“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.”
Those who want to impress people are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. — Paul diagnoses the Judaizers' motivation: their drive to 'euprosopeō' (make a good appearance, show off) by compelling Gentiles into circumcision stems from their desire to 'ekpheugo diōgmos tou staurou Christou' (escape persecution for the cross); they trade the scandal of the cross for social legitimacy within Judaism.
Church Fathers on Galatians 6:12
“See with how large letters I have written unto you with my own hand. As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised.” Observe what grief possesses his blessed soul. As those who are oppressed with some sorrow, who have lost one of their own kindred, and suffered an unexpected calamity, rest neither by night nor day, because their grief besieges their soul, so the blessed Paul, after a short moral discourse, returns again to that former…
Read all 2 entries in the readerNicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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