a b place of writing them may be deduced from the epistles themselves, and from the history of St. Paul's travels in the book of the Acts. Some have thought, that the first at least, if not also the second, was written at Athens. But I suppose it to be now generally allowed, that both these epistles were written at Corinth: whereby we are also assured of their time. For it was formerly shewn to be probable, that St. Paul came to Corinth before the end of the year 51, and stayed there till the beginning of the year 53. с d In the Synopsis ascribed to Athanasius, the first epistle to the Thessalonians is said to have been written at Athens, and the second, very absurdly, at Rome. e Theodoret, as before quoted, saw these to be the two first written epistles of the apostle. The first he supposed to have been written at Athens, and the second not long after, either at Athens or Corinth. For he does not seem to say distinctly, at which of these two cities the second was written. Nevertheless I suppose it may be shown that they were both written at Corinth. St. Paul came from Thessalonica to Berea: which place he left in haste, because of the violence of the Jews, who came thither from Thessalonica, and "stirred up the people," Acts xvii. 10-13. "And then immediately," says St. Luke, "the brethren sent away Paul, to go as it were to the sea. But Silas and Timothy abode there still. And they that conducted Paul, brought him unto Athens. And receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed," ver. 14, 15. Accordingly, as we may suppose, Silas and Timothy did soon come to him. And Paul, having great concern for the Thessalo nians, whilst he was at Athens, sent Timothy to them. As he says, 1 Thess. iii. 1, 2, "Wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone. And sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and comfort you, concerning your faith." From Athens Paul went to Corinth, where he stayed a year and six months. There Timothy came back to him from Thessalonica. Comp. Acts xviii. 5. and 1 Thess. iii. 6. And Silas, or Sivanus, and Timothy are joined with the apostle in the inscription of the epistle. Near the end of this epistle, ch. v. 27. are these remarkable words: "I charge," or adjure, you by the Lord, opnika upas тov иupiov, that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren." It is likely, that from the beginning all Christian assemblies had readings of the scriptures of the Old Testament. Paul, knowing the plentitude of the apostolical commission, now demands the same respect to be paid to his writings, with those of the ancient prophets. This is a direction fit to be inserted in the first epistle written by him. And the manner in which it is given, suggests an argument that this was his first apostolical epistle. The second epistle to the Thessalonians appears to have been written soon after the first, and at the same place. And Silvanus and Timothy are joined together with the apostle in the inscription of this epistle, as well as of the former. These two epistles therefore I suppose to have been written at Corinth, in the year of Christ 52. Which is also the opinion of Mill, and others. But by whom these epistles were carried to the Thessalonians, we do not perceive. Some objections have been made against the above-mentioned date of these two epistles. But the point is so clear, that I do not think it worth the while to prolong this argument in examining them. They who are curious, may see those objections well answered by Dr. Benson, in the second edition of his history of the first planting the Christian religion, SECT. III. The Epistle to the Galatians. The epistle to the Galatians is inscribed after this manner: "Paul, an apostle, and all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia. Upon which Jerom observes In other epistles Sosthenes and Silvanus, and sometimes also Timothy, are mentioned at the * Ante Pauli vincula omnium prima scripta est ad Thessalonicenses utraque. Scriptæ autem omnino videntur duæ istæ epistolæ Athenis. Lud. Cap. Hist. Ap. p. 63. Pearson. Ann. Paulin. p. 11-13. Mill, Proleg. num. 4. et 6. • See before, p. 273, 274. d Synops. S. S. n. 66. ap. Athan. T. II. p. 