The Argument of the Epistle of S. Paul to the Galatians

That this Epistle may seem to be the first that S. Paul wrote, was declared in the Argument of the Epistle to the Romans, notwithstanding that in the second chapter it is evident to have been written 14 years at the least after his Conversion, and (as it is said) from Ephesus, belike at that time of his being there, which is mentioned Act. 18.

The occasion of it were such False apostles, as we read of, Act. 15. Et quidam descendentes, &c. And certain coming down from Jewry, taught the brethren (that is the Christian Gentiles at Antioch) that unless you be circumcised according to the manner of Moyses, you can not be saved. Such comers also to the Galatians (whom S. Paul had converted Act. 16, as himself mentioneth Gal. 1. and 4.) did seduce them, saying, that all the other Apostles to whom they should rather hearken, unto Paul (who came they knew not from whence) did use Circumcision: yea and that Paul himself, when he came among them, durst do none other. And to win them more easily, they did not lay on them the burden of the whole Law, but of Circumcision only.

Against these deceivers, S. Paul declareth, that he received his Apostleship and learned the Gospel that he preacheth, of Christ him self after his Resurrection: and that the other Apostles (although he learned nothing of them) received him into their society, and allowed well of his preaching to the Gentiles, though themselves being Jews, and living among the Jews, had not yet left the ceremonies of the Law: howbeit they did not put in them any hope of justification, but in Christ alone without them. He declareth moreover, that the said False apostles belied him, in saying that he also preached Circumcision sometimes. Again, that themselves in preaching no more but Circumcision, did against the nature of Circumcision, because it is a profession to observe the whole Law: finally, whatsoever they pretended, that in deed they did it only to please the Jews, of whom otherwise they should be persecuted.

So that in this Epistle he handleth the same matter, which in the Epistle to the Romans: but here less exactly and more briefly, because the Galatians were very rude, and the Romans contrariwise, repleti omni scientia (Rom. 15) replenished with all knowledge.