King James Bible
"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."
Paul identifies those who seek outward religious appearances to gain human approval. 'In the flesh' refers to external, physical markers of religiosity rather than genuine spiritual transformation, exposing their motivation as self-serving rather than God-honoring. These false teachers pressure Gentile believers to undergo circumcision, the Jewish covenant sign. This compulsion contradicts the gospel of grace, attempting to add law-keeping as a requirement for salvation or full acceptance in the Christian community. Paul reveals their true motive: avoiding persecution from fellow Jews who opposed the scandal of a crucified Messiah. By promoting circumcision, they could appear to uphold Jewish law while nominally following Christ, thus escaping the social and physical costs of proclaiming salvation through the cross alone.