And that noun, “vehemence,” means?

“A display of strong feeling, very strong!”

Extreme passion!

Even to the point of anger!

Students, in Latin “vemens” means (as it looks) “violent, forceful!”

Wow!

But that’s my word, describing Paul in today’s Bible Text, our (Galatians) Verse for the day.

Yet let’s let him (Paul) talk! “I would they were even cut off which trouble you.” Galatians 5:12, yes I am sticking with my adjective, vehement!

Someone (clearly) is “troubling” the fairly new Christians Paul left behind in the Roman District (Province) back then called Galatia. If you recall Paul earlier has mentioned these men … “But there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” Back in Galatians 1:7, but there he used the Greek verb “tarasso” for “trouble.” To agitate, to cause inward commotion.

Here Paul (really, the Holy Spirit) changes words! Now it’s “anastatoo.” A stronger word, I believe. “Ana,” the prefix, suggests “between.” And “histemi” means “to stand, to establish!” These “enemies” of the Gospel desire “to subvert” the Galatians’ faith in Jesus! To “stand between” them and Jesus! One lexicon says “to uproot!” In Acts 17:6 our King James Version has “to turn upside down!” 

No wonder Paul is so righteously upset!

“I would they were even cut off which trouble you.”

Now let’s note the verb “would” as in “I would.” It is “ophelon,” It derives from “opheilo,” a word literally meaning “to owe” someone! But it also can (and does several times in the Bible) mean “to do one’s duty, to be indebted to do a thing!” 

IT IS NOT that Paul bitterly wishes harm (in selfish spite or fleshly hatred) to these false teachers, not sinfully so. BUT IT IS that Paul feels a spiritual indebtedness to defend and protect these new little “lambs” in God’s familial flock!

Paul is (if not already there, certainly nearly to the point) prepared to pray “against” these “circumcisers” who wrongly add to God’s Plan of Salvation!

But what would he pray?

He is indebted to ask for what?

“That they were even cut off!”

Here I need the help of some scholars.

This clause could mean that they would even die! “Were cut off” translates “apokopto,” as when a life is “cut short!” Yes, this is vehement!

As earlier in Galatians … “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.” Galatians 1:8, where “accursed” means “anathema!” Tantamount to: “Let him die and go to Hell Fire!”

Wow!

Furthermore, and I must say this tactfully, “prokopto” as well (often) implies some form of “self-mutilation.” One prominent authority suggests the meaning to be “castrate themselves.” And the grammar indeed allows that interpretation! “Let the circumcising knife slip and let them ‘cut themselves off,’ Paul is praying.” Now, could I ever preach that from a pulpit in a Revival somewhere? Doubtfully, but the implication (actually, definition) is valid, nonetheless.

One paraphraser (whom I cannot recommend, but is who certainly a Greek expert) words the sentence (Paul’s intent) in this fashion: “Why don’t these agitators, OBSESSIVE AS THEY ARE ABOUT CIRCUMCISION, go all the way and castrate themselves?”

Wow!

Furthermore, should this happen, this “accident” to which Paul is referring, maybe even wishing  … these men would have disqualified themselves from ever again worshipping Almighty God back at the Holy Temple in Jerusalem anyway!

At least according to the Law of Moses, which they all (these detractors who have sneaked into the Galatians churches) loved so dearly! Plain but necessary today, this Law of which I speak, the particular statute. “He that hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 23:1, irony indeed! He then could not thereafter even so much as enter the Temple, the House of God, not under the Law! 

Wow again!

Sin always “backfires” on its practitioner! Sin exacts a “price!”

Then lastly, Paul might just be saying (though Paul is generally much more emotional) that he wants these men “to leave town.” Or that he wishes the Galatians would “dismiss” them from ever coming back to Church!

The Apostle feels that the Gospel of GRACE is that important, that valuable!

And that worthy of defense!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell