Galatians 5:12
As for those agitators, I wish they would go
the whole way and emasculate themselves!
in Galatians 5:12 should thus be translated as "they
will have it cut off" (or: "they will have themselves
emasculated/castrated", if one prefers to use these words in one's
translation), and not as "they will cut it off/emasculate/castrate
themselves."
Paul has been writing to the Galatian Christians, explaining
that they need nothing other than faith in Christ in order to be saved
(Galatians 3:23–29). False teachers claim one needs to follow rituals and
sacraments to be made right with God (Galatians 2:4). Paul has written some
harsh words in Galatians, especially to those who bring a lie (Galatians
1:6–9). At times his other letters deal with false teachers using strong terms.
This, however, may be Paul's most severe comment. He
declares angrily that he wishes that those false teachers who are misleading
the Galatians would go past circumcision and castrate themselves!
Though it may sound like Paul is just lashing out at his
theological enemies, he is not out of control or speaking without thinking. Not
all anger is sinful (Ephesians 4:26). Jesus expressed anger in a righteous way,
and for righteous reasons (John 2:13–22; Mark 3:1–5). So, Paul is suggesting
something much deeper than a callous physical act. Those who have been
castrated can't produce new converts that are like them. In a spiritual sense,
then, those who are "castrated" cannot pass along their lies to a
future generation. Their false spiritual perspective would die out.
Perhaps Paul also has in mind the pagan cults of the day
whose priests did exactly this, castrating themselves in the worship of their
gods. Though circumcision under the law of Moses once carried great meaning in
Israel, the arrival of Christ has made it meaningless. Now there was only faith
in Christ or nothing at all. Circumcision had no more spiritual value in God's
eyes after the arrival of Christ that full castration would have.
copied from
https://www.bibleref.com/Galatians/5/Galatians-5-12.html
My observation: I wonder what Paul will say to these false teachers who are
promoting faith in a Perfect Bible underlying the KJV, and promoting KJV only?
Will he use harsh words to these false teachers?
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