196. Num. 67. ib. p. 197. f Vol. iii. p. 11. Præf, in Ep, Pauli. T. III. p. 3. i Vol. ii. p. 119–122. * In aliis epistolis Sosthenes et Silvanus, interdum et Timotheus, in exordio præponuntur : in hac tantum, quia necessaria erat auctoritas plurimorum, omnium fratrum nomen assumitur. Qui et ipsi forsitan ex circumcisione erant, et à beginning: but in this, for adding the greater weight and authority, are put "all the brethren :" who, perhaps too, were believers of the circumcision, and not despised by the Galatians. And the consent of many is of great use to satisfy people. To the churches of Galatia." Here also, as he proceeds, it is to be observed, that in this place only, Paul writes in general, not to the church of one city only, but to the churches of a whole province: and that he calls them 'churches, whom afterwards he reproves as corrupted with error. Whence we learn, that a church may be understood in a two-fold manner: both of that which has no spot, or wrinkle, ⚫ and is indeed the body of Christ and of that which is assembled in the name of Christ, without complete and perfect virtues.' a Tertullian seems to have thought this one of St. Paul's first written epistles: as has been observed by Grotius," who transcribed the passage, though long, into his preface to the epistle to the Galatians. Fabricius likewise has taken notice of it. d с f Theodoret, the Synopsis of sacred scripture, ascribed to Athanasius, and the author of the Argument in Ecumenius, reckon this among the epistles written at Rome, and consequently a late epistle. But I see no ground for that opinion, there not being in the epistle any notice taken of an imprisonment at the time of writing it. However Lightfoot was also of the same opinion. He supposeth this to have been the first epistle written by St. Paul after his arrival at Rome. He says it was carried by Crescens, arguing from 2 Tim. iv. 10. Which epistle to Timothy he thinks was written at Rome soon afterwards. h Chrysostom says, this epistle was written before that to the Romans. And in like manner Theophylact, probably, borrowing from him. n Divers learned moderns have thought, that this epistle was written at Ephesus, after Paul's arrival there from his journey, related in Acts xviii. 23. and xix. 1. consequently, after that the apostle had been a second time in Galatia. To this purpose' Lewis Capellus," Witsius, and Wall. This likewise seems to have been the opinion of Pearson. For he placeth this epistle in the year 57, after the first to the Corinthians, and before Paul left Ephesus. But I do not discern his reasons for so doing. Grotius thought it difficult to assign the time when this epistle was written: but conjectures, that it was written about the same time with that to the Romans. a Fabricius says, 'the' design of the epistle is to dissuade the Galatians from putting their Galatis non contemptui ducebantur. Plurimum quippe facit b Tertullianus, in primo adversus Marcionem, hanc epistolam inter primas Pauli fuisse existimat. &c. Grot. Pr. in ep. ad Gal. Scripsisse hanc epistolam adhuc neophytum, et in gratiâ rudem, adeoque inter primas non dubitat affirmare Tertullianus.- -Fabr. Bib. Gr. 1. 4. cap. v. tom. III. p. 155. 4 Τας μεν δη αλλας απο της Ρωμης απέςειλε, και ταυτην μεν ήγεμαι την προς Γαλατας γραφήναι. Theod. Præf. in ep. Paul. T. III. p. 5. B. • Ap. Athan. T. II. p. 194. f Arg. ep. See of this work, Vol. ii. p. 606. Per idem tempus, nempe sub finem biennii Ephesini, vide tur omnino scripta epistola ad Galatas, &c. Cap. Hist. ap. p. 69. Epistola ad Galatas temporis sui hos characteres habet. Primum, quod non diu post Pauli ab iis discessum scripta esse videatur. Sic enim ipse cap. i. 6.- Affuerat autem iis Paulus paulo antequam proficisceretur Ephesum. Act. xviii. 23. coll. cum cap. xix. 1. Unde probabiliter saltem infertur Ephesi esse datam. Specialius, datam esse sub finem biennii,* quod Paulus Ephesi exegit, inde colligit Capellus.—Wits. de Vit. Paul. sect. viii. num. xxxii. nAbout this time, A. D. 55, when Paul had been at Ephesus a little while, he is supposed to have written his epistle to the Galatians.' Wall's Notes upon the N. T. P. 164. Scribit primam ad Corinthios epistolam.