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.

Contrast between his zeal in their behalf () and the zeal for self on the part of the Judaizers.

Make a fair show ( ) in the flesh - in outward things.

They - it is 'these who,' etc.

Constrain you - by example () and importuning.

Only lest - `only that they may not,' etc. (cf. .)

Suffer persecution. They escaped the Jews' bitterness against Christianity, and the offence of Christ's cross, by making the Mosaic law a necessary preliminary; in fact, making Christian converts into Jewish proselytes.

For the cross - for preaching the doctrine of the cross.

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