Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Galatians 6:12 - 6:12
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
12. The absence of a connecting particle indicates that this is the writing to which St Paul refers in Gal 6:11. It doubtless continues to the end of the Epistle.
ὅσοι (Gal 3:10; Gal 3:27, Gal 6:16) θέλουσιν (Gal 1:7) εὐπροσωπῆσαι[167]. Cf. εὐπροσωπίζεσθαι Psalms 140 (Psa 141:6[168]) in a Greek version in the Hexaplaric fragments; εὐπρόσωπος, LXX. Gen 12:11[169] of Sarah being “of fair appearance,” which is used also of fair external appearance in contrast to the reality within. So Wetstein quotes Aristaenetus I. 1 ἐνδεδυμένη μὲν εὐπροσωποτάτη, ἐκδῦσα δὲ ὅλη πρόσωπον φαίνεται. Thus here the verb means “to be of fair and specious appearance.” Bengel compares 2Co 5:12. It is used in a moral sense, as here, also in a papyrus of 114 B.C. (Moulton, Expositor, Febr. 1903, p. 114, referred to in Deissmann, Licht vom Osten, p. 63).
[167] Is affixed it means that all the passages are mentioned where the word occurs in the Greek Bible.
[168] Is affixed to a word it means that all the passages are mentioned where that word occurs in the New Testament.
[169] Is affixed to a word it means that all the passages are mentioned where that word occurs in the New Testament.
ἐν σαρκί “in earthly and visible things,” almost equivalent to ἐν κόσμῳ (cf. Gal 6:14), but σάρξ regards the individual and his mode and aim (Gal 6:8) of existence (cf. Gal 3:3, Gal 5:17), rather than the sphere in which he moves. It can hardly mean literal flesh, in the sense that they wish to be of fair and specious appearance in another person’s flesh, i.e. by getting him circumcised (cf. Gal 6:13; Rom 2:28), to which indeed the English “to make a fair show” lends itself.
οῦτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν, “these constrain.” ἀναγκ. is short of absolute compulsion, Luk 14:23. What they had failed to accomplish in the case of Tit 2:3, they are bringing to pass in yours.
ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι. Passive as in Gal 2:3.
μόνον, elliptical, Gal 2:10; not from any true love of the Law, but only etc.
ἵνα In Gal 2:10 the parallel is only verbal. Here ἵνα. has its full telic force.
τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ χριστοῦ [Ἰησοῦ]. The dative is hard, and is probably best explained as the dative of the occasion (2Co 2:12) “for professing the cross of Christ” (Lightfoot). Otherwise perhaps as approximating to the force of διά with the accusative; see Madvig § 41 (255), who quotes Thuc III. 98, Δημοσθένης τοῖς πεπραγμένοις ἐφοβεῖτο τοὺς Ἀθηναίους. A. T. Robertson quotes this passage in evidence that the “instrumental” case sometimes expresses the idea of cause or ground (Short Grammar, p. 110).
—μὴ διώκωνται. The object of the dash in the text of W.H. is, as it seems, to call attention to the grossness of the purpose of the false leaders—not to be persecuted. For the various reading διώκονται (ACG) cf. Gal 2:4 (καταδουλεύσουσιν), Gal 4:17 (ζηλοῦτε), and the note on ἒχωμεν, Gal 6:10. The false leaders therefore are Jewish Christians, who fear persecution at the hands of Jews, or of Gentiles stirred up by Jews. For although Gentiles would normally reckon circumcised Christians as Jews (who had a religio licita, see Jerome), yet if urged on by Jews they would persecute all Christians, Jewish Christians included.