Early readings of Galatians 5: preaching circumcision and Timothy (5:11)
Says “Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?” (Gal 5:11; εἰ περιτομὴν ἔτι κηρύσσω). Acts says Paul took Timothy “and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area” (Acts 16:3), and Paul writes, “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing” (1 Cor 7:19).
Several writers link 5:11 with Timothy. Lightfoot allows that 5:2 may answer charges against “I Paul, who have myself preached circumcision forsooth”, and puts the opponents’ argument as “You still preach circumcision, though you have become a Christian: why should not we continue to do the same?” Chrysostom asks, “did he not circumcise Timothy? Truly he did”, and notes that Paul “says not ‘I do not perform circumcision,’ but ‘I preach it not’”. Wesley: “as that troubler seems to have affirmed, probably taking occasion from his having circumcised Timothy”. Burton is guarded: “he had never objected to the circumcision of Jews”, “the only question being that of the circumcision of Gentiles”. These are their readings.
Implies Because Paul asks why he is “still being persecuted” if he still preaches circumcision (5:11), the text presents his persecution as evidence that he did not preach it.
Uncertain What lay behind the charge that Paul still preached circumcision is open; these readings do not fix the meaning of the text.
Claims
- SaysGal 5:11: Paul asks why, if he is still preaching circumcision, he is still being persecuted; Acts 16:3 says he circumcised Timothy on account of the Jews in that area, and 1 Cor 7:19 says circumcision and uncircumcision are nothing.
- ImpliesBecause Paul asks why he is still persecuted if he still preaches circumcision, the text presents his persecution as evidence that he did not preach it.
- UncertainWhat lay behind the charge that Paul still preached circumcision is open; the readings do not fix the meaning.
Citations
- BSB public domain Gal 5:11; Acts 16:3; 1 Cor 7:19
- SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Gal 5:11
- Lightfoot, Galatians public domain Lightfoot, Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians (Macmillan, 1914 printing), on Gal 5:2 and 5:11, p. 203 (leaf n222), p. 207 (leaf n226); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Chrysostom, Galatians (NPNF1 13) public domain Chrysostom, Commentary on Galatians (NPNF¹ 13, Oxford translation rev. Gross Alexander, 1889), on Gal 5:11, p. 38 (leaf n59); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Wesley, Notes NT (1755) public domain Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755), on Gal 5:11, p. 503 (leaf n516); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
- Burton, Galatians (ICC) public domain Burton, Galatians (ICC, Scribner 1928 printing of the 1920 edition), on Gal 5:11, p. 287 (leaf n380); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
2026-11-13
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