Gálatas 5:2

2 Eis que eu, Paulo, vos digo que, se vos deixardes circuncidar, Cristo de nada vos aproveitará.

Gálatas 5:2 Meaning and Commentary

Galatians 5:2

Behold, I Paul say unto you
The apostle proceeds to give some reasons and arguments to enforce the above exhortation and dissuasion: the first of which is introduced with a note of attention, "behold"; what he was about to say being matter of great moment and importance; and also mentions himself by name, as the assertor of it; and that, either because his name was well known to them, and the rather because of his apostolical authority; and to show his full assurance of this matter, and his intrepidity, and that he was no ways ashamed of it, they might, if they pleased, say it to whomsoever they would, that Paul the apostle affirmed,

that if ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing:
he speaks of circumcision, not as when it was an ordinance of God, but as it was now abolished by Christ; and that got as singly performed on some certain accounts for he himself circumcised Timothy for the sake of the Jews; but as done in order to salvation, or as necessary unto it; which was the doctrine the false apostles taught and these Galatians were ready to give into: now circumcision submitted to on this consideration, and with this view rendered Christ unprofitable, made his death to be in vain, his sacrifice of no effect, and his righteousness useless: besides, Christ is a whole Saviour, or none at all; to join anything with him and his righteousness, in the business of justification and salvation, is interpreted by him as a contempt and neglect of him, as laying him aside, and to such persons he is of no profit; and if he is not, what they have, and whatsoever they do, will be of no advantage; wealth and riches, yea, the whole world could it be gained, their works and righteousness, whatever show they make before men, God has declared shall not profit them; and trusting to these renders Christ unprofitable to them. This is directly contrary to the notions of the Jews, who think they shall be saved for their circumcision, and that that will secure them from hell; they say ^F13 no circumcised person goes down to hell, and that whoever is circumcised shall inherit the land; but there is none shall inherit the land, save a righteous person; but everyone that is circumcised is called a righteous man {n}; so that circumcision is their righteousness, on account of which they expect heaven and happiness.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 Shemot Rabba, sect. 19. fol. 104. 4.
F14 Zohar in Exod. fol. 10. 2.

Gálatas 5:2 In-Context

1 Para a liberdade Cristo nos libertou; permanecei, pois, firmes e não vos dobreis novamente a um jogo de escravidão.

2 Eis que eu, Paulo, vos digo que, se vos deixardes circuncidar, Cristo de nada vos aproveitará.

3 E de novo testifico a todo homem que se deixa circuncidar, que está obrigado a guardar toda a lei.

4 Separados estais de Cristo, vós os que vos justificais pela lei; da graça decaístes.

5 Nós, entretanto, pelo Espírito aguardamos a esperança da justiça que provém da fé.