SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:2
He aquí, yo Pablo os digo, que si os circuncidareis, Cristo no os aprovechar nada.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:2
Verse 2. If ye be circumcised] By circumcision you take on you the whole obligation of the Jewish law, and consequently profess to seek salvation by means of its observances; and therefore Christ can profit you nothing; for, by seeking justification by the works of the law, you renounce justification by faith in Christ.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. Behold, I Paul say unto you , etc..] The apostle proceeds to give some reasons and arguments to enforce the above exhortation and dissuasion: the first of which is introduced with a note of attention, behold; what he was about to say being matter of great moment and importance; and also mentions himself by name, as the assertor of it; and that, either because his name was well known to them, and the rather because of his apostolical authority; and to show his full assurance of this matter, and his intrepidity, and that he was no ways ashamed of it, they might, if they pleased, say it to whomsoever they would, that Paul the apostle affirmed, that if ye be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing : he speaks of circumcision, not as when it was an ordinance of God, but as it was now abolished by Christ; and that got as singly performed on some certain accounts for he himself circumcised Timothy for the sake of the Jews; but as done in order to salvation, or as necessary unto it; which was the doctrine the false apostles taught and these Galatians were ready to give into: now circumcision submitted to on this consideration, and with this view rendered Christ unprofitable, made his death to be in vain, his sacrifice of no effect, and his righteousness useless: besides, Christ is a whole Saviour, or none at all; to join anything with him and his righteousness, in the business of justification and salvation, is interpreted by him as a contempt and neglect of him, as laying him aside, and to such persons he is of no profit; and if he is not, what they have, and whatsoever they do, will be of no advantage; wealth and riches, yea, the whole world could it be gained, their works and righteousness, whatever show they make before men, God has declared shall not profit them; and trusting to these renders Christ unprofitable to them. This is directly contrary to the notions of the Jews, who think they shall be saved for their circumcision, and that that will secure them from hell; they say no circumcised person goes down to hell, and that whoever is circumcised shall inherit the land; but there is none shall inherit the land, save a righteous person; but everyone that is circumcised is called a righteous man f109 ; so that circumcision is their righteousness, on account of which they expect heaven and happiness.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - Christ will not be the Saviour of any who will not own and rely upo him as their only Saviour. Let us take heed to the warnings an persuasions of the apostle to stedfastness in the doctrine and libert of the gospel. All true Christians, being taught by the Holy Spirit wait for eternal life, the reward of righteousness, and the object of their hope, as the gift of God by faith in Christ; and not for the sak of their own works. The Jewish convert might observe the ceremonies of assert his liberty, the Gentile might disregard them or might attend to them, provided he did not depend upon them. No outward privileges of profession will avail to acceptance with God, without sincere faith in our Lord Jesus. True faith is a working grace; it works by love to God and to our brethren. May we be of the number of those who, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. The danger of ol was not in things of no consequence in themselves, as many forms an observances now are. But without faith working by love, all else is worthless, and compared with it other things are of small value.
Greek Textus Receptus
ιδε 1492 5657 εγω 1473 παυλος 3972 λεγω 3004 5719 υμιν 5213 οτι 3754 εαν 1437 περιτεμνησθε 4059 5747 χριστος 5547 υμας 5209 ουδεν 3762 ωφελησει 5623 5692
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. Behold (ide). Imperative singular, appealing to each individual reader. I Paul. Comp. 2 Cor. x. 1; Eph. iii. 1; Col. i. 23. Asserting his personal authority.
If ye be circumcised (ean peritemnhsqe). Better, receive circumcision. The verb does not mean that they have already been circumcised. It states the case as supposable, implying that they were in danger of allowing themselves to be circumcised.
Christ will profit you nothing. Circumcision is the sign of subjection to the Jewish "yoke" - the economy of the law. The question with the Galatians was circumcision as a condition of salvation. See chapter ii. 3, 5; Acts xv. 1. It was a choice between salvation by law and salvation by Christ. The choice of the law involved the relinquishment of Christ. Comp. chapter ii. 21. Chrysostom says: "He who is circumcised is circumcised as fearing the law: but he who fears the law distrusts the power of grace: and he who distrusts gains nothing from that which he distrusts."
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:2 {I Paul} (egw paulos). Asserts all his personal and apostolic authority. For both words see also #1Th 2:16; 2Co 10:1; Col 1:23; Eph 3:1. {If ye receive circumcision} (ean peritemnesqe). Condition of third class and present passive subjunctive, a supposable case, but with terrible consequences, for they will make circumcision a condition of salvation. In that case Christ will help them not at all.
