Galatians 5:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore, when you were walking so well and serving the truth more than images, what corrupt teacher hindered you? Why do you follow the shadow of the Law and abandon the grace of the Gospel? Next comes: You agreed with no one. But since we do not find this written either in the Greek books or among those who explained the Apostle's writings, it seems it must be omitted.

Our conviction is never from the one who calls, but from us, who of ourselves agree or do not agree with the one calling. What followed from this? It followed that you yourselves were convinced of the truth, and you yourselves wavered in this conviction. Now you yourselves must return to it. There is no labor and no hindrance in this. Cast aside the new falsehood and take up the former truth. For evil acts like a spark fallen upon combustible material, like gangrene that has found fat (Bishop Theophan).

(Blessed Jerome). Who hindered you? He seems amazed, just as at the beginning he marveled that they were so quickly turning away (see Gal 1:6-7). Hindered, ενεκοψε, means that someone cut off your path, or tripped you while running. Not to obey the truth, τη αληθεια μη πειθεσθαι, means no longer to believe the truth, no longer to hold one's former convictions in it, and not to stand in it with firm and unshaken constancy. These are not the words of one asking a question, but of one perplexed and grieving. How was such a course abandoned? Who had such power? You, who were above all and at the rank of teachers, did not remain even at the rank of disciples. How did this happen? Who was so strong? This is the voice of one more perplexed and grieving than asking. He expressed the same above in similar words: Who has bewitched you? (cf. Gal 3:1), says St. Chrysostom. The phrase who hindered you can convey more than the single thought of the Apostle's amazement. Ambrosiaster sees in it an exhortation to repent and no longer believe any of those who incline them toward the works of the Law, contrary to Gospel truth. Indeed, the Apostle knew who had hindered them. The Galatians, of course, knew it too. Why then the question? To suggest the insignificance of those hinderers. What important persons are they? Was it worth listening to them and changing convictions that had been received and put into practice? If it was not worth it, then, having understood the matter according to my explanation, you must turn away from them and restore your former convictions. This, of course, will not be difficult for you. It seems that this question more directly contains the same thought as our usual question: Who is to blame here? Who is to blame that you stopped, changed or muddied your former convictions, and went contrary to the truth? No one is to blame. You yourselves were convinced of the truth, and you yourselves betrayed those convictions. Now it lies with you yourselves to return to them. No one can force conviction upon another. Those who persuade offer, explain, and incline. Yet conviction and inclination themselves do not come from them. They are the work of freedom. Was your former conviction from Him who called you (see Gal 5:8)? No. He called; you were convinced and agreed to follow the truth. Then you became unconvinced and went elsewhere. If in this matter everything is from you, what can hold you in falsehood? Cast it aside and return to the truth. Restore your former convictions and begin again to run by the same path, already tested. You were running well. What prevents you from entering again upon the same good course?