Paragraph 5:2–6

In this paragraph, Paul warned the Galatians what would happen if they agreed to be circumcised.

5:2a

Take notice: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Take notice indicates that what follows is important.

Some other ways to translate this are:

Listen! (Good News Translation)
-or-
Look! (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
This is important:
-or-
Pay attention to this:

I, Paul, tell you that: In this clause, Paul included his name because he wanted to emphasize his authority as an apostle. Jesus Christ had called him to be an apostle, so what he says has the authority of God. The Galatians should listen to him instead of those false teachers.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

I, Paul, say to you that (English Standard Version)
-or-
I, Paul, can guarantee that (God’s Word)
-or-
I, Paul, promise you that (Contemporary English Version)

5:2b

if you let yourselves be circumcised: This clause means “if you allow yourselves to be circumcised in order to become right with God.” You may need to make some of this information explicit. For example:

If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
If you allow yourselves to be circumcised to be made right with God

It is important to remember that Paul did not say that “circumcision” in itself was bad. What was wrong was to insist that people must be circumcised and become like Jews in order for God to accept them.

be circumcised: For help on translating circumcised, see 2:3a.

5:2c

Christ will be of no value to you at all: This clause indicates that Christ’s work on the cross and his resurrection will not benefit those who try to be saved by following the law.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

then Christ will be of no benefit to you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
then you will not receive any benefit from the death of Christ
-or-
then what Christ did is absolutely no use/help to you

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