Galatians 5:2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

◄ Galatians 5:2 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

English Standard Version
Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.

New American Standard Bible
Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.

King James Bible
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Take note! I, Paul, tell you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all.

International Standard Version
Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, the Messiah will be of no benefit to you.

American Standard Version
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold, I Paul tell you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

Darby Bible Translation
Behold, I, Paul, say to you, that if ye are circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

Young's Literal Translation
lo, I Paul do say to you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing;

Cross References

Acts 15:1
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brothers, and said, Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.

Acts 15:5
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

2 Corinthians 10:1
Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

Galatians 5:3
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Galatians 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love.

Philemon 1:19
I Paul have written it with my own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to you how you owe to me even your own self besides.

Jump to Previous

Advantage Avail Benefit Christ Circumcised Circumcision Mark Paul Profit Receive Remember Undergo Use Value Words Yourselves

Jump to Next

Advantage Avail Benefit Christ Circumcised Circumcision Mark Paul Profit Receive Remember Undergo Use Value Words Yourselves

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

5:1-6 Christ will not be the Saviour of any who will not own and rely upon him as their only Saviour. Let us take heed to the warnings and persuasions of the apostle to stedfastness in the doctrine and liberty of the gospel. All true Christians, being taught by the Holy Spirit, wait for eternal life, the reward of righteousness, and the object of their hope, as the gift of God by faith in Christ; and not for the sake of their own works. The Jewish convert might observe the ceremonies or assert his liberty, the Gentile might disregard them or might attend to them, provided he did not depend upon them. No outward privileges or profession will avail to acceptance with God, without sincere faith in our Lord Jesus. True faith is a working grace; it works by love to God, and to our brethren. May we be of the number of those who, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. The danger of old was not in things of no consequence in themselves, as many forms and observances now are. But without faith working by love, all else is worthless, and compared with it other things are of small value.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

2. Behold—that is, Mark what I say.

I Paul—Though you now think less of my authority, I nevertheless give my name and personal authority as enough by itself to refute all opposition of adversaries.

if ye be circumcised—not as Alford, "If you will go on being circumcised." Rather, "If ye suffer yourselves to be circumcised," namely, under the notion of its being necessary to justification (Ga 5:4; Ac 15:1). Circumcision here is not regarded simply by itself (for, viewed as a mere national rite, it was practiced for conciliation's sake by Paul himself, Ac 16:3), but as the symbol of Judaism and legalism in general. If this be necessary, then the Gospel of grace is at an end. If the latter be the way of justification, then Judaism is in no way so.

Christ … profit … nothing—(Ga 2:21). For righteousness of works and justification by faith cannot co-exist. "He who is circumcised [for justification] is so as fearing the law, and he who fears, disbelieves the power of grace, and he who disbelieves can profit nothing by that grace which he disbelieves [Chrysostom].