John Calvin Commentary Galatians 5:12

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

Would that they were even cut off. His indignation proceeds even further, and he prays for destruction on those impostors by whom the Galatians had been deceived. The word “cut off” appears to be employed in allusion to the circumcision which they pressed. “They tear the church for the sake of circumcision: I wish they were entirely cut off.” Chrysostom favors this opinion.

But how can such an imprecation be reconciled with the mildness of an apostle, who ought to wish that all should be saved, and that not a single person should perish? As far as men are concerned, I admit the force of this argument, for it is God’s will that we should seek the salvation of all men without exception, as Christ suffered for the sins of the whole world.

However, devout minds are sometimes carried beyond the consideration of men and are led to fix their eyes on the glory of God and the kingdom of Christ. The glory of God, which is in itself more excellent than the salvation of men, ought to receive from us a higher degree of esteem and regard. Believers who earnestly desire that God’s glory should be promoted forget men and forget the world; they would rather choose for the whole world to perish than for the smallest portion of God’s glory to be withdrawn.

Let us remember, however, that such a prayer as this proceeds from leaving men wholly out of view and fixing our attention on God alone. Paul cannot be accused of cruelty, as if he were opposed to the law of love. Besides, if a single man or a few persons are brought into comparison, how immensely must the church preponderate!

It is a cruel kind of mercy that prefers a single man to the whole church. “On one side, I see the flock of God in danger; on the other, I see a wolf, like Satan, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Ought not my care for the church to swallow up all my thoughts and lead me to desire that its salvation should be purchased by the destruction of the wolf? And yet I would not wish that a single individual should perish in this way; but my love for the church and my anxiety about her interests carry me away into a sort of ecstasy, so that I can think of nothing else.” With such zeal as this, every true pastor of the church will burn.

The Greek word translated “who trouble you” signifies to remove from a certain rank or station. By using the word καὶ, even, he expresses more strongly his desire that the impostors should not merely be degraded, but entirely separated and cut off.