Matthew Poole and continuators on Galatians 6:12

12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh , they constrain you to be circumcised : only lest they should, suffer persecution for the cross of Christ .

The Apostle here reflecteth upon those false Teachers, who had perverted this Church, and discovereth their hypocrisie under all their pretences of good will to them. These are those who (he saith) desired to make a fair shew in the Flesh; that is, to make a fair shew to the world as men very devout (which Formalists and persons over-zealous for Rituals ordinarily do.)

These would constrain, were very urgent to perswade these Beleivers to be circumcised, not out of any Love they had to the Law of God, or to the souls of these Galatians.

But onely to avoid Persecution; for as the Jews were more favourable to such Christians, who together with the Doctrine of Christ observed also their Rites, and Legal Ceremonies: so we are told by some of the Ancients, that some of the Roman Emperors by their Edicts gave liberty to the Jews in the Provinces subject to them, to use their own Religious Rites, now all who were circumcised went under that notion, so had more liberty then those who were not circumcised, who were persecuted both by the Jewish and the Heathen Magistrates. The Apostle saith, that these false Teachers, who so zealously urged circumcision upon this Gentile Church, did it for no other end but for the avoiding the danger of Persecution; which they saw would follow their standing fast in their Gospel liberty, and not bringing themselves under the Law: which Persecution he tacitely hinteth ought not to be so industriously shunned and avoided, because it was for Christs sake, who had indured the cross for them.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 3.13.