Galatians Journal: Chapter 4, Verse 17

Galatians 4:17 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 be zealous for them.

“Those people” Obviously the Judiazers. Interesting. Paul seems almost over-polite here – reminiscent of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, who always acted the part of the “southern gentleman,” and could never refer to his enemies by name, but yet would not stoop to name calling either (like “blue bellies” or “Yankees”). He always referred to the Union army as “those people.”

“are zealous to win you over.” Paul’s use of the term “zealous” will be played out in the next verse as well. In this context, it would indicate the Judiazers were telling the Galatians what they wanted to hear – and spreading lies, too, in order to win or even steal their affections, to “alienate” them from Paul, and have the Galatians be “zealous” for their cause. Paul, however, has been brutally honest with his “children.” Throughout this letter, Paul has been laying into the Galatians, not only presenting arguments to convince them why the path they have chosen is wrong, but often scolding them, and, in fact, telling them that they’re being stupid (see Galatians 3:1, for example). Paul really cares. This particular section shows the deep relationship he had established with them. The Galatians were throwing away the proven commodity of their "spiritual father" and mentor for the quick fix promises of men who were actually spiritual enemies!

The tragedy here is twofold. First, Proverbs 27:6 says that “wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” The churches were missing out on their best chance to get themselves back on course – the loving correction of a friend who was closer than a brother.

But even more tragic, they were allowing the flattery of the Judiazers, who were saying what the Galatians wanted to hear, to destroy the life giving RELATIONSHIP they had with Paul, the person-to-person connection God had established for them. This is akin to a divorce where the young wife has been swept off her feet by the excitement and enticement of an illicit affair, but is justifying it as something God-ordained. The following verses reveal just how heartbroken, angry and emotionally troubled Paul really is over the loss of this deep relationship with the Galatians.