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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gal_6:11-16
11See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. 14But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Gal_6:11 "See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand" This is an aorist active imperative. Paul dictated his letters to a scribe (cf. Rom_16:22). Some see these final words in Paul's own handwriting as Paul's way of verifying his true letters, in light of 2Th_2:2. We know from several of Paul's letters that he wrote the concluding sentences in his own hand (cf. 1Co_16:21; Col_4:18; 2Th_3:17 and Phm_1:19). Since I believe that Paul's thorn in the flesh was Oriental ophthalmia, this is an added evidence of his need to write, not in the small, concise writing of a scribe, but with the scrawling hand of a man who was partially blind.
Gal_6:12
NASB "Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh"
NKJV "As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh"
NRSV "It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh"
TEV "Those who want to show off and brag about external matters"
NJB "It is only self-interest"
The Judaizers were more concerned with the outer aspects of religion (cf. Col_2:16-23); they wanted a religious show (cf. Gal_4:17)! Convincing the Galatians to be circumcised would be a "feather in their caps" (cf. Gal_6:13 c). The false teachers wanted self-affirmation at the expense of the Galatian believers.
For "flesh" see Special Topic at Gal_1:16.
▣ "try to compel you to be circumcised" Gal_6:12-16 are a summary of the entire letter which focuses on the inappropriate emphasis of the false teachers on human effort as a means of being saved or of being fully matured. This is a recurrent danger in the modern church as believers demand service, enthusiasm, ritual, attendance, Bible knowledge, prayer, or any of the good discipleship techniques as a means of being complete in Christ. Paul's great truth was that believers are complete in their standing with God when they have trusted Jesus Christ by faith. In light of this new, full acceptance, believers then must yield themselves in gratitude to God and service to others (i.e., Jas_2:14-26).
▣ "simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ" This may refer to
1. Jewish persecution (cf. Act_13:45; Act_13:50; Act_14:2; Act_14:5; Act_14:19); the Judaizers by their insistence on the Law of Moses would not be rejected as strenuously as Paul's teaching of free grace in Christ alone
2. Roman persecution because Christianity was not a legal, recognized religion as was Judaism
The synagogue instituted its curse formula, which was a rabbinical way of forcing Christians out of the synagogue because they would not and could not say "Jesus is accursed" (cf. Joh_9:22; Joh_9:35; Joh_12:42; Joh_16:2).
Gal_6:13 "For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves" The subject of this sentence is ambiguous, which could be (1) the false teachers or (2) aggressive converts within the churches of Galatia. The men who argued circumcision as a means of being right with God could not even keep the whole Law themselves (cf. Rom_2:17-29). If you break the Law one time (after the age of moral responsibility), in one way, then Jas_2:10 (and Gal_5:3) is a truth to be reckoned with!
Gal_6:14 "But may it never be" See note at Gal_2:17.
▣ "that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" Paul, of all people, knew what it was to be redeemed out of an undeserving life, zealous though it may be (cf. Php_3:2-16). Human boasting is excluded when human merit is excluded (cf. Jer_9:23-26; Rom_3:27-28; 1Co_1:26-31). See hyperlink at Gal_6:4.
▣ "through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" This is the continuing metaphor throughout Galatians which speaks of believers' death to the Law and their being alive to God in Christ. This is a perfect passive indicative, which emphasizes a continuing state accomplished by an outside agent, here, the Spirit. This metaphor is used in Gal_2:19; Gal_5:24, and here expressing how all things become new when believers identify with Christ's death on the cross. They are now free from the Law in order to live for God (cf. Rom_6:10-23).
For "world" see Special Topic: "Kosmos" at Gal_4:3.
Gal_6:15 "For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation" Paul has already mentioned that circumcision is not the issue (cf. Gal_5:6; Rom_2:28-29; 1Co_7:18-19). The issue is salvation, if believers try to make themselves acceptable to God by human effort, either pagan or Jew, they are totally cut off from the absolutely free gift of God in Jesus Christ. There are two mutually exclusive ways of being right with God.
1. the free gospel of Christ through repentance and faith
2. human effort
Paul restates that circumcision is not really the issue (nor food laws, cf. 1 Corinthians 8; 1Co_10:23-26), but how one pursues right standing with God by perfectly fulfilling the law.
Several early Greek manuscripts add "in Christ Jesus" after "For neither" (MSS à , A, C, D, F, G, and most minuscules and versions (cf. NKJV). However, most modern English versions leave it out because it is absent in MSS P40 and B. The UBS4 rates its exclusion as "A" (certain). It probably was a scribal assimilation from Gal_5:6.
▣ "but a new creation" This is the New Covenant; believers are brand new people in Jesus Christ! All old things have passed away and everything is new (cf. Rom_6:4; Rom_8:19-22; 2Co_5:17; Eph_2:15; Eph_4:24; Col_3:10).
Gal_6:16 "And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them" This may be a loose quotation from Psa_125:5; Psa_128:6. From the Greek word "rule" (kanoni) the English word "canon" is derived. This was a construction term used for a measuring reed. It is used here to refer to the gospel (Jesus' yoke, cf. Gal_6:2). Notice believers are to walk in it, not just affirm it (cf. Jas_1:22).
▣ "the Israel of God" Significantly Paul calls the Church "the Israel of God." In his writings he has emphasized that Abraham's true seed is not by racial descent but by faith descent (cf. Gal_3:7; Gal_3:9; Gal_3:29; Rom_2:28-29; Rom_9:6; Php_3:3). The gospel is about Jesus, not national Israel! Believers in Christ are the true "people of God"!