notes
Main point summary
Circumcision would sever you from Christ, because salvation is through faith that works through love; but I'm confident you will remain in his truth, and that your troublers will be severed .
5:1-15
editing
NT
Galatians 5:2-12
esv
Look: I, Paul, say to you that x if you accept circumcision,
y Christ will be of no advantage to you.
conditional
I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision
that z he is obligated to keep the whole law.
ideaexplanation
You are a severed from Christ, b you who would be justified 1 by the law;
c you have fallen away from grace.
series
For through the Spirit,
by faith,
we ourselves eagerly d wait for the hope of righteousness.
actionmanner
ground
bilateral
For in Christ Jesus e neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything,
but f only faith working through love.
negativepositive
g You were running well.
Who hindered you from obeying h the truth?
This persuasion is not from i him who calls you.
j A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
k I have confidence in the Lord
that you will l take no other view,
and m the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty,
whoever he is.
concessive
But if I, brothers, 1 still preach 2 circumcision,
n why am I still being persecuted?
situationresponse
In that case o the offense of the cross has been removed.
I wish p those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
alternative
Because being circumcised obligates you to keep the whole law, Christ would be of no advantage to you, and you would fall away from grace.
Circumcision severs you from Christ, because in Christ the only thing that matters is faith working through love (and circumcision is not faith).
Even though you are being hindered by godless, dangerous teaching, I'm confident you will believe the truth and your troublers will be punished.
Circumcision would remove the offence of the cross; it would be better for your troublers to be removed from Israel.
I'm confident that you will believe the truth, and that your troublers will be punished by being removed from God's people.
discourse