Paul says directly that the teachers who demand mandatory circumcision from the Galatian Christians want, on the one hand, to avoid unnecessary problems and even persecutions, and on the other, to boast about those circumcised at their urging...
Paul says directly that the teachers who demand mandatory circumcision from the Galatian Christians want, on the one hand, to avoid unnecessary problems and even persecutions, and on the other, to boast about those members of the church community who were circumcised at their urging, as though this were some achievement of their own. The first point was connected with the fact that circumcision was the sign of belonging to the Jewish community.
Circumcised meant Jewish. The synagogue existed quite legally throughout the Roman Empire, and although a certain antisemitism was present both in Roman society and in Roman authority, there was still no question of systematic persecution. The uncircumcised, however, automatically found themselves outside the Synagogue and therefore outside the Roman legal field: the communities that had separated from the Synagogue had no other basis for legal activity. Here one could expect problems, even direct conflict with the authorities.
In this sense, being circumcised was safer than remaining uncircumcised: then any Christian church gathering could pass for a synagogue gathering, especially since the authorities were usually not inclined to go into the subtleties of synagogue life. But there was something else as well: the desire to demonstrate one's own "achievements" as teachers and mentors. Indeed, spiritual work is not quick and often not especially visible; spiritual changes in a person usually happen slowly and cannot be seen from the outside. Moreover, genuine spiritual work is almost always, so to speak, individual work; there is usually no room here for mass scale, which so catches the eye and therefore is so beloved by many.
Religious propaganda and calls to observe one or another religious norm or prescription, even the same circumcision, are a completely different matter: the call is quite concrete, the response is also quite concrete, the result is visible to everyone at once, and it may even become massive if the preacher is active enough. This is probably why religious preaching in all communities and at all times has attracted preachers, especially beginners, far more than properly spiritual work has. But religion does not replace spiritual life, although sometimes it can substitute itself for it. And Paul speaks sharply against such substitution, because it cuts a person off from the Kingdom and from its life.
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6:11 Ye see how large a letter - St. Paul had not yet wrote a larger to any church. I have written with my own hand - He generally wrote by an amanuensis.
6:12 As many as desire to make a fair appearance in the flesh - To preserve a fair character. These constrain you - Both by their example and importunity. To be circumcised - Not so much from a principle of conscience, as lest they should suffer persecution - From the unbelieving Jews. For the cross of Christ - For maintaining that faith in a crucified Saviour is alone sufficient for justification.
6:13 For neither they themselves keep the whole law - So far are they from a real zeal for it. But yet they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh - That they may boast of you as their proselytes, and make a merit of this with the other Jews.
6:14 But God forbid that I should glory - Should boast of anything I have, am, or do; or rely on anything for my acceptance with God, but what Christ hath done and suffered for me. By means of which the world is crucified to me - All the things and persons in it are to me as nothing. And I unto the world - I am dead to all worldly pursuits, cares, desires, and enjoyments.
6:15 For neither circumcision is anything, nor uncircumcision - Neither of these is of any account. But a new creation - Whereby all things in us become new.
6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule -
- Glorying only in the cross of Christ.
- Being crucified to the world. And,
- Created anew.
Peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel, that is, the Church, of God - Which consists of all those, and those only, of every nation and kindred, who walk by this rule.6:17 From henceforth let none trouble me - By quarrels and disputes.For I bear - And afflictions should not be added to the afflicted.In my body the marks of the Lord Jesus - The scars, marks, and brands of my sufferings for Him.