Gal 4:14-15 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 14. And my temptations . My trial ; the thing which was to me a trial and calamity. The meaning is, that he was afflicted with various calamities and infirmities, but that this did not hinder their receiving him as an angel from heaven. There is, however, a considerable variety in the Mss. on this verse. Many Mss., instead of " my temptation" read " your temptation;" and Mill maintains that this is the true reading. Griesbach hesitates between the two. But it is not very important to determine which is the true reading. If it should be " your ," then it means that they were tempted by his infirmities to reject him; and so it amounts to about the same thing. The general sense is, that he had some bodily infirmity; perhaps some periodically returning disease, that was a great trial to him, which they bore with, with great patience and affection. What that was he has not informed us, and conjecture is vain. But received me as an angel of God . With the utmost respect, as if I had been an angel sent from God. Even as Christ Jesus . As you would have done the Redeemer himself. Learn hence, (1.) that the Lord Jesus is superior to an angel of God. (2.) That the highest proof of attachment to a minister is to receive him as the Saviour would be received. (3.) It showed their attachment to the Lord Jesus, that they received his apostle as they would have received the Saviour himself. Comp. . (b) "an angel of God" (c) "Christ Jesus"

Galatians 4:14-15

Verse 14. And my temptations. My trial; the thing which was to me a trial and calamity. The meaning is, that he was afflicted with various calamities and infirmities, but that this did not hinder their receiving him as an angel from heaven. There is, however, a considerable variety in the Mss. on this verse. Many Mss., instead of "my temptation" read "your temptation;" and Mill maintains that this is the true reading. Griesbach hesitates between the two. But it is not very important to determine which is the true reading. If it should be "your," then it means that they were tempted by his infirmities to reject him; and so it amounts to about the same thing. The general sense is, that he had some bodily infirmity; perhaps some periodically returning disease, that was a great trial to him, which they bore with, with great patience and affection. What that was he has not informed us, and conjecture is vain.

But received me as an angel of God. With the utmost respect, as if I had been an angel sent from God.

Even as Christ Jesus. As you would have done the Redeemer himself. Learn hence,

(1.) that the Lord Jesus is superior to an angel of God.

(2.) That the highest proof of attachment to a minister is to receive him as the Saviour would be received.

(3.) It showed their attachment to the Lord Jesus, that they received his apostle as they would have received the Saviour himself. Comp. Mt 10:40.

(b) "an angel of God" 2Sam 19:27, Mal 2:7 (c) "Christ Jesus" Mt 10:40 Verse 15. Where is then the blessedness. Margin, "What was"--in accordance with the Greek. The words "ye spake of" are not in the Greek, and should have been printed in Italic. But they obscure the sense, at any rate. This is not to be regarded as a question, asking what had become of the blessedness, implying that it had departed; but it is rather to be regarded as an exclamation, referring to the happiness of that moment, and their affection and joy when they thus received him. "What blessedness you had then! How happy was that moment! What tenderness of affection! What overflowing joy!" It was a time full of joy, and love, and affectionate confidence. So Tindal well renders it, "How happy were ye then!" In this interpretation, Doddridge, Rosenmuller, Bloomfield, Koppe, Chandler, and others concur. Locke renders it, "What benedictions did you then pour out on me!"

For I bear you record. I testify.

Ye would have plucked out your own eyes, etc. No higher proof of attachment could have been given. They loved him so much that they would have given to him anything, however dear; they would have done anything to contribute to his welfare, How changed, now that they had abandoned his doctrines, and yielded themselves to the guidance of those who taught a wholly different doctrine!