Galatians 6:11-18
I. Galatians 6:11
A. V. 11
1. It was customary for Paul to write the concluding greeting in his own hand (cf. Romans 16:22; I Corinthians 16:21; Colossians 4:18; II Thessalonians 3:17)
2. N. Turner suggests that Paul “had actually been crucified at Perga in Pamphylia”, and sustained permanent damage to his hand
3. Theodore of Mopsuestia thought that Paul used large letters “to show that he himself was neither ashamed of what he was saying nor inclined to deny it”.
4. That Paul expected them to be able to see his hand-writing implies that there was one original that circulated to the churches in Galatia
II. Galatians 6:12-17
A. V. 12
1. It is possible that those advocating circumcision are motivated by persecution from more Zealot-minded Jews in Judea
2. They wish to save face, but with whom? Probably other Jews, whether in Jerusalem, Judea, or Galatia
3. Their emphasis on the outward rite is similar to statistic keeping in churches today, where the numbers don’t tell the story of what’s happening in the human heart
B. V. 13
1. Paul is probably applying his own former high-standards for law-keeping to his opponents, saying that they don’t know what it means to actually keep the law
“wish you to be circumcised” implies that it hasn’t happened yet
2. Compare to the situation with Peter recounted in 2:12
C. V. 14
1. Paul’s boasting is no longer in himself, or his “keeping of the law”, but in Christ, and specifically the cross of Christ
2. “pride in the Law has been displaced by pride in the Cross; pride in ‘righteousness’ as an achievement, by pride in that which empties him of pride.” – C. H. Dodd
3. “The whole of Paul’s criticism of the Judaizing, circumcising movement crystallizes here; and it is the ground of self-criticism that the Church has to apply in every generation.” – C. K. Barrett
4. Crucifixions were so reprehensible that, according to Cicero, when one was condemned to die an alternate euphemism was used, “hang him on the unlucky tree”
5. Paul calls his message the “word of the cross” in I Corinthians 1:18
6. Consider the words of Isaac Watts’ hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
7. Paul uses the perfect tense of the verb “crucify”, implying a continuing action
8. “The world has a structure which determines the life of each individual, and so human life as a whole, and man can only escape from this through an event which breaks into the all-encompassing world of sin and open the possibility of a new existence in a new world. It is to such an eschatological event that Paul is referring when he speaks of the crucifixion of the world.” – Robert C. Tannehill, Dying and Rising with Christ
D. V. 15
1. Reference to Isaiah 65:17-25?
2. The cross brings about an end to the old world, and enables a new creation. Law and circumcision lie firmly in the old world, justification by faith is part of the new creation
3. Circumcision or uncircumcision belongs to the old world
E. V. 16
1. Cf. Psalm 125:5; 128:6
2. Cf. Romans 11:26
3. Only usage in the NT of the phrase “the Israel of God”
4. The “Israel of God” is a redefinition of all the people of God, Jew and Gentile, who see the crucified Jesus as the Messiah
F. V. 17
1. Cf. II Corinthians 4:7-12
2. Could it be eye-trouble from his blinding on the road to Damascus
3. Probably referring to injuries or wounds received in service to Christ. Paul’s stoning in Lystra happened in Galatia (cf. Acts 14:19; II Corinthians 11:25)
4. “These wounds utter a voice louder than a trumpet against those who say I play the hypocrite in my teaching, and speak what may please men. For no one who saw a soldier retired from the battle bathed in blood and with a thousand wounds would dare accuse him of cowardice.” – John Chrysostom
III. Galatians 6:18
A. A. V. 18
1. Paul wants them to not only experience, but also focus on and believe in God’s grace.
2. By calling them brothers, he is reemphasizing the familial connection.
3. “Amen” would be part of the church’s response
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