# Brothers, if I still proclaim circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?

Paul is describing a situation that does not exist to emphasize that people are persecuting him because he is not preaching that people need to become Jews. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Brothers, you can see that I am not still proclaiming circumcision because the Jews are persecuting me." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hypo]])

# Brothers

See how you translated this in [Galatians 1:2](../01/02.md).

# In that case the stumbling block of the cross has been removed

Paul is describing a situation that does not exist to emphasize that people persecute him because he is preaching that God forgives people because of Jesus' work on the cross. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hypo]])

# In that case

"If I were still saying that people need to become Jews"

# the stumbling block of the cross has been removed

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the cross would no longer cause people to stumble" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

# the stumbling block of the cross

The words "stumbling block" are a metaphor for something that causes people to sin. In this case, those who "stumble," or sin, are those who reject Paul's message and persecute Paul. Alternate translation: "all reason for people to persecute me for preaching about the cross" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])

# the cross

These words are a metaphor for Paul's message that because Jesus died on the cross, it is people who believe in Jesus, not those who try to obey the law of Moses, who have a right relationship to God ([Galatians 2:16](../02/16.md); [3:24](../03/24.md); [5:3-4](./03.md), [6](./06.md)). Alternate translation: "my message about the cross" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]] or [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])