Galatians 6:12 “Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compe…”

Galatians 6:12

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

As many as desire to make a good impression in the flesh compel you to be circumcised, just so they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

American Standard Version

As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Geneva Bible 1599

As many as desire to make a faire shewe in the flesh, they constraine you to be circumcised, onely because they would not suffer persecution for the crosse of Christ.

Darby Translation

As many as desire to have a fair appearance in [the] flesh, these compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted because of the cross of Christ.

Young's Literal Translation

as many as are willing to make a good appearance in the flesh, these constrain you to be circumcised — only that for the cross of the Christ they may not be persecuted,

Bible in Basic English

Those who have the desire to seem important in the flesh, put force on you to undergo circumcision; only that they may not be attacked because of the cross of Christ.

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Cross references

“as desire”

2 Corinthians 11:13 Colossians 2:23 Luke 16:15 Galatians 6:13 Matthew 6:2 Matthew 6:16

2 Corinthians 11:13 · BSB

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

Colossians 2:23 · BSB

Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Luke 16:15 · BSB

So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.

Galatians 6:13 · BSB

For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

Matthew 6:2 · BSB

So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

Matthew 6:16 · BSB

When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

“they constrain”

Acts 15:1 Galatians 2:3 Galatians 2:14 Acts 15:5

Acts 15:1 · BSB

Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Galatians 2:3 · BSB

Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

Galatians 2:14 · BSB

When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live l…

Acts 15:5 · BSB

But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

“lest”

Galatians 5:11 Philippians 3:18

Galatians 5:11 · BSB

Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

Philippians 3:18 · BSB

For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

11See what large letters I am using to write to you with my own hand!

13For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

Read Galatians 6