For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Parallel translations
- WEB For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
- BSB For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.
- NKJV For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
- NASB For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
- NLT For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
In Christ, circumcision or its absence counts for nothing; what matters is faith working through love. Genuine saving faith expresses itself in love.
Overview
Paul cuts to the essence: external ritual is irrelevant to one's standing before God. What counts is faith, and true faith is never idle but active, working itself out in love. This verse beautifully unites justification by faith with the necessary fruit of love, guarding the gospel from both legalism and dead, loveless profession.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Gal 6:15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
- 1 Cor 7:19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
- 1 Th 1:3Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
- Jas 2:14–26What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
- Matt 25:31–40When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
- Gal 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Jn 3:14–20We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
- 1 Pet 1:8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
- 2 Cor 5:14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
- 1 Jn 4:18–21There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
- Col 3:11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
- Gal 5:2–3Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
- Rom 2:25–29For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
- Heb 11:8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
- Heb 11:17–19By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
- Rom 3:29–31Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
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Christ at the center
Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law's curse, that we might receive the Spirit and be sons — justified by faith in him, not by works.
How Galatians 5:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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