cause: it followeth then, that either he was crucified in vain, or else that our curse was laid upon him, that ⟨p. 66⟩we might be loosed from the same. And he saith not that Christ was cursed, but a curse, which is more, for he signifieth that the curse of all men, was included in him. If this seem hard unto any man let him also be ashamed of the cross of Christ, in the confession whereof we boast. neither was God ignorant what end (of death) his sons death should be, when he pronounced this, Cursed is every one that shall hang on tree. But some man will object, Objection. Answer. How happeneth it that the son being beloved of the Father is cursed? I answer, Two things are to be considered not only in the person of Christ, but also in his Manhood. the one, that he was the unspotted Lamb of GOD full of blessing and grace: the other that he took upon him our person, and therefore he was a Sinner, and guilty of the curse, not so much verily in himself as in us: but yet nevertheless that he had need to be so in our stead. And so he could not be without the grace of GOD, and, yet he sustained his ire▪ for how could he reconcile unto us the father who was offended with him, and unto whom he was hated? therefore the will of the Father always rested in him. Again, how should he have delivered us from the wrath of GOD, except he had translated the same from us unto himself? therefore was he stricken for our sins, and he found God as an angry Judge. This is the foolishness of the cross 1 Corinth. 1.18