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The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Galatians 5:11

Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Circumcision;   Cross;   Crucifixion;   Paul;   Zeal, Religious;   The Topic Concordance - Legalism;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Offence;   Persecution;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Offence;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Stumbling block;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Discipline;   Offense;   Works of the Law;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Liberty;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cross;   Offence;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Galatians, the Epistle to the;   Paul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Galatians, Letter to the;   Offense;   Persecution in the Bible;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Cross;   Sin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Atonement (2);   Cross, Cross-Bearing;   Crucifixion;   Galatia ;   Galatians Epistle to the;   Offence;   Offence (2);   Preaching;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Cross;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Gala'tians, the Epistle to the,;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Pauline Theology;   Stumbling-Block;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for September 1;   Every Day Light - Devotion for November 8;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
My brothers and sisters, I don't teach that a man must be circumcised. If I do teach circumcision, then why am I still being persecuted? If I still taught circumcision, then my message about the cross would not be a problem.
Revised Standard Version
But if I, brethren, still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Brethren yf I yet preache circucision: why do I then yet suffre persecucion? For then had the offence which the crosse geveth ceased.
Hebrew Names Version
But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling-block of the cross has been removed.
New American Standard Bible
But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated.
New Century Version
My brothers and sisters, I do not teach that a man must be circumcised. If I teach circumcision, why am I still being attacked? If I still taught circumcision, my preaching about the cross would not be a problem.
Update Bible Version
But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then the stumbling-block of the cross has been done away.
Webster's Bible Translation
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then hath the offense of the cross ceased.
English Standard Version
But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.
World English Bible
But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling-block of the cross has been removed.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But if I, brethren, preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution?
Weymouth's New Testament
As for me, brethren, if I am still a preacher of circumcision, how is it that I am still suffering persecution? In that case the Cross has ceased to be a stumbling-block!
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And, britheren, if Y preche yit circumcisioun, what suffre Y yit persecucioun? thanne the sclaundre of the crosse is auoidid.
English Revised Version
But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumblingblock of the cross been done away.
Contemporary English Version
My friends, if I still preach that people need to be circumcised, why am I in so much trouble? The message about the cross would no longer be a problem, if I told people to be circumcised.
Amplified Bible
But as for me, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision [as I had done before I met Christ; and as some accuse me of doing now, as necessary for salvation], why am I still being persecuted [by Jews]? In that case the stumbling block of the cross [to unbelieving Jews] has been abolished.
American Standard Version
But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away.
Bible in Basic English
But I, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still attacked? then has the shame of the cross been taken away.
Complete Jewish Bible
And as for me, brothers, if I am still preaching that circumcision is necessary, why am I still being persecuted? If that were the case, my preaching about the execution-stake would cause no offense whatever.
Darby Translation
But *I*, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why am I yet persecuted? Then the scandal of the cross has been done away.
International Standard Version
As for me, brothers, if I am still preaching the necessity ofthe necessity of ">[fn] circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.1 Corinthians 1:23; 15:30; Galatians 4:29;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But I, my brethren, if yet I have preached for circumcision [fn] , why have I been persecuted? Hath the scandal of the cross ceased?
Murdock Translation
And I, my brethren, if I still preached circumcision, why should I suffer persecution? Hath the offensiveness of the cross ceased?
King James Version (1611)
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why doe I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the crosse ceased.
New Living Translation
Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended.
New Life Bible
Christian brothers, if I would still preach that people must go through the religious act of becoming a Jew to be a Christian, I would not be suffering from those who are making it hard for me. If I preached like that, the Jews would have no reason to be against the cross of Christ.
New Revised Standard
But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why doe I yet suffer persecution? Then is the slaunder of the crosse abolished.
George Lamsa Translation
And I, my brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why should I be persecuted? Why? Has the cross ceased to be a stumblingblock?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
I, however, brethren - if, circumcision, I yet proclaim, why am I yet persecuted? After all, the stumbling-block of the cross hath been set aside.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the scandal of the cross made void.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And brethren, if I yet preache circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the slaunder of the crosse ceassed.
Good News Translation
But as for me, my friends, if I continue to preach that circumcision is necessary, why am I still being persecuted? If that were true, then my preaching about the cross of Christ would cause no trouble.
Christian Standard Bible®
Now brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
King James Version
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
Lexham English Bible
Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.
Literal Translation
But I, brothers, if I proclaim circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the offense of the Cross has passed away.
Young's Literal Translation
And I, brethren, if uncircumcision I yet preach, why yet am I persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Brethren yf I yet preach circumcision, why do I suffre persecucion? then had the slaunder off the crosse ceassed.
Mace New Testament (1729)
as for me, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why am I yet persecuted? for then there would not be so much objection to the doctrine of the cross.
THE MESSAGE
As for the rumor that I continue to preach the ways of circumcision (as I did in those pre-Damascus Road days), that is absurd. Why would I still be persecuted, then? If I were preaching that old message, no one would be offended if I mentioned the Cross now and then—it would be so watered-down it wouldn't matter one way or the other. Why don't these agitators, obsessive as they are about circumcision, go all the way and castrate themselves!
New English Translation
Now, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.
New King James Version
And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Do y'all really think the Jews are after me because I'm trying to convince everyone to get their pickles clipped? If I were doing that, nobody would bother me at all! If I went back to telling people they could be saved by following rules instead of trustin' in the cross, my problems would all go away.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.
Legacy Standard Bible
But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross would have been abolished.

