Paul is answering a charge. Barnes explains that the false teachers in Galatia "appealed to Paul himself, and alleged that he insisted on the necessity of circumcision." Paul's question exposes the claim with a simple fact: if he were preaching circumcision, his opponents would have no reason to persecute him. Barnes has Paul reason that "the fact that I am thus persecuted by them, is full demonstration" that he did not preach it. The question shows that the hostility against him was itself evidence of what he really taught.

Paul answers in the same breath: "then is the offence of the cross ceased" (Galatians 5:11). If he preached circumcision, the cross would no longer offend, and the persecution would stop. Since he is still persecuted, the charge cannot be true. He then expresses his strong wish about those who were troubling the Galatians: "I would they were even cut off which trouble you" (Galatians 5:12).

Circumcision was the sign of belonging to Israel under the law, and the teachers in Galatia were urging Gentile believers to receive it (Galatians 5:2-3; Galatians 6:12). Paul paid a price for refusing. He later writes that these teachers pressed circumcision "only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ" (Galatians 6:12). The word "offence" is skandalon, a stumbling block or snare, and "ceased" translates katargeo, to make inoperative or abolish. Barnes explains the offence: if circumcision saved, "the necessity of depending on the merits of the sacrifice made on the cross would be taken away."

The cross offends because it leaves no room for human contribution. Gill describes the offence as "the doctrine of salvation by a crucified Christ," which the Jews found a stumbling block. Paul says the same elsewhere: "we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock" (1 Corinthians 1:23). Add circumcision as a requirement, and the offence disappears, because then people could be saved, as Barnes puts it, "by conformity to the laws of Moses."

Matthew Henry observes: "If he had yielded to the Jews herein, then would the offence of the cross have ceased." Paul could have bought peace by blurring the message. He chose to keep the cross at the center and bear the cost. His suffering became part of his testimony.