Galatians 5:2

ἴδε. As interjection here only in St Paul’s writings. Contrast ἰδού, Galatians 1:20, also ἴδετε, Galatians 6:11. For ἴδε with even a plural see Matthew 26:65.

ἐγὼ Παῦλος. Colossians 1:23 note. Emphatic: I who, they say, preach circumcision (Galatians 5:11). There can hardly be any reference to his commission, Galatians 1:1.

ὅτι ἐὰν περιτέμνησθε, “if ye suffer yourselves to be circumcised” (Lightfoot). Circumcision is much worse than the isolated acts of Galatians 4:10. It is possible that the false teachers may have represented circumcision as desirable (see Galatians 3:3 note) though not essential (compare Ananias’ advice to Izates, king of Adiabene, Josephus, Antt. XX. 2. 4 [§§ 41 sq.]), but St Paul’s language and thought are in such precise opposition to Acts 15:1 that in all probability they insisted on circumcision as necessary. In the case of the later false teachers at Colossae it was otherwise.

Χριστὸς ὑμᾶς οὐδὲν ὠφελήσει, “will be of no advantage to you.” For the thought see Galatians 2:21; for the word, Romans 2:5. The future of result (Ell.), hardly referring to the Parousia, Galatians 5:5. St Paul means that Christ is of advantage only to him who trusts exclusively to Him; not to him who οὔτε Χριστῷ, οὔτε νόμῳ πιστεύει, ἀλλʼ ἐν μέσῳ ἔστηκε, κἀκεῖθεν καὶ ἔνθεν βουλόμενος κερδαίνειν (Chrys.).