Gal 3:3-4 | TNotes | STEP | 3:3 by ... human effort (literally by flesh ): Paul makes a pun: The Galatians were trying to become perfect by human effort through keeping the law about circumcising the flesh of the male foreskin.

cGal 3:3►

‏ Galatians 3:3-4

3:3 ^a by ... human effort (literally by flesh): Paul makes a pun: The Galatians were trying to become perfect by human effort through keeping the law about circumcising the flesh of the male foreskin.
3:4 ^b Have you experienced (or suffered) so much for nothing? This could refer to suffering, but what is known about the Galatian church does not suggest this. Paul was probably referring to the spiritual experiences the Galatians had through the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:3 ^c, 5 ^d). Turning to the law for right standing with God would mean regarding the work of the Spirit as meaningless.