Galatians 5:1-15
Although there’s a lot of good material in today’s reading, I found myself hung up on this one verse: But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. (v. 11) As worded, that verse was very confusing to me. So I looked it up in the New Living Translation: Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. That’s more clear, but Paul’s “dashed offset” left me a bit confused. So I re-worded this NLT text: Some say I am preaching that you must be circumcised; if that’s true, then why are the faithful Jews still persecuting me? Because if I were not preaching Christ, I would be one with them and everything would be OK. Clear as a bell…!!
This whole circumcision issue… I think Paul nailed it with this one verse: I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. (v. 10) These Gentile Christians are being troubled by the Judaizers (Jewish believers) who are demanding that Gentiles be circumcised. Paul is confident that these Gentile converts will come back to him, the person who originally preached salvation to them and that the Judaizers themselves will be “punished”, however the Lord would choose to discipline them.
This entire issue of the Judaizers preaching circumcision calls to mind words from James’ epistle to which I have always hearkened: Let not many of you become teachers, my brothers, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. (James 3:1) This is my 12th year leading RTB. During that time many folks from St. Andrew’s have looked to me (at some level) for Biblical leadership. I have known that all along and have always been careful not to venture too far into that with which I am unsure. I have often claimed “blessed ignorance” – that is, I just don’t know what some Scriptural passage means. So if I venture too far, please don’t be afraid to call me on it!!
Slava Bohu!
Gal. 5:1-15 was a difficult passage for me. Thanks for your insight.
Thanks, Jim. It was a difficult passage for me also! I had to go back and forth through a number of translations to finally gain some understanding. But that’s what it takes sometimes. It makes these shorter passages much more enlightening!