God’s Word Translation
Galatians 5:11
11Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching that circumcision is necessary, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the cross wouldn’t be offensive anymore.
Galatians 5:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
- New International Version (NIV)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 abolished.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.
Context of Galatians 5:11
9A little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough. 10The Lord gives me confidence that you will not disagree with this. However, the one who is confusing you will suffer God’s judgment regardless of who he is. Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching that circumcision is necessary, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the cross wouldn’t be offensive anymore. 12I wish those troublemakers would castrate themselves. 13You were indeed called to be free, brothers and sisters. Don’t turn this freedom into an excuse for your corrupt nature to express itself. Rather, serve each other through love.
Read all of Galatians 5Galatians 5:11 word by word
Ἐγὼ δέ, ἀδελφοί, εἰ περιτομὴν ἔτι κηρύσσω, τί ἔτι διώκομαι; ἄρα κατήργηται τὸ σκάνδαλον τοῦ σταυροῦ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- ifεἰei · ifG1487
- Iκηρύσσωkērussō · to preachG2784
- yetἔτιeti · stillG2089
- circumcisionπεριτομήperitomē · circumcisionG4061
- whyτίςtis · which?G5101
- do Iδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
- thenἄραara · thereforeG686
- isκαταργέωkatargeō · to abateG2673
- the offenceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the offenceσκάνδαλονskandalon · stumbling blockG4625
- of the crossσταυρόςstauros · crossG4716
Cross-references for Galatians 5:11
- Galatians 2:3Titus was with me, and although he is Greek, no one forced him to be circumcised.
- Acts 16:3Paul wanted Timothy to go with him. So he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in those places and because he knew that Timothy’s father was Greek.
- Galatians 4:29Furthermore, at that time the son who was conceived in a natural way persecuted the son conceived in a spiritual way. That’s exactly what’s happening now.
- Galatians 6:12These people who want to make a big deal out of a physical thing are trying to force you to be circumcised. Their only aim is to avoid persecution because of the cross of Christ.
- Acts 21:21But they have been told that you teach all the Jews living among non-Jewish people to abandon Moses. They claim that you tell them not to circumcise their children or follow Jewish customs.
- Acts 22:21“But the Lord told me, ‘Go! I’ll send you on a mission. You’ll go far away to people who aren’t Jewish.’ ”
- Acts 23:13More than forty men took part in this plot.
- 1 Corinthians 15:30Why are we constantly putting ourselves in danger?
- 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they Christ’s servants? It’s insane to say it, but I’m a far better one. I’ve done much more work, been in prison many more times, been beaten more severely, and have faced death more often.
- Isaiah 8:14He will be a place of safety for you. But he will be a rock that makes people trip and a stumbling block for both kingdoms of Israel. He will be a trap and a snare for those who live in Jerusalem.
- Romans 9:32Why? They didn’t rely on faith to gain God’s approval, but they relied on their own efforts. They stumbled over the rock that trips people.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18The message about the cross is nonsense to those who are being destroyed, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.
- 1 Peter 2:8a stone that people trip over, a large rock that people find offensive.” The people tripped over the word because they refused to believe it. Therefore, this is how they ended up.
Commentaries on Galatians 5:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11If 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 endeavored 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11And 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-12Verses 7-12 The life of a Christian is a race, wherein he must run, and hold on, if he would obtain the prize. It is not enough that we profess Christianity, but we must run well, by living up to that profession. Many who set out fairly in religion, are hindered in their progress, or turn out of the way. It concerns those who begin to turn out of the way, or to tire in it, seriously to inquire what hinders them. The opinion or persuasion, ver. #(8), was…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11If I am still preaching: This likely refers to Paul's preaching as an enthusiastic supporter of Judaism before he converted to Christianity (1:13–14; Acts 7:58–8:3). As a Christian, Paul never preached that non-Jews must be circumcised. Why am I still being persecuted? If Paul had been promoting a religion based on laws, the devoted Jews would not have been persecuting him everywhere he went. These leaders were angry because Paul taught that people did…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. Translate, "If I am still preaching (as I did before conversion) circumcision, why am I still persecuted?" The Judaizing troubler of the Galatians had said, "Paul himself preaches circumcision," as is shown by his having circumcised Timothy (Ac 16:3; compare also Ac 20:6; 21:24). Paul replies by anticipation of their objection, As regards myself, the fact that I am still persecuted by the Jews shows plainly that I do not preach circumcision; for it is…Read the comment
Topics related to Galatians 5:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Galatians 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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