- What did Paul say abolished the cross? When did Paul say its better to castrate?
Why castrate?
What abolishes the work done on the cross?
“Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!” – Galatians 5:11-12
I could be wrong but I am pretty sure Paul was more than a little upset here as he talked about castration. But who were the ones he thought should be castrated?
It was the people teaching that following the law somehow got you closer to God!
What is the result of this type of teaching?
“In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.”
Christ is worth nothing if the law makes you righteous!
What He did on the cross is of no value at all if your works get you to God! This is why I say that the greatest trick of satan is to make you think that your effort will “win over” God- especially if that causes you to feel a compulsion to convert others to this cross-less Christianity.
Here is a choice spoken of again and again in the Bible:
1) Righteousness based on your effort- Resulting in shame, guilt and a never ending cycle of never doing enough. (Paul would pass you a knife as would Christ.)
2) Righteousness based on His Gift- Resulting in Love, Grace, Forgiveness, Faith, Thankfulness and Peace in the knowledge that Jesus paid it ALL! (Easy burden and light yoke)
Find a time when you can just take a few deep breathes and just relax in Him. As you take a few deep breathes if you sense any tension in your body just breathe into it and without effort relax that place. Once you feel a bit less stressed, breath normally again and:
Breathe in and say:
“My righteousness”
Breathe out and say:
“Is Jesus Alone”
Practice this way until you see it’s not about you and your effort- It’s ALL about His sacrifice and gift!
He’s plenty upset, but just a bit of Pauline hyperbole to drive home the point, which it vigorously and cogently does. For any who might think otherwise, consider, “No man yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it.” No sane man at least, Hannibal is excluded from any def. of sanity. No child of God in his right mind would ever do such a thing to himself, but that is exactly why a non-Christian friend called me one night to tell me of a Christian (supposedly) who had castrated himself and was concerned that I, as a zealous neophyte, might be led to do the same. I quoted him the same scripture and that was the end of the matter.
Wow – the guy actually castrated himself! I have seen the people in the Philippines crucify themselves – that was odd enough
but wow castration!
I have said it before and I will say it again – If God is the God of the legalist making its no great wonder why most don’t want
to know Him! God Is Love and while He has other things – Love Is Who He is – its part of His character – He cant not Love and Be
God!
Thank you for sharing Richard!
I like it alright, but I hate logging in!
Thank you sorry about the logging in!
Nice little article but – Castration is removing the testacies (what would happen to a eunuch) but circumcision is cutting a small slit at the top of penis to release the head from the enclosed sack to envelope the head into …… If all Jewish men got castrated we would have no Jews.
Thank you but I think what Paul was trying to say is that if we follow the law why not go
all the way with the law – the requirements of which can never be met!
We are under Grace and as such the law has done its job but its job is finished!
Hi Bob – wow I have read this verse many times and never came up with this meaning. I do know what Paul is tiring to say. I did notice some other translations also follow this teaching. To me it isn’t castration, looking at KJV the verse appears a little different.
Galatians 5:12 (KJV)
12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
Looking at KJV it may sound that Paul would want the troublemakers exiled from the congregation such as the immoral person in 1 Corinthians 5:7-13
If I would look at this KJV translation and think it is castration I would think the testicles are bothering the readers – this doesn’t seem the kind of talk Paul uses.
1 Corinthians 5:13 (KJV)
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Once again great article.
Thank you very much for sharing!
For me the main thing Paul was always trying to say is that the person who is trying to put
the Grace-Full back under the law Is the one who Is most evil!
In this version he used the word emasculate but the words of Jesus with the millstone or the
words of Paul are both Very plain and Very sever when it comes to placing those who have
accepted and embraced Grace back under law, legalism and judgment.
Jesus changed Everything by establishing Once and For all a new system and order to be able to approach
the thrown of God – anyone trying to take this new wine and place it into old wineskins would face
some terrible consequences whatever they were.
Thank you again for sharing