Commentarii D. Andreae Hyperii, doctissimi ac clarissimi theologi, in omnes D. Pauli Apostoli epistolas, atque etiam in epistolam D. Iudae: Commentarii D. Andreae Hyperii, doctissimi ac clarissimi theologi, in epistolas D. Pauli ad Galatas & Ephesios. ...

Common calling

Father and Son: the right is the power. 4. Exaggerating particle.

It is shameful to fall from grace. Gratuitous calling: comes to pass through Christ Jesus.

Grace is opposed to law: John 1. 5. Particle of exaggeration.

The nature and craftiness of hypocrites.

The pseudo-apostles denied that Paul’s doctrine was of the faith, unless what he himself had handed down: that he did not hand them down absolutely: thus they mixed in circumcision and the Mosaic law. Matt. 7. 2 Cor. 11. The doctrine of the pseudo-apostles regarding the Mosaic law and ceremonies.

frequently in the apostolic writings the duty of calling is attributed, this meanwhile is beyond controversy, that Christ is the cause of our calling. He says, therefore, that they have deserted from Christ, who called them by grace. By which words he clearly expresses the sum of their error: as if he were saying: Christ called you to salvation by grace, he wants to obtain for you justice and eternal life gratuitously: but you have been reduced to the point that you want to prepare salvation for yourselves through your own works: which I certainly must deservedly marvel at. And it is fitting to interpret it in such a way that the Apostle seems not only to have wanted to signify that the calling itself was gratuitous, but rather that the final cause of the calling was grace itself. And in this sense, many things are said in this epistle, as in chapter 2, where he argues: If justice is through the law, then Christ died in vain, and the grace offered through him is despised. More clearly in chapter 5: Whoever of you are justified by the law, you have fallen from grace. Grace, therefore, is opposed to works or the law, and grace is properly the subject or matter of the gospel, since every angelic doctrine inculcates it in the first and last place. And most clearly are those convicted here, both of the Father and the Son, who even today think that they will attain salvation through their own works, and not through gratuitous mercy on account of Christ. Another Gospel, he calls it, not according to his own judgment, but that of the pseudo-apostles, who boasted that they were bringing another, more absolute gospel than what Paul had preached. Thus, however, are hypocrites accustomed to commend their own doctrine as if it were the pure gospel, extolling it with the most splendid titles of piety, and even, where they wish, to clothe and confirm their own impious dogmas with the holy scriptures: or they honor false doctrine with the name of the gospel by kat'exochen by way of eminence/pre-eminence: as if he were saying: They indeed boast that they are bringing a gospel; I will concede, if you wish, that it is a certain gospel: but nevertheless such a one, that through it you have fallen from Christ, and which in no way agrees with the gospel of Christ. Whence it is clear that not all who have the words of the gospel in their mouths, and boast that they have the gospel and scripture, have that which should properly be called the gospel, and which is approved by Christ himself. The devil sometimes transforms himself into an angel of light, and knows how to color false doctrine externally with the appearance of the Gospel, so that human traditions are held in that place, as if they were divine precepts. Furthermore, if the Apostle says that he marvels and at the same time silently criticizes the Galatians, who had been craftily led away from the way of truth by others, in what ways shall we consider those to be reprehensible who turn other simple people away by their own hypocrisy and fraud?

Which is not another, except that there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. Because he previously called the doctrine of the adversaries gospel by kat'exochen by way of eminence, now as if by way of correction he interprets that it is not another gospel properly so called, except that which he himself handed down. And the meaning is: The pseudo-apostles granted that Paul had indeed handed down many things, but that he had not acted correctly in that part, because he abrogated the holy law laid down by God himself, against the majesty of God, and also against the opinion of the other apostles: for which reason they persuaded them that what Paul had handed down was imperfect: but that they themselves would hand down a completed gospel: that this, however, was, that if they wished to be saved (as some contended, Acts 15), they should be circumcised according to the Mosaic custom. But, says the Apostle, there is no other gospel besides that which I handed down to you: nor have I omitted anything that is necessary for salvation. For certainly, the doctrine which should properly be called evangelical is always the same, although it is sometimes handed down in a different way. Nor is the gospel to be confused with Moses or Aristotle. Whatever is brought from elsewhere than from the sacred evangelical scriptures, it is permissible to reject all of it, as not agreeing with the true gospel. And just as a royal coin, even if slightly clipped, is rejected as entirely counterfeit: So the gospel of Christ, even if slightly infected with impious interpretations, is entirely depraved. Different gospels, however, cannot exist. Just as the church of the truly believing pious is one, and always has been, and always will be. So there is only one gospel, which began to be announced from the beginning of the world, when upon the fall of our first parents the seed was promised, in which all would be blessed, and it will be announced until the end of the world.

The Holy Spirit led the Apostles into all truth: seeing that they are those whom Christ prays to be sanctified in the word. John 16, 17. Therefore their doctrine is absolute and consummate. The Pharisaic leaven is to be avoided. Matt. 16, Mark 8. One and the same Gospel always remains. One and the same is the church. Gen. 3, Matt. 24.

Unless