Teks -- Galatians 5:6 (NET)

5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight– the only thing that matters is faith working through love.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Gal 5:6 - Availeth anything

Availeth anything ( ischuei ti ).

Old word to have strength (ischūs ). See Mat 5:13. Neither Jew nor Greek has any recommendation in his state. See Gal 3:28. All stand on a level in Christ.

Robertson: Gal 5:6 - Faith working through love

Faith working through love ( pistis di' agapēs energoumenē ).

Middle voice of energeō and "through love,""the moral dynamic"(Burton) of Paul’ s conception of freedom from law.

Vincent: Gal 5:6 - In Christ Jesus

In Christ Jesus

In the economy of life which he inaugurates and inspires.

Vincent: Gal 5:6 - Availeth

Availeth ( ἰσχύει )

Has any significance or practical power. The verb in Paul only here and Phi 4:13. See on 2Th 1:9.

Vincent: Gal 5:6 - Which worketh

Which worketh ( ἐνεργουμένη )

See on 1Th 2:13. Middle voice, comp. Rom 7:5; 2Co 1:6; 2Co 4:12; 2Th 2:7; Eph 3:20. Not passive, as by many Roman Catholic expositors, faith which is wrought by love .

Vincent: Gal 5:6 - By love

By love ( δἰ ἀγάπης )

Not that justification is through love; but the faith of the justified, which is their subjective principle of life, exhibits its living energy through love in which the whole law is fulfilled (Gal 5:14). See 1Ti 1:5; 1Th 1:3; 1Co 13:1-13.

Wesley: Gal 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus

According to the institution which he hath established, according to the tenor of the Christian covenant.

Wesley: Gal 5:6 - Neither circumcision

With the most punctual observance of the law.

Wesley: Gal 5:6 - Nor uncircumcision

With the most exact heathen morality.

Wesley: Gal 5:6 - Availeth anything

Toward present justification or eternal salvation.

Wesley: Gal 5:6 - But faith

Alone; even that faith which worketh by love - All inward and outward holiness.

JFB: Gal 5:6 - For

Confirming the truth that it is "by faith" (Gal 5:5).

JFB: Gal 5:6 - in Jesus Christ

Greek, "in Christ Jesus." In union with Christ (the ANOINTED Saviour), that is, Jesus of Nazareth.

JFB: Gal 5:6 - nor uncircumcision

This is levelled against those who, being not legalists, or Judaizers, think themselves Christians on this ground alone.

JFB: Gal 5:6 - faith which worketh by love

Greek, "working by love." This corresponds to "a new creature" (Gal 6:15), as its definition. Thus in Gal 5:5-6, we have the three, "faith," "hope," and "love." The Greek expresses, "Which effectually worketh"; which exhibits its energy by love (so 1Th 2:13). Love is not joined with faith in justifying, but is the principle of the works which follow after justification by faith. Let not legalists, upholding circumcision, think that the essence of the law is set at naught by the doctrine of justification by faith only. Nay, "all the law is fulfilled in one word--love," which is the principle on which "faith worketh" (Gal 5:14). Let them, therefore, seek this "faith," which will enable them truly to fulfil the law. Again, let not those who pride themselves on uncircumcision think that, because the law does not justify, they are free to walk after "the flesh" (Gal 5:13). Let them, then, seek that "love" which is inseparable from true faith (Jam 2:8, Jam 2:12-22). Love is utterly opposed to the enmities which prevailed among the Galatians (Gal 5:15, Gal 5:20). The Spirit (Gal 5:5) is a Spirit of "faith" and "love" (compare Rom 14:17; 1Co 7:19).

Clarke: Gal 5:6 - For in Jesus Christ

For in Jesus Christ - By the dispensation of the Gospel all legal observances, as essential to salvation, are done away; and uncircumcision, or the Gentile state, contributes as much to salvation as circumcision or the Jewish state; they are both equally ineffectual; and nothing now avails in the sight of God but that faith δι ’ αγαπης ενεργουμενη, which is made active, or energetic, by love. God acknowledges no faith, as of the operation of his Spirit, that is not active or obedient; but the principle of all obedience to God, and beneficence to man, is love; therefore faith cannot work unless it be associated with love. Love to God produces obedience to his will: love to man worketh no ill; but, on the contrary, every act of kindness. Faith which does not work by love is either circumcision or uncircumcision, or whatever its possessor may please to call it; it is, however, nothing that will stand him in stead when God comes to take away his soul. It availeth nothing. This humble, holy, operative, obedient Love, is the grand touchstone of all human creeds and confessions of faith. Faith without this has neither soul nor operation; in the language of the Apostle James, it is dead, and can perform no function of the spiritual life, no more than a dead man can perform the duties of animal or civil life.

Calvin: Gal 5:6 - For in Jesus Christ // But faith, which worketh by love

6.For in Jesus Christ. The reason why believers now wait for the hope of righteousness through the Spirit is, that in Christ, that is, in the kingdom of Christ, or in the Christian church, circumcision with its appendages is abolished; for, by a figure of speech in which a part is taken for the whole, the word Circumcision is put for ceremonies. While he declares that they no longer possess any influence, he does not admit that they were always useless; for he does not maintain that they were repealed till after the revelation of Christ. This enables us to answer another question, Why does he here speak so contemptuously of circumcision, as if it had been of no advantage? The rank which circumcision once held as a sacrament is not now considered. The question is not what was its value before it had been abolished. But under the kingdom of Christ, he pronounces it to be on a level with uncircumcision, because the coming of Christ has put an end to legal ceremonies.

