Galatians 5:6 - Exposition

For in Jesus Christ ( ἐν γὰρ χριστῷ ἰησοῦ ); for in Christ Jesus. "For;" to prove that it is from the ground of faith that we look for the final awards due to righteousness, and not from obedience to any ceremonial law. "In Christ Jesus" means more than in Christ's religion. We had the phrase above, Galatians 3:28 , "All ye are one man in Christ Jesus." It occurs frequently in St. Paul's writings; remarkable instances are supplied in Romans 16:17 , "who were in Christ before me;" ibid., 11, "which are in the Lord;" 1 Corinthians 1:30 , "of him [i.e. of God] are ye in Christ Jesus." It is, perhaps, best illustrated by our Lord's own parable of the vine in John 15:1-4 . The spiritual union with Christ therein portrayed is maintained and operative through the action of the soul habitually cleaving to and depending upon him, and constantly receiving from him responsive gifts of spiritual vitality and power. Neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which Worketh by love ( οὔτε περιτομή τι ἰσχύει οὔτε ἀκροβυστία ἀλλὰ πίστις δἰ ἀγάπης ἐνεργουμένη ); neither circumcision availeth anything , nor uncircumcision ; but faith operative through love. In two other passages the apostle makes a very similar statement. One is below, Galatians 6:15 , "For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." The other is 1 Corinthians 7:19 , which with its context runs thus: "Was any one called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised ( μὴ ἐπισπάσθω ). Hath any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God." The comparison of these three passages suggests: