The 3000 metres race at the 1984 Olympics is famous for what happened to the two favourites, both of whom failed to win. Zola Budd and Mary Decker were out in front, when they ended up colliding and getting tangled up with each other. Decker was injured and failed to finish. Budd, limped on but trailed in a long way back from the medal positions.
A look at the Text (Read Galatians 5:7-12)
Paul moves from the inclusive “we” of verses 5-6 back to “you” as he addresses the Galatians directly again. He uses an athletics image. The Galatians were like an athlete who was competing well in the race but another runner had cut into their lane, shunting them off of the track and out of the race. The irony is that the agitators by demanding obedience to Torah rituals were actually leading the Galatians into disobedience because they were failing to live by the truth of the Gospel (v7). He reminds them that the circumcision requirement was not from Christ, the one who had called them (v8). He warns them that this may seem like a minor point but in fact, like a small amount of yeast, it will have far reaching consequences for each of them individually and for the church together (v9).
Whilst Paul expresses concern in strongly worded warnings, he also expresses confidence. He is confident that the Galatians will see through the lies and deception. This is not so much about confidence in their ability, intelligence or insight but in the power of the truth to shine through and of the work of the Holy Spirit. They will see through the lies. Those seeking to lead them astray will be caught out and have to pay the penalty for their serious sin (v10).
Paul offers further evidence of the truth of the Gospel and the falsehood of the agitators lies. He is not being persecuted. The Gospel was such a stumbling block, an offence to its opponents within Judaism that preaching it led to imprisonment and the threat of death. Paul would experience death threats, attempted stoning and prison. There was one easy way out for him, to compromise his message. He had not taken that. There could be a double rhetorical affect here. It could be that some of the agitators were claiming Paul’s support for their position. His ongoing persecution showed that this wasn’t true. The other rhetorical affect is to emphasise how serious the dividing line is. To renounce circumcision and justification by Torah observance was a costly, life and death decision. Paul had not taken it lightly (v11). Then we have some cutting humour. Paul says that if the agitators are so concerned for circumcision, they should go all the way and get castrated. I think his point is easy to get (v12).
Digging Deeper
Why would Paul need to defend himself against the charge that he was preaching circumcision. It is possible that he was speaking hypothetically to show that there was a way out of persecution should he want to take it. However, it seems likely that he was being accused of this. It is possible that he had favoured circumcision earlier in his early ministry. [1] It may be that people had picked up on him circumcising people for pragmatic reasons as he did later with Timothy. However, Paul may simply be distinguishing his preaching pre conversion and post conversion.[2] In any case, Paul is clear that he no longer preaches circumcision, and this is exactly why he is being persecuted.
A look at ourselves
The Gospel is about grace but this grace is free, not cheap. Christians who seek to follow Christ and remain faithful to the good news can expect their discipleship to be costly. The enemy wants to disrupt the growth of God’s kingdom and so will use any strategy. Whether, through persecution or more subtle means we may be tempted to add or subtract from grace. Paul encourages us to persevere in grace and not to be knocked off track.
[1] C.f. Keener, Galatians, 467-468.
[2] C.f. Moo, Galatians, 336 -337.
Faithroots 