Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Galatians 3:1

"O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified?" — Galatians 3:1 (ASV)

This is the first time since 1:11 that Paul addresses the Galatians. Now it is by the impersonal term “Galatians” rather than by the word “brothers,” and it sets a sober tone for the formal argument to follow.

Paul cites three things that are inexplicable in regard to the Galatians’ conduct.

(1) Their conduct is irrational or “foolish” (GK 485), a word that suggests the actions of one who can think but fails to use those powers of perception (cf. Lk 24:25; Romans 1:14; 1 Timothy 6:9; Titus 3:3). This term was suggested to Paul by the trend of his thought at the end of the previous chapter—namely, that a doctrine of salvation by works foolishly denies the necessity for grace and declares the death of Jesus Christ unnecessary. A doctrine leading to such a conclusion is irrational. Yet this is what the Galatians were on the verge of embracing. How can such nonsense be explained? Paul suggests facetiously that perhaps they have been placed under a spell by some magician.

(2) Paul cannot understand what is happening because the true Gospel had been so clearly preached to them. Undoubtedly, he is referring to his own preaching, arguing that the Gospel had been made as clear by him as if he had posted it on a public bulletin board. The heart of the Gospel that Paul preached is —and always must be—“Christ crucified” (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:2).

(3) The conduct of the Galatians is inexplicable because it was so totally contrary to their initial experiences of Christianity. How did they begin? This is what Paul would like to hear from them, and he is not interested in hearing anything other than the basic answer to this basic question. Did they receive the Holy Spirit by living up to some formal statutes? Or did they enter into the Christian life simply by believing and receiving what they heard concerning the death of the Lord Jesus Christ?