What would Paul have had to do to have an easy role and get the Judaizers off his back?
Paul would have had to yield to the Judaizers' pressure, preach circumcision, and endorse law keeping. By adopting their message, he would have avoided opposition and persecution, gaining clear sailing. He refused, because giving in would have ended the offense of the cross and left the Church to die.
Les explains that Paul was hated and fought by the Judaizers from Jerusalem mainly because he would not give in to circumcising Gentile believers. If Paul had preached what the Judaizers preached, he would have had clear sailing, no opposition, and no persecution. All he would have had to do to have an easy role was succumb to the pressure, give in, and say, “Okay, I'll preach circumcision, I'll preach law keeping, get off my back.” God would not have been satisfied, but the world would have been, and the Church would have died a natural death while Satan gloated. But Paul never backed off and never gave in to the Judaizers. As seen in Galatians chapter 2, he stood his ground so the truth of the Gospel might continue with the Gentiles. He suffered persecution every day of his life, and later it came under the heavy hand of the Roman government.
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
More Questions
Why did the Judaizers hate and persecute Paul so fiercely?
The Judaizers' main reason for hating and fighting Paul was that he refused to give in and circumcise the Gentile believers.
What would have happened if Paul had preached circumcision like the Judaizers?
If Paul had preached what the Judaizers from Jerusalem preached, he would have had clear sailing, with no opposition and no persecution.