Matthew Poole and continuators on Galatians 5:11

11 And I brethren, if I yet preach circumcision , why do I yet suffer persecution ? then is the offence of the cross ceased .

It should seem by what the Apostle saith in this verse, that some of these false Teachers had quoted the Apostle for them, as if he himself had preached circumcision; possibly taking advantage from his circumcising Timothy, not distinguishing betwixt what was done by Paul as of liberty, and to avoid the offence of the Jews, and what they pressed as necessary to be done, (besides believing in Christ) for Justification, Now (saith the Apostle) if I yet preach up circumcision as necessary to be observed,

Why am I then persecuted by the Jews, as one apostatized from their Religion?

By the cross, he either means the cross of Christ; then the sence is, it is my opposing the observance of their law, that more offendeth them than my preaching of Christ crucified. Or else, he meaneth, the a[illegible: 2 letters]lictions which he suffered for the sake of Christ and the Gospel; (in which sense the term is used, Matth. 16.24. Luk. 9.23. and 14.27.) Then the sense is, that all sufferings for the owning and preaching of Christ are at end; let us but yield the Jews that point (that Christians are obliged to the observance of the law of Moses,) the great quarrel between them and us is at end; but their dayly persecuting of me is a sufficient demonstration that I do not preach up circumcision.

Marginal references: 1 Cor. 1.23▪