The Nature of Backsliding
C. Buck. Galatians 5:7 You did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth? Backsliding is the act of turning from the path of duty. It may be considered as — 1. Partial, when applied to true believers, who do not backslide with the whole bent of their will. 2. Voluntary, when applied to those who, after professing to know the truth, wilfully turn from it and live in the practice of sin. 3. Final, when the mind is given up to judicial hardness. Partial backsliding must be distinguished from hypocrisy, as the former may exist when there are gracious intentions on the whole; but the latter is a studied profession of appearing to be what we are not. (C. Buck.) Parallel Verses KJV: Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? WEB: You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?