Contextual Overview

1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. 2Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love. 7You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth? 8Such persuasion does not come from the One who calls you. 9A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. 10I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if: Galatians 2:3, Acts 16:3

why: Galatians 4:29, Galatians 6:12, Galatians 6:17, Acts 21:21, Acts 21:28, Acts 22:21, Acts 22:22, Acts 23:13, Acts 23:14, 1 Corinthians 15:30, 2 Corinthians 11:23-26

the offence: Isaiah 8:14, Romans 9:32, Romans 9:33, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 1:23, 1 Peter 2:8, 1 Peter 2:9

Reciprocal: Matthew 5:30 - offend Matthew 11:6 - whosoever Acts 15:19 - that Galatians 2:18 - General Ephesians 3:1 - for Philippians 1:10 - without 1 Thessalonians 2:16 - Forbidding

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision,.... The apostle was traduced by the false teachers, as a preacher of circumcision himself in some places; and this they did partly to show him to be a variable and inconsistent man, who preached one doctrine in one place, and another in another place, and so not to be attended to; and partly with others, to draw them into their scheme upon his authority: what might give them the handle, or at least what they improved to this purpose, might be his circumcising of Timothy; but though he did this as a thing indifferent, and for the sake of the Jews, to make them easy; yet he never preached it after his conversion, and much less as necessary to justification and salvation, as these men did. This calumny he refutes by putting the following question or questions;

