Galatians 3:2

“This one thing would I learn of you, etc..] Though there were many things he could have put to them, yet he would only ask this one question, which, if rightly attended to, and honestly answered, must expose their folly, and put an end to the controversy upon this head: received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? This question supposes they had received the Spirit; that is, the Spirit of God, as a spirit of wisdom and knowledge in the revelation of Christ; as a spirit of regeneration and sanctification; as a spirit of faith and adoption; and as the earnest, seal, and pledge of their future glory. Now the apostle asks, whether they received this Spirit “by the…”

“"Was it by the works of the law that ye received the Spirit (manifested by outward miracles, Gal 3:5; Mar 16:17; Heb 2:4; and by spiritual graces, Gal 3:14; Gal 4:5-6; Eph 1:13), or by the hearing of faith?" The "only" implies, "I desire, omitting other arguments, to rest the question on this alone"; I who was your teacher, desire now to "learn" this one thing from you. The epithet "Holy" is not prefixed to "Spirit" because that epithet is a joyous one, whereas this Epistle is stern and reproving [BENGEL]. hearing of faith--Faith consists not in working, but in receiving (Rom 10:16-17).”

“This only would I learn of you - I would ask this of you; retaining still the language of severe reproof. The design here, and in the following verses, is, to prove to them that the views which they had at first embraced were correct, and that the views which they now cherished were false To show them this, he asks them the simple question, by what means they had obtained the exalted privileges which they enjoyed? Whether they had obtained them by the simple gospel, or whether by the observance of the Law? The word “only” here (μόνον monon) implies that this was enough to settle the question. The argument to which he was about to appeal was enough for his purpose. He did not need to go any…”

“This only would I learn of you - That is, this one argument might convince you. Did ye receive the witness and the fruit of the Spirit by performing the works of the law, or by hearing of and receiving faith? Galatians 3:3”

“3:2 The Galatians, like all Christians, received the Spirit by faith in Christ, not by obeying the law of Moses (see Acts 2:38-39; Rom 8:9-11; 2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:11-14; cp. Acts 10:44-48; 11:15-18). God accepted the Galatians because of their faith in the message . . . about Christ (cp. Rom 10:14-17), which made their turning to the law absurd (Gal 3:3-4).”

“Received: Gal 3:5, Gal 3:14; Act 2:38, Act 8:15, Act 10:44-47, Act 11:15-18, Act 15:8, Act 19:2-6; Co1 12:7-13; Co2 11:4; Eph 1:13, Eph 1:14; Heb 2:4, Heb 6:4; Pe1 1:12 by the hearing: Rom 1:17, Rom 10:16, Rom 10:17 Galatians 3:3”