John Calvin Commentary Galatians 6:14

"But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world." — Galatians 6:14 (ASV)

But God forbid that I should glory (Galatians 6:14). The designs of the false apostles are here contrasted with his own sincerity. It is as if he had said, “To avoid being compelled to bear a cross, they deny the cross of Christ, purchase with your flesh the applause of men, and end by triumphing over you. But my triumph and my glory are in the cross of the Son of God.” If the Galatians had not been utterly destitute of common sense, should they not have detested the men whom they saw making sport of their dangerous condition?

To glory in the cross of Christ is to glory in Christ crucified. But something more is implied. In that death—so full of disgrace and ignominy, which God himself has pronounced to be accursed, and which men usually view with disgust and shame—in that death he will glory, because he obtains in it perfect happiness.

Where a person’s highest good exists, there is his glory. But why does not Paul seek it elsewhere? Though salvation is offered to us in the cross of Christ, what does he think of his resurrection?

I answer, in the cross, redemption in all its parts is found, but the resurrection of Christ does not lead us away from the cross. And let it be carefully observed that every other kind of glorying is rejected by him as nothing short of a grave offense. “May God protect us from such a fearful calamity!” This is the meaning of the phrase Paul constantly employs, God forbid.

By which the world is crucified (Galatians 6:14). Since the Greek word for cross, σταυρὸς, is masculine, the relative pronoun may be rendered either by whom or by which, depending on whether we refer it to Christ or to the cross. In my opinion, however, it is more proper to apply it to the cross, for by it strictly we die to the world. But what is the meaning of the world? It is unquestionably contrasted with the new creature. Whatever is opposed to the spiritual kingdom of Christ is the world, because it belongs to the old man; or, in a word, the world is the object and aim of the old man.

The world is crucified to me (Galatians 6:14). This exactly agrees with the language which he employs on another occasion:

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ; yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ (Philippians 3:7–8).

To crucify the world is to treat it with contempt and disdain.

He adds, and I unto the world (Galatians 6:14). By this he means that he regarded himself as unworthy to be taken into account, and indeed as utterly annihilated, because this was a matter with which a dead man had nothing to do. In any case, he means that by the mortification of the old man he had renounced the world. Some take his meaning to be, “If the world looks upon me as abhorred and excommunicated, I consider the world to be condemned and accursed.” This appears to me to be forced, but I leave my readers to judge.