Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Galatians 5:11

"But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away." — Galatians 5:11 (ASV)

Two personal remarks conclude the section. The first presents a difficulty. What does Paul mean by saying, “If I am still preaching circumcision”? This cannot refer to his pre-Christian days only, for there would be no point to the criticism in that case. Furthermore, Paul links his alleged preaching to times in which he was persecuted as a Christian. But could anyone have actually made that claim about Paul? The most likely explanation is simply that Paul’s words are a reply to an accusation that he did preach circumcision when it suited him, however unfounded or unlikely that accusation was. That accusation could have originated from views such as those expressed in 1 Corinthians 7:18 or from Paul’s circumcision of Timothy (Acts 16:3).

The “offense [GK 4998] of the cross” is an important concept in Paul and is an important reference in this context. Paul suggests that the preaching of the cross is so offensive to the natural mind that it arouses fierce opposition. But why should Paul link his refusal to approve circumcision for Gentiles to the offense of the cross? Obviously, for the same reason that he opposed it or any other human effort generally. All these things—feasts, circumcision, ceremonies, legal observances, or anything symbolizing external religion—are part of a system that seeks to attain standing before God through merit. In contrast, the cross proclaims our complete ruin in sin, so that nothing we do or can do can save us, and thus it also proclaims our radical need for God’s grace. The natural self does not understand such teaching (1 Corinthians 2:14) and, in fact, hates it, because it strips away any pretense of spiritual achievement.