Galatians 6:12 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Only lest they should suffer persecution— This seems to open the main secret springof that zeal for the Jewish ceremonies in some who professed themselves Christians, which occasioned so much uneasiness in the apostolic churches. The persecuting edicts of the Jewish Sanhedrim, whose influence extended to remote synagogues, had induced many, who secretly believed in Christ, to decline an open acknowledgment of him: (see John 9:22; John 12:42; John 19:38.) But afterwards, when a scheme arose for blending Judaism with Christianity, it might be supposed that this would blunt the edge of persecution, especially with respect to those who urged the Gentile converts to conform to the Jewish rites. St. Jerome observes, that Tiberius and Caius Caesar made laws to authorize the Jews who were dispersed throughout the Roman empire, to follow the rites of their religion, and the ceremonies transmitted from their fathers. Circumcised Christians were therefore, by the Pagans, looked upon as Jews; while those who made profession of the Gospel, and were not circumcised, were violently persecuted, both by Pagans and Jews. Nay, the Jews even took the pains to send persons into all countries, to accuse the Christians of atheism and other crimes, to make them as odious as they could, and subject them to the cognizance and punishment of the civil magistrate. To avoid all these inconveniences, some pusillanimous Christians conformed to the Jewish ceremonies; and though they did notchoose to renounce Christianity, yet they were, to all outward appearance, the professors of a religion which Christianity was to abolish, and with which it was incompatible.

Galatians 6:12

12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.