why do I yet suffer persecution? as is clear he did, for being against it, and preaching it down; great part of the persecutions the apostle endured was from the Jews, and that on account of his teaching them everywhere, that were among the Gentiles, to forsake Moses, and that they should not circumcise their children, and walk after the customs of their nation; a clear point this, that he did not preach it; had he, persecution from this quarter would not have followed him; and he could have done it with a good conscience, he must act a very weak part in suffering persecution on that account. The Arabic version gives the words a very different turn, and yet furnishes an answer to the calumny; "why do I persecute him that uses it?" that is, if I am a preacher of it, why am I so warm and violent an opposer of those that submit to it? these things are so opposite that there is no reconciling them; to the same purpose is the Ethiopic version: "then is the offence of the cross ceased". The last mentioned version reads it, "the cross of Christ"; and so the Alexandrian copy; meaning not the cross of affliction, reproach, and persecution, which Christ has enjoined every follower of his to take up and bear for his sake, and is offensive to the carnal man; nor the cross on which he suffered, or the sufferings of the cross; but the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Christ, which was an offence and a stumblingblock to the Jews; now if the apostle had preached circumcision as necessary to salvation, the other doctrine must have been dropped, and consequently the offence taken at it must have ceased, whereas it was not. The Syriac version reads by way of question, "is the offence of the cross ceased?" no it is not, a plain case then is, that the apostle did not preach circumcision, but only a crucified Christ, as necessary to salvation. Moreover, the Jews that believed would not have been so offended as they were at his preaching, had he preached the one as well the other; their offence was not that he preached Christ crucified, but that he preached, that, by the cross of Christ, circumcision and the other rituals of the ceremonial law were now abolished.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And I, brethren - Paul here proceeds to vindicate himself from giving countenance to the doctrines which they had advanced there. It is evident that the false teachers in Galatia appealed to Paul himself, and alleged that he insisted on the necessity of circumcision, and that they were teaching no more than he taught. On what they founded this is unknown. It may have been mere slander; or it may have arisen from the fact that he had circumcised Timothy Acts 16:3, and, possibly, that he may have encouraged circumcision in some other similar cases. Or it may have been inferred from the fact (which was undoubtedly true) that Paul in general complied with the customs of the Jews when he was with them. But his conduct and example had been greatly perverted. He had never enjoined circumcision as necessary to salvation; and had never complied with Jewish customs where there was danger that it would be understood that he regarded them as at all indispensable, or as furnishing a ground of acceptance with God.

If I yet preach circumcision - If I preach it as necessary to salvation; or if I enjoin it on those who are converted to Christianity.

Why do I yet suffer persecution? - That is, from the Jews. “Why do they oppose me? Circumcision is the special badge of the Jewish religion; it implies all the rest (see Galatians 5:2); and if I preach the necessity of that, it would satisfy the Jews, and save me from persecution. They would never persecute one who did that as they do me; and the fact that I am thus persecuted by them is full demonstration that I am not regarded as preaching the necessity of circumcision.” It is remarkable that Paul does not expressly deny the charge. The reason may be, that his own word would be called in question, or that it might require much explanation to show why he had recommended circumcision in any case, as in the case of Timothy; Acts 16:3. But the fact that he was persecuted by the Jews settled the question, and showed that he did not preach the necessity of circumcision in any such sense as to satisfy them, or in any such sense as was claimed by the false teachers in Galatia. In regard to the fact that Paul was persecuted by the Jews; see Acts 14:1-2, Acts 14:19; Acts 17:4-5, Acts 17:13; compare Paley, Hora Paulina, Galat. no. v.

Then is the offence of the cross ceased - “For if I should preach the necessity of circumcision, as is alleged, the offence of the cross of Christ would be removed. The necessity of depending on the merits of the sacrifice made on the cross would be taken away, since then people could be saved by conformity to the laws of Moses. The very thing that I have so much insisted on, and that has been such a stumbling-block to the Jews (see the note at 1 Corinthians 1:23), that conformity to their rites was of no avail, and that they must be saved only by the merits of a crucified Saviour, would be done away with.” Paul means that if this had been done, he would have saved himself from giving offence, and from the evils of persecution. He would have preached that people could be saved by conformity to Jewish rites, and that would have saved him from all the persecutions which he had endured in consequence of preaching the necessity of salvation by the cross.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 11. If I yet preach circumcision — it is very likely that some of the false apostles, hearing of Paul's having circumcised Timothy, Acts 16:3, which must have been done about this time, reported him as being an advocate for circumcision, and by this means endeavoured to sanction their own doctrine. To this the apostle replies: Were it so, that I am a friend to this measure, is it likely that I should suffer persecution from the Jews? But I am every where persecuted by them, and I am persecuted because I am known to be an enemy to circumcision; were I a friend to this doctrine, the offence of the cross-preaching salvation only through the sacrifice of Christ, would soon cease; because, to be consistent with myself, if I preached the necessity of circumcision I must soon cease to preach Christ crucified, and then the Jews would be no longer my enemies.


 
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