Galatians Journal: Chapter 4, Verses 19 & 20

Galatians 4: 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Two verses for the price of one today!

“My dear children” Paul often expressed his affection for the converts he ministered to and with, see, e.g., Philippians 4:1. But Paul’s style and language was always tasteful and artful, and his grammar and usage was always mature, even complex. When I was in college, I had a roommate who was preparing for seminary and was studying Greek. He explained that Paul’s Greek was of the highest order, with a mature style indicative of an extremely intelligent, highly educated man. On the other hand, there was the Greek style of John the Apostle, which was simple, rough, and almost child like. (This is why beginning Greek students studying the Bible read from John’s letters, and gradually work up to the writings of Paul). Its sort of like comparing a PhD in English with Dr. Suess. Well, that's not fair -- John's writing isn't childish, just a lot plainer and simpler. More "blue collar," if you will. But here, Paul is reverting to that simpler style, a more emotional style. “My dear children” is never used anywhere else in Paul’s letters, yet, it’s the type of phrase (i.e. “my little children;” “my dear ones” etc.) that John uses over and over and over. Paul’s emotions here have reached the boiling over point. The man who had studied at the feet of the great rabbi Gamaliel, who has shown the Galatians a razor sharp wit and intellect and the most clever, inspired arguments based on the law and on Jewish, Greek, and Roman culture has here, briefly, been left speechless. Instead, he appeals to intimacy, relationship, and the depth of friendship. A lover might exclaim “my darling,” or a parent resort to a pet name or nickname for the intimacy of the home. Paul is doing the same thing. It seems out of character for him, and for this letter, but not when you consider the depth of emotion and commitment Paul really had (see, e.g. Acts 20: 36-38).

“for whom again I am in the pains of childbirth” In ancient Roman tradition, a father’s authority over his children was absolute. A father was an autocrat within his own home. In Jewish tradition, a great teacher was viewed as a spiritual “father.” In many ways, Paul has been appealing to his spiritual authority as a “father” over the Galatians, but here, he is especially appealing to the intimacy and affection of parenthood. The ancient cultures that blended together in the Galatian churches all applied this image of affection to a father, and here, Paul also takes up the image of a mother’s role. Labor pain has always been regarded as the severest pain a human can experience. It was common for mothers to die in childbirth in Paul’s day. Paul is painting an image of his own love and sacrifice that is extremely graphic. AND extremely sad, for the apostasy of the Galatians means Paul’s labor pains result in a “still birth.”

“until Christ is formed in you.” This was the goal of Paul’s ministry. It’s the reason he went through all this pain and anguish!

In verse 20, the exasperation reaches its peak. One way to paraphrase verse 20 is “I’m at a loss as to what to say.” The whole situation has pushed Paul over the edge emotionally – again, something we don’t see too often in his letters. Paul longs to be with them. Indeed, it seems it was easier for Paul to rebuke his flock from afar, in a letter, than to so stern face to face (see 2 Corinthians 10: 10-11) . Paul was really quite sensitive about this sort of thing. The old parental adage, “this will hurt me more than it hurts you” was very real to Paul. (See 2 Corinthians 2:4). He simply wanted the best for them, and wants to gently lead them back to the person of Jesus. Yet, his anguish is real – he is truly “perplexed about [them]!" – with an exclamation point!