Galatians 6:12, commentary and pictures

The fair show in the flesh is outward circumcision in the flesh, put forward as human righteousness and works and as a boast in outward religious standing. Those who pressed it on others did so to escape suffering persecution for the cross of Christ, avoiding the disgrace and danger of openly professing the crucified Christ, whom the circumcision party in Pharisaic pride did not recognize as the true ground of glory. They compelled Gentile believers to be circumcised from selfish motives, to please those zealous for Jewish practice and win their approval, to glory in their converts, and to protect their own standing from persecution. The verse belongs to Paul's defense of the gospel against false teachers, that the law condemns sinners and reveals their need, and that men are justified by faith in Christ and not by their own works, which cannot save. The circumcision and fleshly ceremonies urged here belong to the ceremonial Levitical law abolished at Christ's first advent, in contrast to the moral law of God which is holy, just, good and perpetual, for outward circumcision without keeping God's law is uncircumcision, while true circumcision is worship in the Spirit with the law written in the heart and the new creation that separates from the present evil world.

Meaning and Setting

The fair show in the flesh is outward circumcision in the flesh, a display of human righteousness and works. It is a bid to look good outwardly and to boast in outward religious standing. Those who urged it did so to avoid suffering persecution for the cross of Christ. They sought to escape the humiliation and danger of openly following and professing the crucified Christ.

The cross then carried disgrace because of Christ's recent execution, and Christians faced persecution for identifying with him. The circumcision party, still guided by Pharisaic pride, did not recognize the cross as the true ground of glory. They treated circumcision as a route to worldly honor and escape from that persecution. Keeping the fleshly ceremonies of the Jewish law could please the Jews and those zealous for Jewish practice. Such observance could win their approval and so spare observers from persecution.

They compelled Gentile believers to be circumcised from selfish motives, to glory in their converts and to protect their own standing. They pressed others to conform so they themselves would not be persecuted. Making a fair show in the flesh also means spurious zeal in promoting the gospel that is not based on personal faith in Christ and living communion with God. It comes from mere imitation of the world's unceasing activity and gigantic schemes, so that exertion for the cause stimulated only by observing earthly activity on every side is spurious. It includes making a show of religion to win other people's admiration and applause.

Gospel Law and Application

Galatians 6:12 belongs to Paul's explanation of the gospel and his warning against false teachers who turn converts away from it, for the law condemns people and reveals their need for the gospel. The epistle's central teaching is that people are justified by faith in Christ and not by their own works, correcting the claim that human works must be performed in order to be saved. Those who seek justification through their own works are in bondage, while those who trust Christ are free and bear the fruits of the Spirit. The circumcision and works of the flesh urged in the verse belong to the ceremonial, Levitical law and to the ordinances and fleshly ceremonies of the Jews, which were abolished at Christ's first advent. This stands in contrast to the moral law of God written on stone, which is holy, just, good, and perpetual, not the ceremonial law.

Because Ezekiel's sanctuary requires circumcision, it belongs to the past dispensation when circumcision was still in force, not to the present dispensation or the future immortal state. Outward circumcision without keeping God's law counts as uncircumcision, while true circumcision is worshiping God in the Spirit without confidence in the flesh as God writes His law in the heart. It is also crucifixion with Christ which separates a person from the present evil world, since ceremonial observance whether performed or avoided cannot save and salvation requires the new creation brought about by the gospel's creative power. Their work illustrates the principle behind every false system of salvation, that man can do something toward his own salvation to glorify man, shutting believers out from Christ in order to draw them after teachers themselves rather than after Christ. The verse therefore warns against pressing others to conform in religious practice to protect one's own standing and against abandoning religious-liberty principles to escape persecution.