-Scribit epistolam ad Galatas. Per Demetrium Epheso pellitur. Annal. Paulin. p. 15. A. D. 57. P Tempus, quo scripta est hæc epistola ad Gallogræcos epistola, sicut designate indicare non possum, ita videre mihi videor, non longe abfuisse ab eo tempore, quo ad Romanos scripta est epistola. Gr. Pr. ep. ad Galat. Argumentum epistolæ est, Galatas dehortari, ne jugo Legis Mosaïcæ iterum collum animasque supponerent. Idem dissuaserat Romanis, sed ad illos, quos nondum præsens ille neck under the yoke of the Mosaic law. And,' says he, to the like purpose the apostle writes to the Romans. But them he had never seen, and he treats them very respectfully, and enlargeth upon the doctrine of the gospel with greater prolixity. To the Galatians he writes more briefly, and as their master, and not without some severity in his reprehensions. He adds, that ' he is inclined to their opinion, who suppose this epistle to have been written not long after that to the Romans, and in the way to Jerusalem, in the year of Christ 58.' a Mill being a man of great judgment in these things, and what he says appearing at first sight plausible, I shall transcribe it below. He thinks, that this epistle was not written until after that to the Romans, probably at Troas, or some other place in Asia, as Paul was going to Jerusalem. And he thinks that Paul refers to the collections lately made in Macedonia and Greece Gal. ii. 10. And the apostle writes not only in his own name, but also in the name of all the brethren, mentioned Acts xx. 4. who were with him at Troas, and accompanied him to Jerusalem. Moreover, this epistle was written by the apostle with his own hand, and the more easily and readily, though in a journey, because he had just before treated the same argument in his epistle to the Romans. This epistle therefore is placed by Mill at the year 58. Upon all which I beg leave to remark, as follows. First, that those words, "all the brethren which are with me," need not to be understood of those who were with Paul at Troas, and were setting out with him for Jerusalem. Thereby may be intended the brethren of some other place where Paul was. Secondly, the apostle Paul was able at any time to represent the doctrine of the gospel to any churches, suitably to their particular case and circumstances: whether he had just before treated of it in an epistle, or not. So that the agreement between the epistles to the Romans and the Galatians is no proof, that they were written very soon one after another. Thirdly, when Paul says, ch. ii. 10, "The same which I also was forward to do:" he cannot intend the collections made in Macedonia and Greece, with which he was going to Jerusalem. If that he had been his meaning, he would have expressed himself more particularly, like to what he says to the Romans, ch. xv. 25-27. What he says here, he might have said, when at Ephesus, before he set out for Macedonia, and indeed at any time, and in any place. For he had been always mindful of the poor in Judea. I apprehend, that the apostle's words are to be interpreted in this manner. "The same, which I also had endeavoured to do, or had been careful to perform :" referring to his conduct, even before that proposal of the three apostles at Jerusalem and intending, probably, in particular, the contributions brought by himself and Barnabas from Antioch to Jerusalem, some while before, as related Acts xi. 29. Which contributions, as may be well supposed, had been promoted by our apostle's exhortations. Fourthly, St. Paul says to the Galatians in this epistle, ch. i. 6, “I marvel, that ye are so soon removed from him that called you unto the grace of Christ, unto another gospel." Those expressions cannot possibly suit the date assigned by Mill, that is, after the passover of the year 58. Which must have been above four years after even Paul's second journey in the country of Galatia. b Another opinion has been proposed by the ingenious and thoughtful author of Miscellanea Sacra, and embraced by Dr. Benson: that the epistle to the Galatians was written at Corinth, when the apostle was first there, and made a long stay of a year and six months. Whilst Paul was there, he received tidings