And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offense of the cross ceased.
All Commentaries on Galatians 5:11 Go To Galatians 5
John Chrysostom
AD 407
But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted?
Observe how clearly he exonerates himself from the charge, that in every place he judaized and played the hypocrite in his preaching. Of this he calls them as witnesses; for you know, he says, that my command to abandon the Law was made the pretext for persecuting me. If I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? For this is the only charge which they of the Jewish descent have to bring against me. Had I permitted them to receive the Faith, still retaining the customs of their fathers, neither believers nor unbelievers would have laid snares for me, seeing that none of their own usages were disturbed. What then! Did he not preach circumcision? Did he not circumcise Timothy? Truly he did. How then can he say, I preach it not? Here observe his accuracy; he says not, I do not perform circumcision, but, I preach it not, that is, I do not bid men so to believe. Do not therefore consider it any confirmation of your doctrine, for though I circumcised, I did not preach circumcision.
