Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Galatians 5:12

"I would that they that unsettle you would even go beyond circumcision." — Galatians 5:12 (ASV)

The second of Paul’s personal remarks concerns the legalizers. It is his wish, expressed somewhat obliquely, that they would not stop with circumcision in their zeal for ordinances but rather would go on to castration. Sacral castration was known to citizens of the ancient pagan world. But for Paul to compare the ancient Jewish rite of circumcision to pagan practices even in this way is startling. Not only does it put the efforts of the Judaizers to have the Gentiles circumcised on the same level as abhorred pagan practices, but it actually links this desire to that which in Judaism disbarred one from the congregation of the Lord .

To many in our day Paul’s expression sounds coarse and his wish reprehensible. But we may be sure that Paul did not speak out of a malicious spirit or in ill temper. He spoke out of a concern for the Gospel of grace and for God’s truth. We too should wish that false teachers stop afflicting our churches.