SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:2
Esto solo quiero saber de vosotros: ¿Recibisteis el Espíritu por las obras de la ley, o por el oído obediente de la fe?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Galatians 3:2
Verse 2. Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law] This may refer to the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, which were very common in the apostolic Church. Did ye receive these extraordinary gifts in consequence of your circumcision, and observing the Mosaic precepts? or was it by the hearing of the Gospel, prescribing faith in Christ crucified? It may also refer to the spirit of adoption, and consequently to their sonship.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. This one thing would I learn of you , etc..] Though there were many things he could have put to them, yet he would only ask this one question, which, if rightly attended to, and honestly answered, must expose their folly, and put an end to the controversy upon this head: received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith ? This question supposes they had received the Spirit; that is, the Spirit of God, as a spirit of wisdom and knowledge in the revelation of Christ; as a spirit of regeneration and sanctification; as a spirit of faith and adoption; and as the earnest, seal, and pledge of their future glory. Now the apostle asks, whether they received this Spirit by the works of the law; meaning, either whether they could imagine, that they by their obedience to the law had merited and procured the Spirit of God; or whether they thought that the Spirit came to them, and into their hearts, through the doctrine or preaching of the law: the former could not be true, for if they could not obtain righteousness and life by the works of the law, then not the Spirit; besides, works done without the Spirit of God, are not properly good works: not the latter, for though by the law is the knowledge of sin, yet this leaves nothing but a sense of wrath and damnation in the conscience; it is the killing letter, and a ministration of condemnation and death, and not of the Spirit, and of life; this belongs to the Gospel, or the hearing of faith; for by faith, is meant the Gospel, and particularly the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ's righteousness; and by the hearing of it, the preaching of it, the report of it, ( Isaiah 53:1) which, in the Hebrew text, is wnt[m , our hearing, that by which the Gospel is heard and understood. Now in this way the Spirit of God is received; while the Gospel is preaching he falls on them that hear it, conveys himself into their hearts, and begets them again by the word of truth: and in this way the Galatians came by the Spirit, and which is another aggravation of their folly, that they should enjoy so great an advantage by the Gospel, and yet be so easily removed from it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - Several things made the folly of the Galatian Christians worse. The had the doctrine of the cross preached, and the Lord's suppe administered among them, in both which Christ crucified, and the natur of his sufferings, had been fully and clearly set forth. Had they bee made partakers of the Holy Spirit, by the ministration of the law, or on account of any works done by them in obedience thereto? Was it no by their hearing and embracing the doctrine of faith in Christ alon for justification? Which of these had God owned with tokens of his favour and acceptance? It was not by the first, but the last. And thos must be very unwise, who suffer themselves to be turned away from the ministry and doctrine which have been blessed to their spiritual advantage. Alas, that men should turn from the all-important doctrin of Christ crucified, to listen to useless distinctions, mere mora preaching, or wild fancies! The god of this world, by various men an means, has blinded men's eyes, lest they should learn to trust in crucified Saviour. We may boldly demand where the fruits of the Holy Spirit are most evidently brought forth? whether among those who preac justification by the works of the law, or those who preach the doctrin of faith? Assuredly among the latter.
Greek Textus Receptus
τουτο 5124 μονον 3440 θελω 2309 5719 μαθειν 3129 5629 αφ 575 υμων 5216 εξ 1537 εργων 2041 νομου 3551 το 3588 πνευμα 4151 ελαβετε 2983 5627 η 2228 εξ 1537 ακοης 189 πιστεως 4102
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. This only. I will convince you of your error by this one point. Do you owe the gifts of the Spirit to the works of the law, or to the message of faith?
Received ye, etc. The answer lies in the question. You cannot deny that you received the gifts of the Spirit by the message of faith.
The hearing of faith (akohv pistewv). See on chapter i. 23. For hearing, render message. So, often in N.T. See Matt. iv. 24; xiv. 6; John xii. 38. LXX, 1 Sam. ii. 24; 2 Sam. xiii. 30; Tob. x. 13; Hab. iii. 2. 59
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:2 { this only} (touto monon). Paul strikes at the heart of the problem. He will show their error by the point that the gifts of the Spirit came by the hearing of faith, not by works of the law.
