Galatians 3:2

This only. One point would be enough to settle the matter. In the argument that follows (vs. 6-29), Paul explores and develops the question propounded in vs. 1-5. If the Galatians will answer the one question he now asks, in the light of the following discussion, it will be sufficient to convince them of their mistake.

Received ye the Spirit. That is, the Holy Spirit, as promised by Jesus ere His return to the Father (John 14:16, 17). The Spirit was to reprove of sin, to direct men to Christ, and to guide them into truth (see John 16:7-13). The Galatian believers had experienced the guidance of the Spirit in their lives and had witnessed the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit (see 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:10-13). All this had come since their acceptance of the gospel of Christ as taught them by Paul. There could be no uncertainty as to the source of these spiritual blessings.

Works of the law. See on Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16.

Hearing of faith. That is, faith that results from hearing the gospel (Rom. 10:17), or hearing that is accompanied by faith. Through faith the Galatians had accepted salvation as provided by Jesus and had experienced the blessings of the Spirit that followed. Like Cornelius (Acts 10:44), they had believed what they heard and had received the “earnest of the Spirit” as evidence that God accepted their faith (see on 2 Cor. 1:22). They had accepted Paul’s instruction concerning justification by faith and had experienced it in their lives.