Page 418 - Demo

6:14 The cross is at the heart of Paul’s preaching, and Paul ends his letter with the cross. The cross is a mystery. It was Jesus who was nailed to the cross, but through that saving act, Paul says, “the world was cruci ed to me and I to the world.” Through our sharing in the cross of Christ, there is a decisive break with the past. The cross is a new beginning—a tree of life, a “new creation.”
6:17 “I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.” What does this mean? Is Paul referring to the scars of the many beatings he has received in the course of his witness to Christ? Is it a metaphor for Paul’s total dedication to Christ, since slaves were often marked to show to whom they belonged? Or is this reference to the stigmata, the mystical wounds of Christ carried by a handful of saints through the ages?
i. [6:11] 1 Cor 16:21.
j. [6:12] 5:2, 11.
k. [6:14] 2:20; 1 Cor 2:2.
l. [6:15] 5:6; 1 Cor 7:19 / 2 Cor 5:17.
m. [6:16] Ps 125:5; 128:6.
n. [6:17] 2 Cor 4:10.
o. [6:18]Phil4:23;2Tm4:22;Phlm25.
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GALATIANS 
VI. CONCLUSION
Final Appeal.* 11See with what large letters* I am writing to you in my own hand!i 12* It is those who want to make a good appearance in the esh who are trying to compel you to have yourselves circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.j 13Not even those having themselves circumcised* observe the law themselves; they only want you to be circumcised so that they may boast of your esh. 14But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which* the world has been cruci ed to me, and I to the world.k 15For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision,l but only a new creation.* 16Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule* and to the Israel of God.m
17From now on, let no one make troubles for me; for I bear the marks of Jesus* on my body.n
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.o
* [6:11–18] A postscript in Paul’s own hand, as was his practice (see 1 Cor 16:21; 2 Thes 3:17). Paul summarizes his appeal against his opponents (Gal 6:12–13), then returns to his message of glorying in the cross, not in circumcision, as the means of salvation (Gal 6:14– 15; cf. Gal 5:11). A benediction follows at Gal 6:16. In the polemical spirit that the attack on his apostleship called forth (Gal 1:11–2:21), Paul reasserts his missionary credentials (Gal 6:17) before giving a nal benediction (Gal 6:18).
* [6:11] Large letters: in contrast to the ner hand of the scribe who wrote the letter up to this point. The larger Greek letters make Paul’s message even more emphatic. Some nd a hint of poor eyesight on Paul’s part. See note on Gal 4:13.
* [6:12–15] The Jewish Christian opponents wished not to be persecuted, possibly by Jews. But since Judaism seems to have had a privileged status as a religion in the Roman empire, circumcised Christians might, if taken as Jews, thereby avoid persecution from the Romans. In any case, Paul instead stresses conformity with the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; cf. Gal 2:19–21; 5:11.
* [6:13] Those having themselves circumcised: other manuscripts read, “those who have had themselves circumcised.”
* [6:14] Through which: or “through whom.”
* [6:15] New creation: or “new creature”; cf. 2 Cor 5:17.
* [6:16] This rule: the principle in Gal 6:14–15. The Israel of God: while the church may be
meant (the phrase can be translated “to all who follow this rule, even the Israel of God”; cf. Gal 6:10; 1 Cor 10:18), the reference may also be to God’s ancient people, Israel; cf. Ps 125:5; 128:6.
* [6:17] The marks of Jesus: slaves were often branded by marks (stigmata) burned into their esh to show to whom they belonged; so also were devotees of pagan gods. Paul implies that instead of outdated circumcision, his body bears the scars of his apostolic labors (2 Cor 11:22–31), such as oggings (Acts 16:22; 2 Cor 11:25) and stonings (Acts 14:19), that mark him as belonging to the Christ who su ered (cf. Rom 6:3; 2 Cor 4:10; Col 1:24) and will protect his own.