of the instability of his converts in Galatia, with which he was docuerat, et scribit minus familiariter, et prolixius iis capita Christiana fidei exponit. Ad Galatas vero, et brevius omnia, et tamquam doctor ipsorum, ita ut nec a gravi increpatione sibi temperet. -Non possum tamen improbare eorum sententiam, qui non diu post epistolam ad Romanos in itinere Hierosolymam versus A. C. 58. exaratam hanc epistolam arbitrantur. Fabr. ubi supra. p. 155. * Paulo post dictatam hanc, quæ Romanis inscripta est, scripsit Paulus epistolam ad Galatas, ut apparet ex cap. ii. 10. ὁ και εσπέδασα αυτό τετο ποιήσαι. His enim verbis aperte indicat Apostolus, epistolam hanc post ministerium seu studium, quod eleemosynis pro ecclesiâ, Hierosolymitanâ colligendis impendebat, scripsisse se, dum aoristo utitur, eodaca Tomoal. In itinere itaque versus Hierosolymam versatus D. Paulus alicubi hanc epistolam exárâsse videtur, et quidem Troade fortassis, ubi septem dies moratus est; postquam in Asiam veniens comperisset Galatas ad aliud evangelium 8T Taxes translatos fuisse. Auditâ nempe, jam ut videtur ab appulsu ejus in Asiam, istâ amosarig, arrepto calamo, propriâ manu, contra quam factum in aliis epistolis, (exceptà forte unâ ad Philemonem) totam istam scripsit epistolam, acrem et objurgatoriam, nomine suo, omniumque, qui cum ipso erant fratrum jam Troade, Sopatri, Aristarchi, Secundi, Gaii, Tychici, Trophimi, Titi, Sila, aliorum. Scripsit autem en celerius, et festinantius, quod idem argumentum in hac epistolâ prosequeretur, quod tractaverat paulo ante in epistolâ ad Romanos, cujus fere sensus in hanc transfundit.—Scripta est statim, ut dixi, post epistolam ad Romanos, anno aræ vulgaris lviii. Proleg. num. 30, 31. See there the Abstract of the Scripture History of the Apostles, p. 31. and the Postscript to the Preface, p. 50—58. History of the first planting the Christian Religion. B. 3. ch. v. scct xi. Vol. ii. p. 118, 119. first edit. p. 136, 137: second edit. much affected. Whereupon he wrote this epistle, and sent it by one of his assistants. At that season he might well say at the beginning of his address to them: "I marvel, that ye are so soon removed from him that called you unto the grace of Christ." Nor is there in the epistle any hint of his having been with them more than once. The epistle therefore was written at Corinth, or perhaps at Ephesus, when Paul was first there, in his way to Jerusalem, as mentioned Acts xviii. 19-21. b 6 This opinion is proposed by the above-mentioned author, as his own. And I make no doubt, that it was so, and the fruit of his own inquiries and observations. Nevertheless it is not quite new. Say Lenfant and Beausobre, in their general preface to St. Paul's epistles: We find not in the epistle to the Galatians any mark that can enable us to determine with certainty, at what time, or in what place, it was written. It is dated at Rome in some printed copies and manuscripts. But there is nothing in the epistle itself to confirm that date. Paul does not here make any mention of his bonds, as he does in all his epistles written at Rome. He says ⚫ indeed ch. vi. 17. that "he bears in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus.' But he had often ́ suffered, before he came to Rome. There are therefore some learned chronologers, who 'place the epistle to the Galatians immediately after the two epistles to the Thessalonians. They think it was written between the third and fourth journey of Paul to Jerusalem, and between his first and second journey into Galatia. This opinion appears to me very probable. For since the apostle says, " he wonders, that they were so soon turned unto another gospel,' this epistle must have been written a short time after he had preached in Galatia. Nor can we discern in the epistle any notice of the second journey which St. Paul made into this 'country. For this reason it is thought that the epistle to the Galatians was written at Corinth, where the apostle made a long stay, or else in some city of Asia, particularly Ephesus, where he stayed some days in his way to Jerusalem, Acts xviii. 