A little leaven
In biblical times, leaven, or yeast, was a common metaphor for influence, often with a negative connotation. In the context of Galatians, Paul uses "leaven" to represent false teachings or corrupting influences. The Jewish audience would understand this metaphor, as leaven was removed during Passover to symbolize purity and the removal of sin (Exodus 12:15). Jesus also used leaven to describe the corrupting influence of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 16:6).

works through
The phrase "works through" suggests a process of permeation and influence. In the context of the Galatian church, Paul warns that even a small amount of false teaching can spread and affect the entire community. This reflects the idea that sin or false doctrine, if not addressed, can gradually infiltrate and corrupt the whole body of believers. This concept is echoed in 1 Corinthians 5:6, where Paul similarly warns about the influence of sin within the church.

the whole batch of dough
The "whole batch of dough" symbolizes the entire community of believers. Just as a small amount of leaven affects the entire dough, so can false teachings or sinful behavior impact the entire church. This imagery emphasizes the importance of maintaining doctrinal purity and vigilance against false teachings. The metaphor also highlights the communal nature of the church, where the actions and beliefs of individuals can have widespread effects. This principle is consistent with the teachings found in other parts of the New Testament, such as Ephesians 4:14, which encourages believers to remain steadfast in sound doctrine.

1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter to the Galatians, addressing the churches in Galatia with concerns about false teachings and the importance of faith in Christ.

2. Galatian Churches
The recipients of the letter, who were being influenced by Judaizers to adopt Jewish laws and customs, including circumcision, as necessary for salvation.

3. Judaizers
A group of Jewish Christians who insisted that Gentile converts must adhere to Jewish law, particularly circumcision, to be true Christians.The Power of Influence
Just as a small amount of leaven affects the whole batch of dough, a small false teaching can influence an entire community. Christians must be vigilant about the teachings they accept and promote.

Guarding Against False Teachings
Believers are called to discernment, ensuring that their faith is rooted in the truth of the Gospel and not swayed by teachings that deviate from Scripture.

The Importance of Purity in Doctrine
Maintaining doctrinal purity is crucial for the health of the church. This requires a commitment to studying Scripture and understanding its truths deeply.

Community Responsibility
The church community must work together to address and correct false teachings, supporting one another in maintaining the integrity of the Gospel message.

Personal Reflection and Repentance
Individuals should regularly examine their beliefs and practices, repenting of any falsehoods and aligning themselves with biblical truth.(9) A little leaven . . .--A pregnant expression, which leaves a good deal to the reader to supply. The proverb is true which says that a little leaven leavens the whole mass of dough. And so, in your case, the malcontents may be few, but they will soon ruin the whole Church. It seems decidedly more in accordance with the context to take the "little leaven" as referring rather to a few seceders than to a little bad doctrine.

Verse 9. - A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (μικρὰ ζύμη ὅλον τὸ φύραμα ζυμοῖ); a little leaven leaveneth the whole kneading. This proverb is cited again in precisely the same words in 1 Corinthians 5:6, with the words prefixed, "know ye not that." In both passages the leaven is an element of evil, and so also in Matthew 16:11; but our Lord applied it also to an element of good, which was to penetrate (apparently) the whole mass of humanity (Matthew 13:33). What has the apostle precisely in his view as the leaven in the present instance? In 1 Corinthians 5:6 it is unchastity, which, if once tolerated in a Church, especially amid so licentious a population as that of Corinth, would be but too likely to impregnate balefully the sentiment of the whole community. And here likewise, as there, the leaven does not appear to denote, as some have supposed, the individuals in whom some noxious element was conspicuous, but that noxious element itself; namely, to judge from the colouring of the immediate context, the "readiness to hearken" to" another gospel," which was promising comfort and sense of acceptance, more or less, in the practice of at least some of the outward ordinances of Judaism. This leaven had already begun to work, embodying itself in the observance, pedantically and ostentatiously, of the days and feasts of the Jewish calendar (Galatians 4:10). Now, a movement of mind manifesting itself in some form of external religionism, when once it begins to show itself in a Christian community, has a great tendency to spread. For always, in every Church, there are unstable souls, too often not a few, never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; which have never truly discerned Christ's all-sufficiency for their spiritual needs, or have lost any superficial persuasion of it once enjoyed; and which, consciously unsatisfied with what they as yet possess, and nevertheless only toying with spiritual things, are ready to adopt almost any novelty of religious behaviour offering itself for their acceptance. The particular form in which the external religionism of seekers after another gospel clothes itself varies according to varying tastes or circumstances. Among the Galatian Christians such persons were now beginning to feel attracted by that venerable kind of outward piety exhibited by devout or professedly devout Jews; but in their own practice committing the fatal blunder of mistaking the external shows of saintliness for the reality of saintliness, and but too willing to make the former serve in lieu of the latter. The danger of the leaven spreading was, in the present case, increased by the instability of character and the quick impulsiveness belonging to the Celtic temperament. The true antidote to this "leaven" is in every age the same; namely, that which the apostle in this Epistle strives to administer - the gospel of the righteousness and Spirit of Christ crucified.

Parallel Commentaries ...


A little
μικρὰ (mikra)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3398: Little, small. Including the comparative mikroteros apparently a primary word; small (figuratively) dignity).

yeast
ζύμη (zymē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2219: Leaven, ferment, both lit. and met. Probably from zeo; ferment.

leavens
ζυμοῖ (zymoi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2220: To leaven, ferment. From zume; to cause to ferment.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

whole
ὅλον (holon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3650: All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; 'whole' or 'all', i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.

batch [of dough].
φύραμα (phyrama)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5445: A mass or lump, as of bread dough. From a prolonged form of phuro, mean to knead; a mass of dough.


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NT Letters: Galatians 5:9 A little yeast grows through the whole (Gal. Ga)