But faith, which worketh by love The contrast here introduced, between ceremonies and the exercise of love, was intended to prevent the Jews from thinking too highly of themselves, and imagining that they were entitled to some superiority; for towards the close of the Epistle, instead of this clause, he uses the words, a new creature. (Gal 6:15.) As if he had said, Ceremonies are no longer enjoined by Divine authority; and, if we abound in the exercise of love, all is well. Meanwhile, this does not set aside our sacraments, which are aids to faith but is merely a short announcement of what he had formerly taught as to the spiritual worship of God.

There would be no difficulty in this passage, were it not for the dishonest manner in which it has been tortured by the Papists to uphold the righteousness of works. When they attempt to refute our doctrine, that we are justified by faith alone, they take this line of argument. If the faith which justifies us be that “which worketh by love,” then faith alone does not justify. I answer, they do not comprehend their own silly talk; still less do they comprehend our statements. It is not our doctrine that the faith which justifies is alone; we maintain that it is invariably accompanied by good works; only we contend that faith alone is sufficient for justification. The Papists themselves are accustomed to tear faith after a murderous fashion, sometimes presenting it out of all shape and unaccompanied by love, and at other times, in its true character. We, again, refuse to admit that, in any case, faith can be separated from the Spirit of regeneration; but when the question comes to be in what manner we are justified, we then set aside all works.

With respect to the present passage, Paul enters into no dispute whether love cooperates with faith in justification; but, in order to avoid the appearance of representing Christians as idle and as resembling blocks of wood, he points out what are the true exercises of believers. When you are engaged in discussing the question of justification, beware of allowing any mention to be made of love or of works, but resolutely adhere to the exclusive particle. Paul does not here treat of justification, or assign any part of the praise of it to love. Had he done so, the same argument would prove that circumcision and ceremonies, at a former period, had some share in justifying a sinner. As in Christ Jesus he commends faith accompanied by love, so before the coming of Christ ceremonies were required. But this has nothing to do with obtaining righteousness, as the Papists themselves allow; and neither must it be supposed that love possesses any such influence.

TSK: Gal 5:6 - in // faith

in : Gal 5:2, Gal 5:3, Gal 3:28, Gal 6:15; Rom 2:25-29, Rom 3:29-31; 1Co 7:19; Col 3:11

faith : Mat 25:31-40; 2Co 5:14; 1Th 1:3; Heb 11:8, Heb 11:17-19; Jam 2:14-26; 1Pe 1:8; 1Jo 3:14-20, 1Jo 4:18-21

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Gal 5:6

Under the new testament established in Christ, and confirmed by the death of Christ, there is no difference between Jew and Gentile; there is but one way of justification, one of salvation, for them both; and that is, by believing in Christ Jesus; which faith is not an idle, inactive, inoperative faith, but such a

faith as worketh by love both towards God and towards men, in an obedience to all the commandments of God: yet is not the soul justified, nor shall it stand righteous before God, in and for this obedience, which neither is faith, nor goeth before it, but followeth it, as the true, proper, and necessary effect of it.

PBC: Gal 5:6

The righteousness of faith is not a cruel, brow-beating kind of religion, characterized by high pressure persuasion. It is gracious and loving. It responds to the love of God, not the law. It reacts out of concern for those around us, not out of a self-centered " What’s in it for me?" spirit. When Jesus told his disciples about a new commandment, he in no way violated the original ten, he summarized them and superseded their stone casting in the spirit of love. In fact he had repeatedly taught that the fulfillment of the law was contained in two Old Testament verses, one to love God with all one’s heart, and the other to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Therefore, the truth of the New Testament emphasis on love is actually a course correction back to the original intent of the ten commandments.

A law derives its power from its enforcer and the threat of punishment against violators. It operates on the basis of fear, fear of punishment, fear of failure. Love derives its power from its care for the benefit of the one loved. It " Seeketh not her own," its driving force comes from the tender, unselfish concern for the betterment of the one loved.

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Haydock: Gal 5:5-6 - We in spirit

We in spirit hope for true justice by faith in Christ; yet not by faith only, but by faith working by charity. (Witham) ---

Here note with St. Augustine, that faith is not to be idle, but working or doing good works in charity: wherefore not faith alone. (De opere et fide. chap. xiv.)

Gill: Gal 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus // neither circumcision availeth anything // nor uncircumcision // but faith which works by love

For in Christ Jesus,.... The Arabic version reads, "in the religion of Christ"; in the religion of Moses, or of the Jews under the former dispensation, the things after mentioned were of some moment and consideration; but are of no account in the Christian religion, and under the Gospel dispensation: circumcision and uncircumcision make no difference in the church of Christ, or are any bar to communion with it; nor do they make any alteration in the love and favour of Christ, who is all in all to his people, whether Jews or Gentiles; nor have they any influence at all on salvation, Christ being a common Saviour to the circumcised and uncircumcised; nor are they any evidence for or against a person's being in Christ, or having an interest in him:

neither circumcision availeth anything; not now as a command and ordinance of God, being abolished by Christ; nor as a type, having its accomplishment in him, and his people; nor as a privilege, giving any preference in any respect to the Jew above the Gentile; nor is it of any weight or consequence, or has any concern in the business of salvation:

nor uncircumcision; it is no hinderance to the enjoyment of the Gospel, to entrance into a Gospel church state, or to admission to the ordinances of it; nor to the participation of the blessings of grace, as justification, pardon, adoption, and eternal life:

but faith which works by love; faith has a concern in justification and salvation, not by way of causal influence, but as it is that grace which receives the righteousness of Christ, through which we are saved, and kept by the power of God unto salvation; yet not any sort of faith, but that which is operative, is attended with good works; and which works itself by love to God, to Christ, to his people, ways, worship, truths, and ordinances. The Syriac version renders it, דמתגמרז "which is perfected by love"; that is, is showed to be right, true, and genuine thereby; see Jam 2:22.