The Marks of Jesus

QUESTION:

In Galatians 6:17 it says, “Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”

What does that verse mean?

ANSWER:

There are two ways to interpret that verse depending on your Christian background:

For Protestants, we see him describing the marks on his body because of the beatings, shipwrecks, etc that he has gone through. All of that was for the Gospel and because of Jesus and so it is the “marks of Jesus” on his body because of his apostleship (because of Jesus). 2 Corinthians 4:10 uses the same language and speaks of the same thing.

For Roman Catholics, they may or may not agree with the above interpretation, but some of them may see in what Paul says that he experienced the “Stigmata” which are the “marks of Jesus” on believers in that they have a wound in their side and marks on their hands and on their feet and sometimes forehead. There is no basis for this in Scripture anywhere. St Francis of Assisi was the first one to claim he had the stigmata if I remember correctly.

So in interpreting the verse, yes, Paul is talking about being beaten in prison and being stoned and that the Galatians should not question his authority as an Apostle because “he has the bruises to show he is an apostle."

Troy Borst

Christian Education Minister

If you have a question about Scripture, please email me at troy.borst@newbeginningscctampa.org