This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
All Commentaries on Galatians 3:2 Go To Galatians 3
Cornelius a Lapide
AD 1637
Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the heating of faith? The Spirit here is the Holy Spirit, with His visible gifts of tongues and prophecy, which He used to give in baptism, as outward tokens of the invisible graces He there infused. S. Paul asks the Galatians whether it is not clear that they received the Spirit and His gifts, not from circumcision, but in baptism.
The heating of faith. Hearing can be taken here either actively, in reference to the preaching they heard, or passively, in reference to their hearkening to and obeying the faith preached. Cf. Isaiah 51:4-7.
