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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gal_4:12-20
12I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; 14and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. 15Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you. 19My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—20but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Gal_4:12 "I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are" This verb is a Present middle (deponent) imperative. This verse has been variously interpreted.
1. The Williams translation reads "take my point of view," Paul asked them to accept his view of justification by faith because he once had accepted their current tendency of justification by works (Judaism).
2. Some say that "for I also have become as you are" is an allusion to 1Co_9:19-23, where Paul asserted that he became all things to all men in order that he might win some. When he was with Jews, he lived like the Jews. When he was with Gentiles, he lived like the Gentiles. Yet in truth he had abandoned the Law as a way of salvation. He was flexible on the method, but not on the message.
"Brothers" indicates Paul's transition to a new topic. Also, calling them "brothers" lessened the blow of his hard hitting criticisms (cf. Gal_4:19; Gal_1:11; Gal_3:15).
▣ "You have done me no wrong" Some think this phrase expresses a negative statement implying "in the past you did me no harm but now you do." But others read it as a positive expression of his appreciation of the Galatian churches' original acceptance of him and his message. This phrase should be read with Gal_4:13-15.
Gal_4:13 "it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time" The mention of a "first time" implies a second time before the letter was written. However, the phrase may idiomatically mean "formally" as in 1Ti_1:13. Paul went to the churches of Galatia
1. for a time of recuperation from some illness
2. because of an illness he had to stop and stay a while
Because of (1) Gal_4:14-15; (2) in tandem with Gal_6:11; and (3) 2Co_12:1-10, I personally believe Paul is alluding to his "thorn in the flesh," a physical ailment. With the combination of these verses it seems to me that it was some type of eye problem which possibly began with his Damascus Road experience (cf. Acts 9) and was made worse by the diseases of the first century. Paul's partial blindness may have been caused by the repulsive eye disorder, ophthalmia.
For "illness" (lit. "weakness of the flesh") see Special Topic at Gal_1:16.
Gal_4:14
NASB "and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe"
NKJV "And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject"
NRSV "though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me"
TEV "But you did not despise or reject me, even though my physical condition was a great trial to you"
NJB "you never showed the least sign of being revolted or disgusted by my disease that was such a trial to you"
Many Jews and Gentiles would have seen Paul's illness as a judgment from God. The fact that Paul was in God's will, and sick, forces us to rethink the link between sin and sickness (cf. John 9; Job and Psalms 73).
These two verbs invoke strong images. The first means "to count as good for nothing." The second means "to spit out." The use of the second verb is the reason that some relate Paul's illness to the superstition in the Ancient Near East about "the evil eye" (cf. Gal_3:1). The magical remedy was "to spit" and thereby protect yourself from its spell, possibly referring to (1) an unusual-looking eye or (2) a wild-eyed look (epilepsy).
▣ "you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself" A strong statement, Paul implied that they genuinely received the message of God through him, accompanied with great respect for the servant who brought it. The NJB translates the phrase as "messenger of God." The word for "angel" in Hebrew and Greek also means "messenger."
Gal_4:15
NASB "Where then is that sense of blessing you had"
NKJV "What then was the blessing you enjoyed"
NRSV "What has become of the goodwill you felt"
TEV "You were so happy! What has happened"
NJB "What has become of this enthusiasm you had"
In this rhetorical question, Paul wants to know where the original, positive feelings the Galatians held for him has gone. The Phillips translation reads, "What has happened to that fine spirit of yours?"
▣ "that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me" This second class conditional sentence should be understood as, "If you had plucked out your eyes which you did not, you would have given them to me which you did not." This reading supports the theory that Paul's thorn in the flesh (cf. 2 Corinthians 12) was eye disease.
Gal_4:16 "So have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth" Paul contrasted their radical change of heart toward him with their change of heart toward the gospel.
Gal_4:17-18 Two difficulties arise in interpreting Gal_4:17-18 : (1) the meaning of the phrase "eagerly seek" and (2) the ambiguity of the subject in Gal_4:18. Does it refer to (1) Paul or (2) the churches of Galatia? With this kind of ambiguity, a dogmatic interpretation is inappropriate but the general sense of the passage is not affected. The Judaizers wanted the Galatians to follow them exclusively and appreciate them the way they previously had Paul.
Gal_4:17
NASB "They eagerly seek you"
NKJV "They zealously court you"
NRSV "They make much of you"
TEV "Those other people show a deep concern for you"
NJB "The blame lies in the way they have tried to win you over"
Literally, this reads "they are zealous of you." This must be a reference to the false teachers, especially in context with the next phrase, "but not sincerely." "Zealous," from the root "to burn," had two connotations in Koine Greek: (1) the affection of young lovers and (2) envy of another. These strong emotions characterized the activity of the sweet-talking false teachers toward the Galatian churches, but their activity derived from selfish motivation.
NASB "but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them"
NKJV "they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them"
NRSV "they want to exclude you, so that you may make much of them"
TEV "All they want is to separate you from me, so that you will have the same concern for them as they have or you"
NJB "by separating you from me, they want to win you over to themselves"
The false teachers were jealous of the affection that the Galatian churches had shown Paul (cf. Gal_4:13-15). They wanted to alienate Paul so they could take his place! This may explain Gal_4:18.
Gal_4:18 Paul was shocked that those who had been so kind and caring toward him had so dramatically become hostile (cf. Gal_4:16). In the context of Gal_4:13-20, this interpretation fits best.
Gal_4:19 "My children, with whom I am again in labor" Paul often used familial metaphors because of their warm and caring connotation. He called himself a father in 1Co_4:15 and 1Th_2:11 and here, a mother (cf. 1Th_2:7). Paul may have been making the point that he was the true spiritual parent of the Galatians, not the Judaizers.
▣ "until Christ is formed in you" "Formed" [Greek root morphç] was used in a medical sense for fetal development. Morphç could refer to the abiding character of something. This text refers to their maturity in Christ (cf. Eph_4:13), or in other words, their Christlikeness (cf. Rom_8:28-29; 2Co_3:18; 2Co_7:1; Gal_4:19; Eph_1:4; Eph_4:13; 1Th_3:13; 1Th_4:3; 1Th_4:7; 1Th_5:23; 1Pe_1:15). This does not necessarily mean two different experiences of the Christian life—salvation and maturity—and yet we all know that maturity is a developmental experience.
Paul showed that his motives in teaching and preaching to the Galatian churches were totally different from those of the self-seeking false teachers.
Gal_4:20 "but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone" Paul wished they could sense the paternal care he felt for them. His heart was on fire for them, though the printed page seemed cold and harsh.
NASB, NRSV "for I am perplexed about you"
NKJV "for I have doubts about you"
TEV "I am so worried about you"
NJB "I have no idea what to do for the best"
The Greek word for "way" with the alpha privative may be translated in at least two ways.
1. the Living Bible reads "I frankly don't know what to do"
2. the Phillips translation reads "I honestly don't know how to deal with you"
These different idiomatic translations express the frustration of Paul in his dealings with these Galatian churches.