The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the GalatiansFindlay, George G. (George Gillanders)
Religion
The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Galatians
Findlay, George G. (George Gillanders)
Bible. Galatians -- Commentaries
_Sorcery_ is the attendant of idolatry. A low, naturalistic
conception of the Divine lends itself to immoral purposes. Men try
to operate upon it by material causes, and to make it a partner in
evil. Such is the origin of magic. Natural objects deemed to possess
supernatural attributes, as the stars and the flight of birds, have
divine omens ascribed to them. Drugs of occult power, and things
grotesque or curious made mysterious by the fancy, are credited with
influence over the Nature-gods. From the use of drugs in incantations
and exorcisms the word _pharmakeia_, here denoting _sorcery_, took
its meaning. The science of chemistry has destroyed a world of magic
connected with the virtues of herbs. These superstitions formed a
chief branch of sorcery and witchcraft, and have flourished under
many forms of idolatry. And the magical arts were common instruments
of malice. The sorcerer's charms were in requisition, as in the case
of Balaam, to curse one's enemies, to weave some spell that should
involve them in destruction. Accordingly _sorcery_ finds its place
there between _idolatry_ and _enmities_.
III. On this latter head the Apostle enlarges with edifying
amplitude. _Enmities_, _strife_, _jealousies_, _ragings_, _factions_,
_divisions_, _parties_, _envyings_--what a list! Eight out of fifteen
of "the works of the flesh manifest" to Paul in writing to Galatia
belong to this one category. The Celt all over the world is known
for a hot-tempered fellow. He has high capabilities; he is generous,
enthusiastic, and impressionable. Meanness and treachery are foreign
to his nature. But he is _irritable_. And it is in a vain and
irritable disposition that these vices are engendered. Strife and
division have been proverbial in the history of the Gallic nations.
Their jealous temper has too often neutralised their engaging
qualities; and their quickness and cleverness have for this reason
availed them but little in competition with more phlegmatic races. In
Highland clans, in Irish septs, in French wars and Revolutions the
same moral features reappear which are found in this delineation of
Galatic life. This persistence of character in the races of mankind
is one of the most impressive facts of history.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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