9/5/19
Jerome, Commentary on Galatians, [J.P. Migne, Editor]. Patrologiae Tomus XXVI. Paris: D’Ambroise, Pres La Barriere D’Enfer, ou Petit-Montrouge, 1845. pp. 307-438.
Commenting on Galatians 1:2, Jerome points out that in other letters Paul frequently names those with him. Here, however, he leaves it less definite. Jerome supposes that this may be related to the conflict with the supporters of circumcision or that it may be from a desire to depict Christian unity, with this as a letter from “Paul and everyone” (Jerome, Galatians, 313). Jerome emphasizes that the whole church should speak as one, regardless of te city or community.
Galatians 1:3 is a blessing. Here Jerome observes that the other epistles speak of grace and peace but this one only speaks of peace. He speculates that the Galatians especially need to hear about peace (Jerome, Galatians, 313).
In Galatians 1:4-5, Jerome notes that the Father and the Son were of one will in providing forgiveness for sins (Jerome, Galatians, 314). The goal, as stated in verse four, is to transform us, not into the image of this world, from which he rips us. Instead, he gathers us in his eternal glory. Jerome notes that the various heresies attempt to create their own glory, normally in some secret setting, as an alternative to God’s plain show of glory. The difference, as Jerome sums it up, is not that the world is evil, as the heretics say, but that there is evil in the world. We don’t need to escape the world, but the evil in it. In our escape from evil, Jerome observes that the glory of God we seek lasts forever - into ages of ages (Jerome, Galatians, 315). This is a greater thing than the Old Testament jubilee, which was only a temporary redemption (Jerome, Galatians, 316).