Galatians 6: 11-18 - Corps - 1983
In this section of Galatians 6:11-16, you have the corresponding resolution to a doctrinal problem stated in Galatians 1:6-10.
Format: pdf,mp3
Publication Date: 12-14-1983
Walter J. Cummins graduated from the Power for Abundant Class in 1962.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Ohio State University in 1968 and his Master of Education degree in Secondary School Administration in 1978 from Wright State University.
He was ordained to the Christian by The Way International in 1968. He has studied at The Way International under Victor Paul Wierwille and K.C.Pillai. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he was director of the Research department of the Way International and served as assistant to the president.
12-14-83 Galatians 6:11-18
In this section of Galatians 6:11-16, you have the corresponding resolution to a doctrinal problem stated in Galatians 1:6-10.
6:11 “you see” – behold, now look, take a close look at what I am going to say.
“letter” – (Ar.) these things written; (Gr.) large letters (literal) – gramma: a writing of various kinds (refers to the size of the letters rather than the size of the epistle); used in Luke 16:6-7 of a “bill” (if a person has not abundantly shared, they ARE in debt! ... is the undertone here.)
One thing you need to understand is that every epistle that Paul wrote, he did not write it himself, but rather he dictated it and an “amanuensis” wrote it (Latin – for a secretary). That is why it says Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Then the “amanuensis” wrote it down. In II Thessalonians 3:17, Paul closes with “mine own hand”. Even though an amanuensis wrote the epistle, Paul would always sign it with his own hand, so they would know that it was authentic from Paul. II Thessalonians 2:1, 2: if you get a letter that appears to be from us and it says “the day of Christ is at hand” don't get all shook up about it, because for it to be an authentic letter it had to have Paul's signature at the ending. It was a practice at that time to write a letter and attribute it to someone else. (see Romans 16:22, I Corinthians 16:21, and Colossians 1:18.)
It is interesting that in Chapter 1 of Galatians, vs. 8 he says “even if we ourselves, or a messenger out of heaven, should declare a gospel contrary to the gospel we declared unto you, let him be accursed.” This is because someone could have sent another letter in his name, but it would not have had his signature on it. And now we are into that corresponding section, the resolution to the problem and that is: “I’m writing this in very large letters here at the end in my own hand.” He did this for emphasis.
(literal according to usage)
Now look at these closing words in my own handwriting.
6:12 “to make a fair show” – glory. In Aramaic, it is to “boast”. In Greek, it is to “make a good appearance”.
“constrain you” – to compel, to make it a necessity. The only reason why they were compelling you to be circumcised is they would not suffer persecution from those who ordered this legalism. In other words, they were under the pressure of the leaders at Jerusalem and so they put the pressure on you so they would not have to suffer persecution like Paul was doing. They did it to save their own skins, so to speak. James 1:8, double minded men, that is how these men were, to save their necks.
“cross” – (fig.) metalepsis – (double metonymy). A metonymy is where one noun is put for another related noun. When it is double, you have it twice. Here the word “cross” is put for the word “death” of Christ, which is put for the accomplishments of his death. This figure of speech also occurs in I Corinthians 1:17, 18, 23 “the stumbling block”, and in Galatians 5:11.
(literal according to usage)
Those who want to make a good appearance in the flesh compel you to be circumcised only because they do not want to be persecuted for preaching the cross of Christ and its accomplishments.
6:13 “keep the law” – to watch or observe the law. The implication here was that they didn’t keep the whole law! Now nobody ever kept the law totally (Galatians 5:3; Romans 2:25). Either you keep the whole law or none of it. You cannot keep part of it!
“glory” – boast.
“your” – very emphatic; (Gr.) humeteros – your very own, or that which is allotted to you, which you own. They want to boast in your personal flesh!
(literal according to usage)
Those [legalists] who are circumcised do not even fully observe the law themselves, yet they want you to get circumcised so they can boast in flesh which belongs to you.
6:14 “God forbid” – let it not be: may I never
“glory” – boast
“save” – except
“cross” – see verse 12.
“whom” – which refers to the cross and its accomplishments
“world” – idiomatically used for things of the world. See Galatians 4:3 “elements”; Ephesians 2:2 “world”; James 4:4ff; I John 2:15ff.
“is crucified” – become dead. How can the world be crucified to me and me to the world? From what Christ accomplished for us when he was crucified on the cross. Crucified is a (fig.) catachresis: one word is put for another remotely connected to it. To become crucified to something is to become dead to it, or numb to it, where you are cut off from it. See Galatians 5:19-21; 2:19; Romans 6:6-11.
