Galatians 5:2
Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.
Truth to Learn
Obedience to the Law of Moses (or any other set of rules and regulations) adds nothing to salvation.
Behind the Words
The word translated “indeed” is eidō which means “to see” or “to know.” It is used in this verse in the imperative mood indicating a command. Paul is commanding the Galatian Christians to know something important. Today, in English we express a similar notion with the word “look,” meaning “understand this.”
“Become circumcised” is from the Greek word peritemnēsthe, which is a compound word made up of peri, meaning “around” or “about” and a form of temnō, meaning to cut off. This word is expressed in the passive voice, indicating action that is done to the subject. And, it is expressed in the subjunctive mood indicating that it is action that has not happened and is not happening but has the possibility of happening.
The word translated “profit” is a form of the Greek word ōpheleō, which literally means “to heap up” hence, “to increase” or “to profit.” It is expressed here in the future tense.
Meaning Explained
Up to this point in his letter to the Galatian Christians, Paul has defended the source of his message, his salvation in Christ Jesus, and his claim to apostleship. He has defended his position of righteousness by grace through faith alone and the inability of the Law of Moses to produce righteousness and he has done so in the presence of the leading members of the church in Jerusalem. He has shown that even Abraham was justified by faith more than four hundred years before the Law was given to Moses. And he has demonstrated that is not those who are descendents of Abraham in the flesh who are God’s chosen, but those who believe God’s Word who are chosen by God and are to be God’s children and heirs through adoption.
Now that he has laid the groundwork, Paul expresses the main point of his letter, “if you should become circumcised then Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death will profit you nothing.” He is not saying that if you are already circumcised then faith in Christ is impossible, as some translations seem to imply. He is saying that if you choose to be circumcised, then by that act you are declaring that you believe that salvation comes through works of the law. And, if you believe that salvation comes via works, then you don’t believe that salvation is by faith alone. The act of becoming circumcised after having proclaimed faith in the blood of Christ is, in fact, a declaration that you never had faith in Christ in the first place.
Don’t miss this point, as it is one of the most important doctrinal issues that Paul defends. Salvation does not come by faith and anything else. It comes by faith alone! Once you have accepted the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross, and the shedding of His blood there as payment for your sins, there is nothing more that you need in order to be a Christian, a child of God, and an heir of all His promises.
Application
As Paul told the Philippian jailer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.” That’s all there is to it!
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2008 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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