19-21. Therefore, in all probability, the epistle to the Galatians was written from Corinth, or from Ephesus, in the year 52 or 53.' Nothing could be said more properly. And I think this date may be farther confirmed by some other considerations. Paul says to the Corinthians, xvi. 1. "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so do ye." Which shows that at the writing of that epistle to the Corinthians, in 56, he had a good opinion of his converts in Galatia, and that he had no doubt of their respect to his directions. Which probably, had been sent to them from Ephesus, during his long abode there, by some one or other of his assistants. This good temper of the Galatians may be supposed owing to the letter sent to them some time before, and to his second visit to them, related Acts xviii. 23. And now we shall be better able to account for what appears very remarkable. When Paul left Corinth, after his long stay there, he went to Jerusalem, having a vow. In his way he came to Ephesus. Acts xviii. 19-21. "And when they desired him to tarry longer with them, he consented not. But bade them farewell, saying: I must by all means keep this feast that cometh at Jerusalem. But I will return again unto you, if God will." When we read this we might be apt to think that Paul should hasten back to Ephesus, and return thither presently after he had been at Jerusalem. But instead of so doing, after he had been at "Jerusalem, he went down to Antioch. And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, strengthening the disciples." ver. 22, 23. We now seem to see the reason of this course. At Corinth he heard of the defection of many in Galatia. Whereupon he sent away a sharp letter to them. But considering the nature of the case, he judged it best to take the first opportunity to go to Galatia, and support the instructions of his letter. And both together had a very good effect.. Gal. iv. 19, 20. "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again-I desire to be present with you, and to change my voice. For I stand in doubt of you:" or, I am perplexed for you. Now then, we see the reason of the apostle's not coming directly from Jerusalem to Ephesus. However he was not unmindful of his promise, and came thither, after he had been in Galatia. Upon the whole, the epistle to the Galatians is an early epistle. And, as seems to me most probable, was written at Corinth, near the end of the year 52, or at the very beginning of the year 53, before St. Paul set out to go to Jerusalem by the way of Ephesus. But if any should a Sect. xlii. p. 24—26. Capellus, without any references. Nor have I found the Here, in the margin, are put the names of Usher and L. places, where this opinion is maintained by them. 2 P VOL. III. rather think, that it was written at Ephesus, during the apostle's short stay there, in the way from Corinth to Jerusalem, that will make but very little difference. And still according to our computation, this epistle was written at the beginning of the year 53. b с с Ch. vi. 11. "Ye' see how large a letter I have written unto you with my own hand." Hereby some understand the apostle to say, that this, with what follows to the end of the epistle, was written with his own hand. So Jerom, and Grotius. Others understand St. Paul to speak of the whole epistle. So thought Chrysostom, and Theophylact, and ' Theodoret, and the author of the commentary upon thirteen of St. Paul's epistles. Which interpretation is approved by Wolfius. How long a letter I have written unto you." Which some interpret after this manner: " in what large letters I have written unto you," intending the deformity, or inelegance of the characters. Which sense is also found in diversi ancient authors. k But it is not approved of either by Beza, or' Wolfius. They say that this is as long as any of St. Paul's epistles, excepting the epistle to the Romans, the two epistles to the Corinthians, and that to the Hebrews. I may add another thought: that according to our computation this is the third apostolical epistle, written by St. Paul, and is much longer than either of those to the Thessalonians, which had been written before. However, undoubtedly, the apostle has regard to the quantity of his own hand-writing. The rest of his epistles were written by others, while he dictated, (as is generally done by eminent men, much engaged,) and himself wrote only a few words, or sentences, at the end: whereas this epistle was all in his own hand-writing. And the original word is elsewhere used for epistle, or letter. Acts xxviii. 