Iva4 The Law Hinders Growth Series

December 14, 2013

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians

Tom Lowe

Chapter IV.A.4: The Law Hinders Growth (5:7-10)

Galatians 5:7-10 (KJV)

7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

Commentary

7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

Ye did run well

The Christian life is often represented as a race. For example, in 1 Corinthians 9:24-26, Paul pictures life as if he was describing an Olympic competition: “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

The first Olympic Games were the sole property of the Greeks, and they featured competitions in leaping, running, throwing the quoit (a flattened ring of iron or circle of rope), darting (this may have been the Javelin throw), and wrestling. Sometimes other exercises were included, such as chariots races, and horse races, etc.

Running was one of the principal contests at the games. Speediness or swiftness was regarded as an extraordinary virtue, and great pains were taken in order to excel in this. History records that they regarded it so highly that those who prepared themselves for this race would actually burn their spleen because it was believed to be an impediment to them, and to hinder them in the race. Homer tells us that swiftness was one of the most excellent endowments with which a man can be blessed—"No greater honor e'er has been attain'd, Than what strong hands or nimble feet have gain'd."The competitors prepared themselves for these races through a long period of self-discipline and exercise, and nothing was left undone that might contribute to securing the victory.

"One reason" why this was believed to be so valuable an achievement among the Greeks, was, that it prepared people both physically and mentally for war as it was conducted at that time in history. It enabled them to make a sudden and unexpected attack or a rapid retreat. Hence, the attribute which Homer constantly gives of Achilles is that he was swift of foot. And David, in his poetical lamentations over Saul and Jonathan as they prepare for war, points out in 2 Samuel 1:23 that "They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions."

Paul uses the example of the athlete because it was something his readers were familiar with, and the idea he wants to convey to them here is that they began the Christian life with dedication and enthusiasm. That is the kind of zeal he speaks of in Galatians 4:15: “Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.”The life of a Christian is a race, in which he must run and not hold back or lose his focus if he is to obtain the prize. It is not enough that we profess Christianity, but we must run well, by living up to that profession.

Who did hinder you

The Greek word used here (a??a??´pt? anakopto¯) means to beat or drive back. Hence, it means to hinder, curb, impede, delay, or retard. Dr. Doddridge remarks that this is "an Olympic expression, and properly signifies ‘coming across the course’ while a person is running in it, in such a manner as to jostle, and throw him out of the way." Paul asks, with emphasis, who it could have been that retarded them in their Christian course (development, progress, growth), implying that it could not have been done with their own knowledge and consent and that there was really no good reason why they could not have continued as they began. In this question, the apostle does not ask who the person was that had put a stop to them, but he expresses his surprise and grief at their being stopped.

Paul knows that the false teaching comes from a person (who hindered you); but it didn’t come from Jesus. At the root of it all, the Galatians were leaving Jesus to pursue the false and empty teachings of man, in this case, legalism. Lightfoot described hinder similar to Doddridge but uses a “metaphor” derived from military operations. To him, the word signifies ‘to break up a road’ . . . so as to render it impassable, and is, therefore, the opposite of . . . ‘to clear a way.’” The Galatians were doing well until someone broke up the road they ran on!