Galatians 5:11

Another abrupt transition of thought, rendering the connexion obscure and uncertain. It is however evident either that a charge of inconsistency had been brought against St Paul, or that the possibility of such a charge flashed across his mind. He could find no language too strong to condemn those who submitted to circumcision, and yet it was an admitted fact that he had himself circumcised Timothy. Did he not -yet" (still) virtuallypreach circumcision, as he had insisted on it before his conversion? This was a specious, and if unrefuted, a fatal objection. Based on a fact, it must be met by an appeal to fact the fact of persecution. -If I still Judaize, why do the Judaizers still persecute me?"

then is the offence of the cross ceased This is ironical, -I suppose then the doctrine of the cross has utterly ceased to be a stumbling-block; so that there really is no reason why I should suffer persecution".

the offence of the cross The fact that Jesus died on the cross does not in itself constitute -the offence of the cross". It is accepted by many who deny its atoning efficacy. -The offence of the cross" in every age consists in this, that it cuts at the root of human merit in the matter of justification, whether in the form of legal observance, or holy dispositions, or good works. The Jews (as Chrysostom points out) accused Stephen not of worshipping or preaching Christ crucified, but of speaking against the law and the holy place. And if St Paul had preached Christ's death upon the cross as a pattern of humility and submission, he would have escaped persecution. But he preached righteousness by the cross alonethrough faith, and they were offended. No more striking commentary on these words can be adduced than St Paul's language, Romans 9:31-33, -Israel following after a law of righteousness, did not attain to a law of righteousness. Why? because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling (were offended at the rock of offence); even as it is written (Isaiah 28:16), Behold I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, and he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame". It is interesting to note that St Peter quotes the same passage of Isaiah in a letter addressed to the strangers of Galatia(1 Peter 2:6-8).

ceased entirely done away with. The same word which is rendered -is become of no effect" Galatians 5:4. Comp. Romans 4:14; Romans 7:2.