21, "We have not received letters out of Judea concerning thee." So far therefore as I am able to judge, our English version is very right. large a letter I have written unto you with my own hand." "Ye see how That is Beza's translation. Le Clerc in his French Testament, and Beausobre translate in the like manner. • Ιδετε πηλίκοις ύμιν γραμμασιν εγραψα τη εμη χειρι. Hi qui circumcidi Galatas volebant, disseminaverant, alia Paulum facere, alia prædicare. -Hanc opinionem quia non poterat Paulus apud omnes præsens ipse subvertereseipsum per literas repraesentat. Et ne aliqua supposita epistolæ suspicio nasceretur, ab hoc ipso usque ad finem manu suâ ipse perscripsit, ostendens superiora ab alio exarata. Hieron. in ep. ad Gal. T. IV. p. 314. In aliarum epistolarum fine quædam scribebat suâ manu. 1 Cor. xvi. 21; 2 Thess. iii. 17; et Col. iv. 18; cætera manu alienâ, ut videre est Roman. xvi. 22. Hic vero Paulus suâ manu scripsit omnia quæ sequuntur, ut recte putat Hieronymus. Id autem multum erat in homine adeo occupato, et, ut videtur, non multum assueto Græce scribere. Quantis literis,' id est, quam multis.' Solent adjectiva magnitudinis poni pro adjectivis ad numerum pertinentibus. Sic Græcum Toro,tanti,' utroque sensu usurpatum. Grot. ad Galat. vi. 11. • Ενταυθα εδεν αλλο αινίττεται, αλλ' ότι αυτός εγραψε την επισολην άπασαν, ὁ πολλής γνησιότητος σημείον ην. κ.λ. Chr. in loc. T. X. p. 727. B. e In loc. T. II. p. 492. • Πασαν, ὡς ἔοικε, την δε την επισολήν αυτός έγραψε. Theod. in loc. • Auctoritatem dat epistolæ suæ.. manus est, falsum dici non potest. App. p. 230. -Ubi enim holographa Idem vero [Grotius] quamvis præeunte Hieronymo, errat, quando hæc verba non ad totam hanc epistolam, sed ad ea tantum, quæ inde usque ad finem leguntur, vult referri. Rectius Chrysostomus.- Addit idem causam, cur totam epistolam suâ manu exarârit, ut nempe omnis volaas suspicio doypad hoc præcideretur iis, qui dicere alioquin poterant, nonnulla illi inserta, quæ Apostoli sententiæ non responderent. Wolf. in Loc. 1. Το δε πηλικοίς, εμοι δοκει & το μέγεθος, αλλά την αμορφίαν των γραμμάτων εμφαίνων λεγειν, μόνονυχι λέγων· ότι ευτε αρικά γράφειν ειδώς, όμως ηναγκασθην δι' έμαυτε γράψαι, ώσε των συκοφάντων εμφράξαι το σόμα. Chr. ubi supr. p. 727. C. Το δε πηλικοις γραμμασι, τινες, με μεγαλοις, τινες δε φαυλοις ήρμηνευσαν. Εγώ γαρ, φησιν, έγραψα την επιςολήν, και τοι μη γραφων εις καλλος. Theod. in loc. *Quam longis, aixos. Ad verbum quantis.' Vulgata 'qualibus.' In quo explicando miror cur se tantopere torqueant interpretes, dum alii-ad sublimitatem sententiarum referunt, ut Hilarius, alii ad ipsa literarum elementa, quæ grandiuscula fuerint,- alii ad deformitatem characterum, quasi Paulus imperitus fuerit pingendarum literarum, ut exponit Theophylactus, Chrysostomum secutus.——Sunt autem sane longiores epistolæ Romanis et Corinthiis inscriptæ, sed alienâ manu exaratæ, &c. Bez. ad loc. 'Ecce quantis,' i. e. quam multis, literis vobis scripsi.' Ita recte Grotius, addens, adjectiva magnitudinis, pro adjectivis ad numerum pertinentibus, poni solere, quemadmodum et Græcum 7000 utroque sensu usurpetur. Longius autem a vero aberrant, qui ro λixos ad designandam characterum,' quibus usus sit, magnitudinem,' spectare putant, ut x Yрappara sint literæ majusculae.Addit [Le Cene] Apostolum hanc epistolam non potuisse appellare Aix respectu longitudinis, cum longiores scripserit alias. Imo vero scriptionem non tam multorum verborum, quam quod eam totam suâ manu scripserat, qui alias cæteris pauca quædam subscribere consueverit, longam appellat. Præterea hæc ad Galatas, si tres priores, et unam ad Hebræos exceperis, reliquas omnes langitudine excedit. Wolf. in loc. Bez. η Ημείς ετε γραμματα περι σε εδεξαμεθα από της Ιεδαίας. Videtis quam longis literis vobis scripserim meâ many, Voyez quelle grande lettre je vous ai écrite de ma main. Le Clerc. P Voyez quelle grande lettre je vous ai écrite de ma propre main. B. |