Galatians 4:12-20
Summary for Gal 4:12-20: 4:12-20 a Turning aside from scriptural arguments, Paul appeals personally to the Galatians by reminding them of their close relationship with him. 4:12 b live as I do: Paul, the scrupulous Jew, abandoned his own efforts at righteousness and received the free grace of God in Christ. Now he calls these Gentiles to adopt his position rather than take on the practices he had abandoned. Paul’s exhortations throughout the rest of the letter (4:12–6:10 c) grow out of this single command.• You did not mistreat me: Likewise, the Galatians should not mistreat Paul now but should continue in their warm acceptance of his ministry and message.
Summary for Gal 4:13-14: 4:13-14 d I was sick: Paul might have had a chronic physical ailment, but it is not certain what it was (cp. 2 Cor 12:7 e). Paul’s condition was serious and apparently caused difficulty or even offense to the new church in Galatia. Physical trouble was often regarded by both Jews and Gentiles as a sign of God’s judgment (cp. John 9:1-2 f; Acts 28:4 g). The Galatians saw past Paul’s outward condition and received him as God’s messenger (literally angel; Greek angelos).
• or even Christ Jesus himself: Cp. Luke 10:16 h.
4:15 i The Galatians had been joyful and grateful in response to Paul’s preaching of the Good News.
• your own eyes: Some conclude from this phrase that Paul’s eyes were diseased, but Paul might have been using eyes as a word-picture of a precious asset (cp. Deut 32:10 j; Ps 17:8 k; Matt 18:9 l). In their gratitude to Paul for the message of good news, the Galatians would have ... given him their most valuable possession.
4:16 m The contrast couldn’t be greater between the Galatians’ acceptance of Paul and his message at the beginning of their Christian life, and their current suspicion or even rejection of him.
4:17 n are so eager: The Greek word can have the positive meaning of zeal and eagerness or the negative meaning of jealousy and envy. The same word is also translated will pay attention and “is eager” (4:18 o).
• They are trying to shut you off from me: Perhaps the Judaizers were so eager because they envied the Galatians’ devotion to Paul and wanted it for themselves (cp. 2 Corinthians; see also Luke 11:46-52 p). Another possibility is that the Judaizers wanted the Galatians to become dependent on them as interpreters of the law.
4:18 q Paul’s statement might mean that it was fine for people to seek the Galatians’ loyalty, but those other teachers were not in fact eager to do good things for them. Alternatively, this verse could be translated It is good to be always sought eagerly for good things, and not just when I’m with you. In this case it would mean that it was good for the Galatians to continue eagerly embracing Paul and his message and not change their attitude toward him in his absence.
4:19 r The Galatians were Paul’s spiritual children (cp. 1 Cor 4:14-15 s; Phlm 1:10 t). The process of bringing them to Christ had been like going through labor pains, a hard labor with a definite and joyful conclusion. Now Paul felt that it wasn’t finished after all.
• until Christ is fully developed in your lives: Paul uses wordplay, switching the metaphor so that the Galatians would give birth to Christ’s image if they continued in the faith that Paul delivered to them. However, if they took up the law, they would produce a stillbirth. Paul must continue his hard work as a midwife in order to prevent this from happening.
4:20 u Had Paul been personally present, he would have been able to “read” his hearers and thus shape his appeal to their exact spiritual and emotional condition. From afar, he wasn’t sure if the tone he was using would be effective.
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