Galatians 5:10-12

TEXT 5:10-12

(10) I have confidence to you-ward in the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. (11) But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumblingblock of the cross been done away? (12) I would that they that unsettle you would even go beyond circumcision.

PARAPHRASE 5:10-12

10 However, to comfort you, I am persuaded concerning you by the Lord, that on reading what I have written, ye will not think differently from me concerning the doctrine of justification by faith: But the teacher who, by his falsehoods, hath given you so much trouble, shall, when I come, be punished for it, whosoever he be.

11 My enemies tell you, that I preach circumcision. But I, brethren, if I now preach circumcision, why am I now persecuted by the Jews? Having left off preaching salvation through a crucified Messiah, certainly the offense of the cross is removed, (1 Corinthians 1:23), and they should no longer persecute me.

12 I wish they were even cut off by excommunication, who subvert your faith by their malicious calumnies and false doctrines.

COMMENT 5:10

I have confidence to you-ward in the Lord

1.

This is a sincere hope that they take the safe view of the subject and avoid the trouble caused by false teachers.

2.

If they accept the Lord's sacrifice as sufficient for their salvation, Paul's confidence is well grounded.

none otherwise minded

1.

That you will have the mind of Christ (in the Lord).

a.

Paul expresses confidence that they will take the same view of the situation that he does. See Philippians 2:5.

b.

In this way they may avoid the contamination of the leaven.

2.

Always the mind of Christ is needed in every problem.

3.

If Church problems are not settled in the Lord, the Church stands as a reproach to the Lord in the commandments.

but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment

1.

For having sown tares in the wheat, some person will pay in the judgment.

2.

We are to have a specific attitude toward false teachers.

a.

Let him be anathema. Galatians 1:8-9

b.

Receive him not into your house. 2 John 1:9-10

3.

God will punish them, it is not our business. See 2 Corinthians 10:6-8; 2 Corinthians 13:10.

COMMENT 5:11

if I still preach circumcision

1.

Evidently Paul had been accused of preaching it.

2.

Perhaps it was because of his having Timothy circumcised. Acts 16:3

why am I still persecuted

1.

It was his antagonism to circumcision that brought persecution.

2.

False teachers preached circumcision and thus retained the favor of the Jews.

3.

David found that truth cost. I believe for I will speak: I was greatly afflicted. Psalms 116:10

4.

Jesus prophesied persecution. Matthew 10:16-23

5.

Jesus told us how to face it. Matthew 5:12

then hath the stumbling block of the Cross been done away

1.

Is this a question or an affirmation?

a.

It probably is affirmation. The cross was a stumbling block to the Jews because it removed the obligation of the law.

b.

At this point I can not be most certainexcept that the cross is a stumbling block. Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:23

2.

If Paul had preached the cross along with circumcision, it would not be such a stumbling block.

3.

There would be no need for trouble if he preached both. It is the cancellation of the law by the cross that causes trouble.

COMMENT 5:12

I would that they that unsettle you

(I would they were even cut off which troubleth you, King James)

1.

Paul had strong feelings against those who would run out on the course and disturb the Christian runners.

a.

Hindering and unsettling are of the same idea.

b.

Causing a stumbling is serious according to Christ. See Matthew 18:6.

2.

The next phrase tells what Paul wishes in regard to the false teacher.

would even go beyond circumcision

1.

Some think that Paul is referring to castration here.

a.

Some Greek cults practiced this.

b.

The priests of Attica and Cybele were castrated.

c.

Castration was prohibited by the Law. Cf. Deuteronomy 23:1

2.

Paul equated circumcision and the pagan practices as both foreign to Christ.

a.

The purpose of both was to receive righteousness.

b.

A heathen and a Judaizer therefore stood condemned, for the motive was evil.

WORD STUDY 5:12

Paul said literally that they should castrate themselves (apokoptoah poh KOP toe), as did the priests of Cybele in their religious frenzy. If God were to be pleased by the cutting of the flesh, why not go all the way? Actually, as Deuteronomy 23:1 points out (using the same word), their own Law would then pronounce them unfit to go before God's presence.

If the language of Paul seems strong and shocking, please remember two things:

1.

The Galatians were Paul's own children in the faith.

2.

The false teachers were leading them away from Christ, and they were losing their salvation.

GALATIANSEXPOSITORY OUTLINES
Five views at the Cross

1.

Crucified with Christ

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live. Galatians 2:20

2.

Christ crucified for me

Galatians 3:1

3.

Flesh crucified in me

They that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. Galatians 5:24

4.

World crucified unto me

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. Galatians 6:14

5.

I, crucified unto the world

And I unto the world. Galatians 6:14

Cross of Christ a Stumblingblock

1.

To the Moralistsbecause works cannot justify.

2.

To the Philosopherbecause it appeals to faith, not reason.

3.

To the Culturedbecause its truth is revealed to babes.

4.

To the High Castebecause God chose the poor and humble.

5.

To the willbecause it calls for unconditional surrender.

I would that they were even cut off which troubleth you

(King James)

1.

This verse has several translations.

2.

Notice the differences:

a.

Cut off in King James version.

b.

One whole phrase is missing: even go beyond circumcision.

3.

The meaning is the same in both translations.

a.

If these false teachers would be consistent, they would cut themselves off completely from the church.

b.

Paul is saying: these troublers who mutilate the flesh, should go all the way and cut themselves off from the church.

STUDY QUESTIONS 5:10-12

647.

Do we see an indication that Paul is hopeful?

648.

Has his earlier pessimism been changed or strengthened?

649.

Will the mind of Christ offset the leaven of false doctrine?

650.

Does the word he seem to imply that there was only one false teacher?

651.

Could it refer to the devil?

652.

Will the false one be punished?

653.

Will we make the false teacher anathema or will God do it? Cf. 2 Corinthians 10:6-8

654.

Was Paul ever a preacher of circumcision?

655.

Does this verse indicate that he had been falsely accused?

656.

Could this be because he had Timothy circumcised?

657.

How could false teachers preach circumcision and yet retain favor?

658.

Are we to expect persecution when we preach truth?

659.

How are we to face it?

660.

Is the last part of the verse a question?

661.

Does Paul teach elsewhere that the cross is a stumbling block?

662.

If Paul preached both circumcision and the cross, would there have been less of a stumbling block?

663.

Is Paul saying that the cancellation of the law by the cross is the stumbling block?

664.

Compare translations on this verse. Do all of them mean the same?

665.

Is Paul wishing that the false ones were dead?

666.

How could they go beyond circumcision?

667.

Does he imply that they ought to completely mutilate the flesh?

668.

Does Paul mean that they ought to cut themselves off from the Church?