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What Does Galatians 5:2 Mean?
Galatians 5:2-3
Remember, the overall subject here is justification by faith. Circumcison is certainly permissible, as Acts 16 says that Paul circumcised Timothy, so he is not talking about the actual cutting away of the foreskin. Here, though, circumcision stands for keeping the ceremonial additions to the law for the purpose of receiving justification. Circumcision is a symbol that stands for the whole law. We know this because he writes, "He is a debtor to the whole law." It is obvious that the whole law is not physically binding upon us, as the ceremonies—the various washings, sacrifices, and offerings—do not have to be kept.
However, there is no shortcut to discerning which laws are binding and which are not. We would like things to be tied up in neat little boxes, but God has not chosen to do it that way. We must study—comparing scripture with scripture—especially the words and examples of Christ and His apostles. We must also meditate, seeking God's will.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Eighteen)
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Galatians 5:2:
Acts 14:8-18
Galatians 1:6
Galatians 4:9-10
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The subject here is justification by faith. Physical circumcision is permissible, since Acts 16 records that Paul circumcised Timothy, so the actual cutting away of the foreskin is not the issue. Instead, circumcision stands for keeping the ceremonial additions to the law for the purpose of receiving justification, symbolizing the whole law. This is clear because Paul writes that such a person is a debtor to the whole law. The whole law is not physically binding, as the ceremonies, washings, sacrifices, and offerings need not be kept. Yet no shortcut exists for discerning which laws bind and which do not. God has not arranged things into neat boxes. One must study, comparing scripture with scripture, especially Christ's words and examples, and meditate, seeking God's will.