Verse 3
Grace
Grace (in salvation). Galatians 1:6,15; 2:21; Romans 3:24. (See Scofield "John 1:17").
Verses 4–5
sins
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").
Verses 6–9
grace
The test of the Gospel is grace. If the message excludes grace, or mingles law with grace as the means of either of justification or sanctification Galatians 2:21; 3:1-3 or denies the fact or guilt of sin which alone gives grace its occasion and opportunity, it is "another" gospel, and the preacher of it is under the anathema of God Galatians 1:8,9.
Verses 10–12
For now do
The demonstration is as follows:
(1) The Galatians know Paul, that he is no seeker after popularity Galatians 1:10. (2) He puts his known character back of the assertion that his Gospel of grace was a revelation from God (Galatians 1:11,12). (3) As for the Judaizers, Paul had been a foremost Jew, and had forsaken Judaism for something better (Galatians 1:13-14). (4) He had preached grace years before he saw any of the other apostles (Galatians 1:15-24). (5) When he did meet the other apostles they had nothing to add to his revelations Galatians 2:1-6. (6) The other apostles fully recognized Paul's apostleship. Galatians 2:7-10. (7) If the legalizers pleaded Peter's authority, the answer was that he himself had claimed none when rebuked (Galatians 2:11-14).
Verse 13
Jews' religion
The new dispensation of grace having come in, the Mosaic system, if still persisted in, becomes a mere "Jews' religion."
Verse 14
religion
In verses 13 and 14 the Greek word for "the Jews' religion" is Ioudaismos (Judaism). In Acts 26:5; James 1:26,27 threskeia--religious service--is translated "religion," and in Colossians 2:18, "worshipping." Excepting James 1:27, "religion" has always a bad sense, and nowhere is it synonymous with salvation or spirituality.
Verses 15–16
We who are
Paul here quotes from his words to Peter when he withstood him at Antioch to show the Galatians that, whatever the legalists may have pretended, Peter and he were in perfect accord doctrinally. Paul appealed to the common belief of Peter and himself as a rebuke of Peter's inconsistent practice.
sinners Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").
Verse 17
we seek
That is, "we" Jews. Romans 3:19-23. The passage might be thus paraphrased: If we Jews, in seeking to be justified by faith in Christ, take our places as mere sinners, like the Gentiles, is it therefore Christ who makes us sinners? By no means. It is by putting ourselves again under law after seeking justification through Christ, that we act as if we were still unjustified sinners, seeking to become righteous through law-works. Galatians 5:1-4.
sinners Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").
Verses 18–19
transgressor
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").
Verse 20
not I
See note, (See Scofield "Ephesians 4:24").
Verse 21
grace Grace (in salvation). vs. Galatians 5:4; Romans 3:24. (See Scofield "John 1:17").
righteousness(See Scofield "Romans 10:10").