Galatians 5:11

A frequent misinterpretation portrays Paul as suggesting the offense of the cross has already ceased, inverting his rhetorical question that uses persecution to affirm its ongoing scandal to legalists; another error detaches the verse from its Galatian context of combating Judaizers who imposed circumcision, leading some to apply it superficially to modern cultural offenses rather than the core gospel tension between grace and law-keeping.

Paul defends the purity of his gospel message by pointing to his continued persecution as evidence that he has not reverted to preaching circumcision, which would appease Judaizers and remove the scandal of the cross; this offense arises because the cross proclaims justification by faith in Christ's atoning death alone, without the works of the Mosaic law, challenging any legalistic requirements for salvation and upholding Christian liberty.