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Galatians 4:21-31
HAGAR AND SARAH - Aug 28, 2024 -
Galatians 4:1-7
NO LONGER A SLAVE, BUT GOD’S CHILD - Aug 26, 2024 -
Galatians 4:21-31
WE ARE CHILDREN OF THE FREE WOMAN - Jul 28, 2020 -
Galatians 4:8-20
PAUL'S CONCERN FOR THE GALATIANS - Jul 27, 2020 -
Galatians 4:1-7
WE ARE NOT A SLAVE, BUT GOD'S CHILD! - Jul 26, 2020 -
Galatians 4:21-31
AN ANALOGY FROM HAGAR AND SARAH - Jun 27, 2016 -
Galatians 4:8-20
PAUL'S PLEA TO THE GALATIANS - Jun 26, 2016 -
Galatians 4:1-7
THE SPIRIT WHO CALLS OUT, 'ABBA, FATHER.' - Jun 25, 2016 -
Galatians 4:1-7
GOD SENT HIS SON - Jan 01, 2000 -
Galatians 4:8-20
UNTIL CHRIST IS FORMED IN YOU - Jan 01, 2000 -
Galatians 4:21-31
HAGAR AND SARAH - Jan 01, 2000
PAUL’S CONCERN FOR THE GALATIANS
Key verse: 19
NIV
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you did not know God,(A) you were slaves(B) to those who by nature are not gods.(C) 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God(D)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[a]? Do you wish to be enslaved(E) by them all over again?(F) 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!(G) 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.(H)
12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters,(I) become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness(J) that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.(K) 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?(L)
17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.(M) 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.(N) 19 My dear children,(O) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,(P) 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Footnotes
- Galatians 4:9 Or principles
Cross references
- Galatians 4:8 : Ro 1:28; 1Co 1:21; 15:34; 1Th 4:5; 2Th 1:8
- Galatians 4:8 : S ver 3
- Galatians 4:8 : 2Ch 13:9; Isa 37:19; Jer 2:11; 5:7; 16:20; 1Co 8:4, 5
- Galatians 4:9 : 1Co 8:3
- Galatians 4:9 : S ver 3
- Galatians 4:9 : Col 2:20
- Galatians 4:10 : Ro 14:5; Col 2:16
- Galatians 4:11 : 1Th 3:5
- Galatians 4:12 : S Ro 7:1; Gal 6:18
- Galatians 4:13 : 1Co 2:3
- Galatians 4:14 : Mt 10:40
- Galatians 4:16 : Am 5:10
- Galatians 4:17 : Gal 2:4, 12
- Galatians 4:18 : ver 13, 14
- Galatians 4:19 : S 1Th 2:11
- Galatians 4:19 : Ro 8:29; Eph 4:13
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you (A)did not know God, you (B)were enslaved to those that by nature (C)are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather (D)to be known by God, (E)how can you turn back again to (F)the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 (G)You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid (H)I may have labored over you in vain.
12 Brothers,[a] (I)I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. (J)You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was (K)because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you (L)at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me (M)as an angel of God, (N)as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by (O)telling you the truth?[b] 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and (P)not only when I am present with you, 19 (Q)my little children, (R)for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ (S)is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Galatians 4:12 Or Brothers and sisters; also verses 28, 31
- Galatians 4:16 Or by dealing truthfully with you
Cross references
- Galatians 4:8 : 1 Cor. 1:21; 1 Thess. 4:5; 2 Thess. 1:8; 1 John 4:8
- Galatians 4:8 : [Eph. 2:11, 12; 1 Thess. 1:9]
- Galatians 4:8 : 2 Chr. 13:9; Isa. 37:19; Jer. 2:11; 5:7; 16:20; [1 Cor. 8:4]
- Galatians 4:9 : See 1 Cor. 8:3
- Galatians 4:9 : [ch. 3:3]
- Galatians 4:9 : Rom. 8:3; Heb. 7:18
- Galatians 4:10 : Rom. 14:5; Col. 2:16
- Galatians 4:11 : ch. 2:2; 5:2, 4; 1 Thess. 3:5
- Galatians 4:12 : [2 Cor. 6:13]
- Galatians 4:12 : [2 Cor. 2:5]
- Galatians 4:13 : See 1 Cor. 2:3
- Galatians 4:13 : [ch. 1:6]
- Galatians 4:14 : 1 Sam. 29:9; [Mal. 2:7 (Gk.); 2 Cor. 5:20]
- Galatians 4:14 : See Matt. 10:40
- Galatians 4:16 : See ch. 2:5
- Galatians 4:18 : [ver. 13]
- Galatians 4:19 : [1 Cor. 4:15; Philem. 10]
- Galatians 4:19 : [James 1:18]
- Galatians 4:19 : Rom. 8:10
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Paul was like a father to the Galatians and cared for them deeply. He pleaded with them not to return to their former practices of trying to earn their righteousness through the law. Even though the Galatians knew God and were known by Him, they were returning to the very lives of bondage.
Those who tried to persuade the Galatians were zealous to win them over, not to God, but to themselves. Even as believers, we also must be careful that our faith is built on Christ alone and nothing else (1 Cor 16:13). Our own efforts cannot save us, but it is only the finished work of the cross that saves. Paul was in pain, like a mother in childbearing, out of his deep concern for the Galatians. May we be prayerful for the church to be on guard against false teachers and rooted in the true life and freedom we have in Jesus.
Prayer: Father, help me to be on guard and watchful in my walk with you. Thank you for your work for us on the cross. May my zeal be for you alone!
One Word: Be zealous for the good and on guard