Gal 4:19-20 | TNotes | STEP | 4:19 The Galatians were Paul’s spiritual children (cp. 1 Cor 4:14-15 ; Phlm 1:10 ). 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.

b1 Cor 4:14-15►

cPhlm 1:10►

‏ Galatians 4:19-20

4:19 ^a The Galatians were Paul’s spiritual children (cp. 1 Cor 4:14-15 ^b; Phlm 1:10 ^c). 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 ^d 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.