Focused Passage

Galatians 6:11-18

Boasting Only in the Cross: Spirit-Shaped Community and New Creation

Paul moves from Spirit-shaped restoration and mutual burden-bearing, to sober sowing-and-reaping exhortation, to perseverance in doing good, and finally to a closing contrast between fleshly boasting in circumcision and Paul's boast only in the cross and new creation.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

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

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.

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

14 But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.

16 Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 11

Original words

See Ἴδετε G3708 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural [what] large πηλίκοις G4080 Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural letters γράμμασιν G1121 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural I am using to write ἔγραψα G1125 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular to you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural with τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular my own ἐμῇ G1699 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 1st Person Singular hand χειρί G5495 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Verse 12

Original words

Those who Ὅσοι G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural want θέλουσιν G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural to make a good impression εὐπροσωπῆσαι G2146 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active vvv ἐν G1722 Preposition outwardly σαρκί G4561 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular - οὗτοι G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural are trying to compel ἀναγκάζουσιν G315 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural to be circumcised περιτέμνεσθαι G4059 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive [They] only [ do this ] μόνον G3440 Adverb to ἵνα G2443 Conjunction avoid μὴ G3361 Adverb persecution διώκωνται G1377 Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural for the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular cross σταυρῷ G4716 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Christ Χριστοῦ G5547 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 13

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural circumcised περιτεμνόμενοι G4059 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural {do} not even οὐδὲ G3761 Adverb keep φυλάσσουσιν G5442 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural [the] law νόμον G3551 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular themselves αὐτοὶ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural yet ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction they want θέλουσιν G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural to be circumcised περιτέμνεσθαι G4059 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction they may boast καυχήσωνται G2744 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition your ὑμετέρᾳ G5212 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 2nd Person Plural - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular flesh σαρκὶ G4561 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Verse 14

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction as for me Ἐμοὶ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular may γένοιτο G1096 Verb - Aorist Optative Middle - 3rd Person Singular {I} never μὴ G3361 Adverb boast καυχᾶσθαι G2744 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive except εἰ G1487 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular cross σταυρῷ G4716 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular of our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Lord Κυρίου G2962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Christ Χριστοῦ G5547 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular through δι’ G1223 Preposition which οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular [the] world κόσμος G2889 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular has been crucified ἐσταύρωται G4717 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular to me ἐμοὶ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular and I κἀγὼ G2504 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular [to the] world κόσμῳ G2889 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Or through whom
Verse 15

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction neither οὔτε G3777 Conjunction circumcision περιτομή G4061 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular nor οὔτε G3777 Conjunction uncircumcision ἀκροβυστία G203 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular means ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular anything τί G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular [What counts is] ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction a new καινὴ G2537 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular creation κτίσις G2937 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Verse 16

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction Peace εἰρήνη G1515 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction mercy ἔλεος G1656 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular to ἐπ’ G1909 Preposition - αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural all ὅσοι G3745 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural who τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular walk στοιχήσουσιν G4748 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural by this τούτῳ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular rule κανόνι G2583 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular even καὶ G2532 Conjunction to ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Israel Ἰσραὴλ G2474 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 17

Original words

- Τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular From now on λοιποῦ G3064 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular {let} no one μηδεὶς G3367 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular cause παρεχέτω G3930 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular me μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular trouble κόπους G2873 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural for γὰρ G1063 Conjunction I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular bear βαστάζω G941 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular on ἐν G1722 Preposition my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular body σώματί G4983 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural marks στίγματα G4742 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 18

Original words

The G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular grace χάρις G5485 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular of our ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Lord Κυρίου G2962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Christ Χριστοῦ G5547 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [be] with μετὰ G3326 Preposition your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular spirit πνεύματος G4151 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular brothers ἀδελφοί G80 Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural Amen Ἀμήν G281 Hebrew Word

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.