Galatians 6 · Verse 12

Galatians 6:12

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.

Galatians 6:12, King James Version

Galatians 6:12 in other translations

BSB	Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.
WEB	As many as desire to make a good impression in the flesh compel you to be circumcised, just so they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
ASV	As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
YLT	as many as are willing to make a good appearance in the flesh, these constrain you to be circumcised--only that for the cross of the Christ they may not be persecuted,
DARBY	As many as desire to have a fair appearance in the flesh, these compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted because of the cross of Christ.
BBE	Those who have the desire to seem important in the flesh, put force on you to undergo circumcision; only that they may not be attacked because of the cross of Christ.
Webster	As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

What does Galatians 6:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

12. Contrast between his zeal in their behalf, implied in Ga 6:11, and the zeal for self on the part of the Judaizers. make a fair show--(2Co 5:12). in the flesh--in outward things. they--it is "these" who constrain you--by example (Ga 6:13) and importuning. only lest--"only that they may not," &c. (compare Ga 5:11). suffer persecution--They escaped in a great degree the Jews' bitterness against Christianity and the offense of the cross of Christ, by making the Mosaic law a necessary preliminary; in fact, making Christian converts into Jewish proselytes.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 12. As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh. To be distinguished for their conformity to external rites and customs. To be known for their zeal in this cause. They sought to show their zeal by making converts, and by inducing others also to conform to those customs. Paul here refers doubtless to the Jewish teachers, and he says that their main object was to evince their ,zeal in the observance of rites and ceremonies.

They constrain you. You who are Gentiles. They insist on circumcision as indispensable to salvation.

Only lest they should suffer persecution. It is not from any true love for the cause of religion. It is that they may avoid persecution from the Jews. If they should renounce the doctrine which taught that circumcision was indispensable, they would be exposed to the rage of the Jews, and would suffer persecution. Rather than do this, they make a show of great zeal in inducing others to be circumcised.

For the cross of Christ. From attachment to the cause of a crucified Saviour. If they insisted on entire dependence on the merits of his blood, and renounced all dependence on rites and ceremonies, they would suffer persecution. This verse shows the true cause of the zeal which the Judaizing teachers evinced. It was the fear of persecution. It was the want of independence and boldness in maintaining the doctrine that men.were to be saved only by the merits of the Lord Jesus. By attempting to blend together the doctrines of Judaism and Christianity; by maintaining that the observance of the Jewish rites was necessary, and yet that Jesus was the Messiah, they endeavoured to keep in with both parties, and thus to escape the opposition of the Jews. It was an unhallowed compromise. It was an attempt to blend things together which could not be united. One must really displace the other. If men depended on the rites of Moses, they had no need of dependence on the Messiah; if they professed to depend on him, then to rely on anything else was, in fact, to disown and reject him. Embracing the one system was, in fact, renouncing the other. Such is the argument of Paul; and such his solemn remonstrance against embracing any doctrine which would obscure the glory of simple dependence on the cross of Christ.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 12 A fair show in the flesh - The Jewish religion was general in the region of Galatia, and it was respectable, as it appears that the principal inhabitants were either Jews or proselytes. As it was then professed and practiced among the Jews, this religion had nothing very grievous to the old man; an unrenewed nature might go through all its observances with little pain or cross-bearing. On the other hand, Christianity could not be very popular; it was too strict. A Jew made a fair show there, according to his carnal system, and it was a temptation to a weak Christian to swerve into Judaism, that he might be exempted from persecution, and be creditable among his countrymen. This is what the apostle intimates: "They constrain you to be circumcised, lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 6:12-15

Proud, vain, and carnal hearts, are content with just so much religion as will help to keep up a fair show. But the apostle professes his own faith, hope, and joy; and that his principal glory was in the cross of Christ. By which is here meant, his sufferings and death on the cross, the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Redeemer. By Christ, or by the cross of Christ, the world is crucified to the believer, and he to the world. The more we consider the sufferings of the Redeemer from the world, the less likely shall we be to love the world. The apostle was as little affected by its charms, as a beholder would be by any thing which had been graceful in the face of a crucified person, when he beholds it blackened in the agonies of death. He was no more affected by the objects around him, than one who is expiring would be struck with any of the prospects his dying eyes might view from the cross on which he hung. And as to those who have truly believed in Christ Jesus, all things are counted as utterly worthless compared with him. There is a new creation; old things are passed away, and new views and dispositions are brought in under the regenerating influences of God the Holy Spirit. Believers are brought into a new world, and being created in Christ Jesus unto good works, are formed to a life of holiness. It is a change of mind and heart, whereby we are enabled to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to live to God; and where this inward, practical religion is wanting, outward professions, or names, will never stand in any stead.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Galatians 6:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὅσοιhosoiAs many asG3745

θέλουσινthelousinwishG2309

εὐπροσωπῆσαιeuprosōpēsaito have a fair appearanceG2146

ἐνeninG1722

σαρκί,sarki[the] flesh,G4561

οὗτοιhoutoitheseG3778

ἀναγκάζουσινanagkazousincompelG315

ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771

περιτέμνεσθαι,peritemnesthaito be circumcised,G4059

μόνονmonononlyG3441

ἵναinathatG2443

τῷtōfor theG3588

σταυρῷstaurōcrossG4716

τοῦtou<the>G3588

ΧριστοῦChristouof ChristG5547

μὴmēnotG3361

διώκωνται·diōkōntaithey may be persecuted;G1377

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Galatians 6:12

Galatians 5:11
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
Acts 15:1
And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 Corinthians 11:13
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
Colossians 2:23
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Galatians 2:3
But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
Luke 16:15
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Galatians 2:14
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Luke 20:47
Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
John 7:18
He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
2 Corinthians 10:12
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
Matthew 23:28
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Matthew 6:2
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

as desire.
13; Mt 6:2,5,16; 23:5,28; Lu 16:15; 20:47; Joh 7:18; 2Co 10:12
2Co 11:13; Php 1:15; 2:4; Col 2:23
they constrain.
2:3,14; Ac 15:1,5
lest.
5:11; Php 3:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Galatians 6:11
Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
Galatians 6:12
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.
Galatians 6:13
For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

Read all of Galatians 6

Galatians 6:12 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Todos los que quieren agradar en la carne, éstos os constriñen á que os circuncidéis, solamente por no padecer persecución por la cruz de Cristo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Tous ceux qui veulent avoir une belle apparence dans la chair, ceux-là vous contraignent à être circoncis, seulement afin qu’ils ne soient pas persécutés à cause de la croix de Christ.
German Elberfelder 1871	So viele im Fleische wohl angesehen sein wollen, die nötigen euch, beschnitten zu werden, nur auf daß sie nicht um des Kreuzes Christi willen verfolgt werden.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quicumque enim volunt placere in carne, hi cogunt vos circumcidi, tantum ut crucis Christi persecutionem non patiantur.