Galatians 1.6.10 notes
Gal 1:6-10 Notes
Wast thou called being a bondservant? Care not for it: but even if thou canst become free, use it rather. For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he that was called, being free, is Christ’s bondservant. Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men. Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.” Some,[1] Jerome (370AD)
96. How many masters has he who has forsaken the One! But let us not forsake Him. Who would forsake Him Whom they follow bound with chains indeed, but chains of love, which set free and do not bind, those chains in which they who are bound boast, saying: “Paul the bondservant of Jesus Christ, and Timothy.”142 It is more glorious for us to be bound by Him, than to be set free and loosed from others. Who then would flee from peace? Who would flee from salvation? Who would flee from mercy? Who would flee from redemption? St. Ambrose
ext he adds also the cause; “For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord’s free man: likewise he that was called, being free, is Christ’s bondservant.” “For,” saith he, “in the things that relate to Christ, both are equal: and like as thou art the slave of Christ, so also is thy master. How then is the slave a free man? Because He has freed thee not only from sin, but also from outward slavery while continuing a slave. For he suffers not the slave to be a slave, not even though he be a man abiding in slavery: and this is the great wonder.
But how is the slave a free man while continuing a slave? When he is freed from passions and the diseases of the mind: when he looks down upon riches and wrath and all other the like passions. SAINT CHRYSOSTOM:
Another important aspect of tribute is the tithe (Deut. 14:22–29), the purpose of which was to attest to the fact that Yahweh was the Lord of the land and that His kingdom servants, particularly the Levites, had to be sustained by its bounty. Other kingdom citizens also had to be protected and provided for. Thus is commanded the septennial release of bondservants (15:1–18). This took several forms: forgiveness of a brother’s debt (vv. 1–6), an illustration of Yahweh’s own forgiving grace and compassion for the poor (v. 2); constant regard for the poor even between years of release (vv. 7–11), for poverty among Yahweh’s vassals was a disgrace; and the granting of freedom to an indentured servant, if he wished release (vv. 12–18), a release reminiscent of Yahweh’s gracious Exodus deliverance (v. 15).
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[1]Schaff, Philip: The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Second Series Vol. VI. Oak Harbor : Logos Research Systems, 1997, S. 353
142 Phil. i. 1.