(literal according to usage)
But as for me, may I never boast in anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and its accomplishments, by which the things of the world and I are dead to each other [Christ lives in me].
6:15 “in Christ Jesus” – the texts omit.
“availeth” – is, or to be. See Galatians 5:6 – What has the power? Believing, but here it is what is in the inside.
“creature” – creation. Christ in you. (fig.) elypsis – omits verb in the last part of this verse, it does not repeat in anything, omission of certain words. See II Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10, 4:24; Colossians 3:10, 11. The thing that makes a difference in your life is just one thing – the new birth!
(literal according to usage)
Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is significant, but the new creation [Christ in you] is vital.
6:16 “walk” – (Gr.) stoicheo – advance in a line or rank, lifestyle – walking orderly.
“according to” – by.
“rule” – (Ar.) shbila – pathway. (Gr.) kanon – rule, to measure lane markings in a foot race. If you step outside the lane, you are not walking orderly according to the rules (see Galatians 5:7 – literal “They stepped out of order and caused you, perhaps to step out of order!”
“peace” – the goal, a greeting.
“and” – even upon.
“mercy” – withholding of merited judgment.
“Israel” – You are the true Israel (by believing, NOT after the flesh!) when you walk according to one rule, one standard... the new creation!!! (See Romans 9:6-8; Philippians 3:3; Romans 2:28, 29; Romans 4:11; Galatians 3:6-9, 29; Galatians 4:28, 31.)
It is Christ in you, if you walk according to that rule, not letting your walk get out of bounds, but keep it in your lane. The walk is by that new creation which is not a law in the senses world, but the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. It is a walk by the spirit, and then you are going to have peace and mercy.
This verse closes this resolution of the doctrinal problem. (Statement of the doctrinal problem: Galatians 1:6-10. Corresponding resolution of the doctrinal problem: Galatians 6:11-16).
We do not need a law because we have a greater law. When you are born again, then you are the true Israel of God, not by the flesh, but by believing.
The doctrinal problem centered around “who really was Israel?” Is it those by the flesh, who kept the law? – Or is it by believing? The true “Israel of God” are those who are the believing of Abraham, who walk according to one rule, one standard – the new creation!
(literal according to usage)
Peace and mercy shall be upon all those who walk orderly by this rule [of the new creation], even upon the Israel of God [by believing].
6:17 “mark” – (Ar.) kuthmatha, spot, mark visible to the eye. (Gr.) stigma, prick or mark of a pointed instrument, used of a mark left by a brand. It was a common practice in the eastern culture to mark their slaves in some easily recognizable way, a brand or tattoo. The mark of the Lord Jesus, that the Apostle Paul bore, was the fruit of the “spirit filled life” that he lived openly before all people. That was his mark of quality, he walked by the spirit. Jesus Christ was made known to others by the fruit in Paul’s life and the manifestations he operated. Read Dr. Wierwille’s article: Mar/Apr 1978, The Way Magazine.
So this word “marks” does not indicate any physical marks from his persecution, but it is the mark of quality, the spirit filled life in manifestation with fruit evidenced in his life. That he did, spiritually restore others, he bore burdens, he did all those things.
“Lord Jesus” – because of the analogy of “brand marks” to the slave from the Master or Lord. Our Lord is Jesus. Romans 10:9; the Lord Jesus.
“trouble” – he had a lot of trouble with the Galatians. Literally, it has two words in Greek, parecho: show, supply, cause, and kopos: work; hard work resulting in fatigue. When someone screws up it costs leadership hard work, extra work that would not be needed if somebody was walking.
(literal according to usage)
After this, let no one cause me such hard and fatiguing work, for I bear in my body the brand marks of our Lord Jesus [the Mark of Quality].
6:18 “Brethren” is at end of verse in Aramaic and Greek, he closes with brothers.
“grace” – the whole doctrinal question at Galatia, divine favor.
“spirit” – usage 3 or 4; soul life, individual self.
“Lord Jesus Christ” – a salutation, always a tone of hope.
The mark of quality: The spirit in manifestation with fruit.
Galatians has told us that we are not justified by the works of the law; we are justified by believing, by grace. We are not made perfect by returning to the flesh, to the law, to the works. You are made perfect by believing, also made perfect by continuing to walk by the spirit. You operate the spirit by believing, not works! The only two things that pull you away from the Word are legalism and abuse of liberty. They start in practical error and end up in doctrinal error! So walk in love by the spirit with fruit in your life. Abundant Sharing is the barometer of that walk.
(literal according to usage)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with each of your lives, my brothers. Amen.