SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:13
Porque ni aun los mismos que se circuncidan guardan la ley; sino que quieren que vosotros seis circuncidados, para gloriarse en vuestra carne.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Galatians 6:13
Verse 13. Neither they themselves who are circumcised] They receive circumcision and profess Judaism, not from a desire to be conformed to the will of God; but Judaism was popular, and the more converts the false teachers could make; the more occasion of glorying they had, and they wished to get those Christian converts, who had been before proselytes of the gate, to receive circumcision, that they might glory in their flesh. Behold my converts! Thus they gloried, or boasted, not that the people were converted to God, hut that they were circumcised.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. But neither they themselves that are circumcised , etc..] That is, the pleaders for, and preachers of circumcision, whether they themselves were actually circumcised, or not; it means those that were of the circumcision, on that side of the question, whether heartily or not: keep the law ; of circumcision, as persons may preach up that, which they themselves do not practise; as did the Pharisees, the predecessors of these men; or if they did keep the law, and submit to it, yet this might be done, not out of regard unto it, and zeal for it, but for some other end; as Simon Magus submitted to baptism, and others preached Christ of envy and contention, and not of good will; or if they did do it in obedience to the law, yet this was not keeping the whole law, which circumcision obliged to; and which, unless they did so keep it, would signify nothing; and this no man is capable of keeping perfectly, and consequently no righteousness, life, and salvation, can be had hereby: besides, though these men were so zealous for the lighter matters of the law, the rites and ceremonies of it, as circumcision, etc.. they disregarded the weightier and more material parts of it, as judgment, mercy, and faith; these they kept not, nor attended to: and many of them lived very dissolute lives and conversations, at least secretly, if not openly; which abundantly proved that they were far from keeping the law; and that their pleading for it, and submitting to some of the rituals of it, were not out of pure love and strict regard to it, but for some other end: but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh ; that is, in the circumcision of it; or, as the Ethiopic version, in your bodies.
Their view in bringing persons to submit to circumcision was, that they might have occasion to glory among the Jews, and boast to them of the numbers of proselytes they brought, and of the service they did to Judaism, and so increase their fame and glory among them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-15 - Proud, vain, and carnal hearts, are content with just so much religio as will help to keep up a fair show. But the apostle professes his ow faith, hope, and joy; and that his principal glory was in the cross of Christ. By which is here meant, his sufferings and death on the cross the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Redeemer. By Christ, or by the cross of Christ, the world is crucified to the believer, and he to the world. The more we consider the sufferings of the Redeemer from the world, the less likely shall we be to love the world. The apostle wa as little affected by its charms, as a beholder would be by any thin which had been graceful in the face of a crucified person, when he beholds it blackened in the agonies of death. He was no more affecte by the objects around him, than one who is expiring would be struc with any of the prospects his dying eyes might view from the cross of which he hung. And as to those who have truly believed in Christ Jesus all things are counted as utterly worthless compared with him. There is a new creation; old things are passed away, and new views an dispositions are brought in under the regenerating influences of God the Holy Spirit. Believers are brought into a new world, and being created in Christ Jesus unto good works, are formed to a life of holiness. It is a change of mind and heart, whereby we are enabled to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to live to God; and where this inward practical religion is wanting, outward professions, or names, wil never stand in any stead.
Greek Textus Receptus
ουδε 3761 γαρ 1063 οι 3588 περιτεμνομενοι 4059 5746 αυτοι 846 νομον 3551 φυλασσουσιν 5442 5719 αλλα 235 θελουσιν 2309 5719 υμας 5209 περιτεμνεσθαι 4059 5745 ινα 2443 εν 1722 τη 3588 υμετερα 5212 σαρκι 4561 καυχησωνται 2744 5667
Vincent's NT Word Studies
13. Neither they themselves who are circumcised (oude - oi peritemnomenoi autoi). For neither, translate not even. Const. themselves with keep the law. The persons referred to are the same as those in ver. 12. The participle tells nothing as to the antecedents of these persons, whether Jewish or heathen. It is general, those who are receiving circumcision. It is = the circumcision-party; and the present participle represents them as in present activity. They are circumcised themselves, and are endeavoring to force circumcision upon others.
Keep the law (nomon fulassousin). See on ch. v. 3. They are in the same category with all who are circumcised, who do not and cannot fully observe the law. Comp. ch. iii. 10; v. 3. Hence, if circumcision develops no justifying results, it is apparent that their insistence on circumcision proceeds not from moral, but from fleshly motives.
That they may glory in your flesh (ina en th umetera sarki kauchswntai). May boast, not of your fulfilling the law, but in your ceremonial conformity; your becoming legal zealots like themselves. They desire only that you, like them, should make a fair show in the flesh. For the formula kaucasqai ejn to glory in, see Rom. ii. 17; v. 3; 1 Corinthians i. 31; 2 Cor. x. 15.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:13 {They who receive circumcision} (hoi peritemnomenoi). Present causative middle of peritemnw, those who are having themselves circumcised. Some MSS. read hoi peritetmmenoi), "they who have been circumcised" (perfect passive participle). Probably the present (peritemnomenoi) is correct as the harder reading.
