Having established that the context of Galatians and the key question underlying the letter is whether or not gentiles need to become Jews before they can be full members of the people of God, it seems rather strange that is near the end of the letter when we first hear the nature of the charge. It is here for the first time that Paul talks about gentiles being pressured into being circumcised. What becomes clear in Galatians 

-12 is that even the issue of circumcision is merely part and parcel of a much broader question of how one identifies the End Time people of God. Paul will use very extreme language to make his point; yet, as distasteful as we may find it, it starts to become clear why his stance is so aggressive.

Galatians 5:13-26: Spirit - the Law of Liberty and Life

Theological and practical reflections for lay people on how Christian Scripture informs everyday life.