“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”
A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough. — Paul's proverb employs the image of fermentation: 'zymē' (leaven, yeast) spreads ('chōraō' — pervades) throughout 'phyrama' (dough, the whole batch), suggesting that accepting even minimal law-observance (circumcision) contaminates the entire congregation's faith, a metaphor of doctrinal contagion.
Church Fathers on Galatians 5:9
“This persuasion came not of him that calls you.” He who called you, called you not to such fluctuations, he did not lay down a Law, that you should judaize. Then, that no one might object, “Why do you thus magnify and aggravate the matter by your words; one commandment only of the Law have we kept, and yet you make this great outcry?” hear how he terrifies them, not by things present but future in these words: “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” And thus this slight…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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