Gal 6:11-18 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gal 6:11-18: 6:11-18 Paul took up the pen from his amanuensis (secretary) and added a postscript in his own handwriting to show that the letter was authentically his and to make a final appeal.

Summary for Gal 6:11-18: 6:11-18 ^a Paul took up the pen from his amanuensis (secretary) and added a postscript in his own handwriting to show that the letter was authentically his and to make a final appeal.
Summary for Gal 6:12-13: 6:12-13 ^b For all of their theological reasoning, the false teachers’ motivation was self-serving: They felt pressure from non-Christian Jews and were more concerned with their own reputation than with honoring God.
6:14 ^c In contrast with the false teachers (6:12-13 ^d), Paul’s motivation was to increase, not his own reputation, but God’s glory. Boasting about law-keeping would detract from recognition of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• In the Greco-Roman world, the cross was a senseless scandal to those who did not believe (5:11 ^e; 1 Cor 1:23 ^f; cp. John 6:53-61 ^g), but it is the basis for a Christian’s faith and hope (1 Cor 1:17-18 ^h; 15:3 ⁱ; Phil 2:8-11 ^j; Col 1:20-22 ^k; 2:14-15 ^l).
6:15 ^m The Galatians had missed the point of the Good News, that a new creation has come in Christ by the Spirit, not by human effort (cp. 2 Cor 5:16-17 ⁿ).
6:16 ^o This principle is putting trust in Christ for salvation (6:14-15 ^p)

• they are the new people of God (literally and [or even] upon the Israel of God): The Greek conjunction kai, usually translated “and,” often means “even.” If it means and, then the Israel of God is a separate group from all who live by this principle; if it means even, then they are the same group. The Jewish people still have an identity before God (Rom 9:1-5 ^q; 10:1-4 ^r; 11:1-32 ^s). Gentiles who believe have been grafted in, and Jews who disbelieve have been pruned out of the spiritual Israel (Rom 11:17-24 ^t; cp. Phil 3:2-3 ^u; Col 2:11-12 ^v). Paul thus considers all Christians to be the true Israel (see Rom 2:28-29 ^w; 9:6-8 ^x; cp. Gal 4:21-31 ^y). The phrase the Israel of God does not appear elsewhere in the New Testament or in other literature; perhaps the false teachers promised this identification to Gentiles who would accept circumcision. If so, then Paul turned their argument on its head: The believing Gentiles in Galatia didn’t need circumcision, for they were already God’s Israel—his true people—through faith in Christ.
6:17 ^z don’t let anyone trouble me with these things: No one has a right to criticize Paul or his message because of his proven status as Christ’s servant.

• Paul’s scars (Greek stigmata) probably resulted from the severe persecution he had endured as a servant of Christ (see Acts 14:19 ^aa; 2 Cor 6:4-10 ^ab; 11:21-33 ^ac). In contrast with the physical mark of circumcision that the false teachers in Galatia wanted to impose on Gentile Christians, Paul’s scars of suffering were proof that he was Christ’s servant (cp. Exod 21:6 ^ad).
6:18 ^ae Paul prayed at the end as at the beginning (1:3-4 ^af). More than law, the Galatians needed the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to be with their spirit.