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.

Galatians Journal: Chapter 4, Verse 16

Galatians 4:16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Looking at this verse by itself, the old adage of “the truth hurts” comes to mind. Obviously, the result of telling the truth, particularly when the listener is not open to hear the truth, can result in the loss of a friend. But in the context of the rest of this passage, the irony drips from Paul’s words – but not in bitterness. Here is a deep, deep sadness. The same people who in the previous verse were willing to give up their most precious commodity for Paul’s sake now dismiss him as an enemy. Indeed, how sad! A relationship grounded in Christ, forged in the trials of persecution and debilitating illness, developed over a relationship shared together in good times and bad is now lost. I get the sense that the churches of Galatia (not just a “church,” but plural, see my commentary on Galatians 1:2) were authentic Christian communities, that is, places where people really stood by each other, and really laid down their lives for each other in the spirit of Christian brotherhood. Indeed, not too very much different than my own home church. But the bald statement of this verse is the natural product of both legalism and racism. The result in both instances is the same. People who had been closer than brothers, who had been through the toughest, leanest times together – not unlike comrades who fought in war together – and the man who “saved their lives,” who introduced them to Christ, who was a spiritual father to them, a man who had lived with them as family, helped build their church community – He is now regarded as an infidel, as one who is “unclean,” or worse yet, a traitor! If we rely on rules or ethnic/racial or other cultural concepts to define who we are in Christ, this is the ultimate result – the rupturing of RELATIONSHIP – the one essential concept of Christianity that separates it from all other world religions. And while the Judiazers formed a community of sorts, it was founded on the wrong principles. In Christianity, our relationship with God is based on relating to the Lord as a person – that is, his personality; who he REALLY is. Our relationships with one another are based on the same things because of who the Lord is, and what he is in our lives. But, just like Paul here in verse 16, when we bring these concept to a church community (or any community) that would rather define itself by what we do, or what race we are, or what our cultural mores are, we will ultimately be rejected, just like Paul. Imagine – the most important, foundational truth of Christianity – REJECTED! But even sadder is the essence of Christianity – the concept of a living relationship with the one true God, and then through him, a living relationship with each other as a community of believers – dies a bitter death. This is the fruit of both a rules oriented environment, or one where culture is the overriding factor.

Galatians Journal: Chapter 4, Verse 15

Galatians 4: 15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

“What has happened to all your joy” The restraints and burdens of a legalistic worldview/lifestyle are a drudgery. There is no freedom. There is constant pressure, day to day, minute by minute, as one has to prove himself worthy of God. Life is one endless struggle “to obey.” It is not unlike the oppression of being under the rule of a totalitarian dictator – fear becomes our motivation, not love. The concept we’ve been emphasizing over and over again in this letter – that of a living RELATIONSHIP – is non existent. There is no living relationship – just rules that can’t possibly be obeyed, no matter how hard we try! (see Galatians 3: 10-14). And the real tragedy here is that the Galatians once had the “joy” – they had the freedom that only comes through Christ, they had a viable relationship with God – but had thrown it all away. Sadly, this also seems to include throwing away their relationship with Paul. How ironic! The legalistic approach to God not only robs us of joy, is not only a drudgery – it isolates us from God and the proper, healthy relationships we need. I think this is because the ultimate focus of legalism is on ourselves, rather than on God. Further, when we also factor in the concept that the Judiazing heresy had its roots in ethnic prejudice -- i.e. being Jewish was "better" then being Greek – we know that using such a philosophy and belief as the foundation for living cannot result in anything but hatefulness and bitterness. The “joy” is indeed gone – nonexistent.

“I can testify that” Paul is using legal terminology again, as he did throughout chapters 3 & 4. This emphasizes not only the truth of Paul’s message, but the sincerity in his argument.

“You would have torn out your eyes to and given them to me” Many interpreters of this passage see this statement as indicative of the kind of “illness” Paul is suffering from in this section of the letter. Was his “illness” some sort of oozing eye sore, or cataracts, or some other issue relating to his eyes? Considering Paul’s activity in the book of Acts, this scenario seems unlikely. While Paul complains in another part of scripture of a “thorn” in his flesh, his ability to write and communicate was not an issue (although Galatians 6:11 might be an indication that Paul’s vision was suffering!) But this sort of language was common in the ancient Greek world. Its hyperbole. In Greek culture, friendship was always associated with the concept of sacrifice (I suppose that’s really true in ALL cultures). This is a dramatic phrase indicating that the Galatians had been willing to give up that which was most precious to them for Paul’s benefit. Paul is simply reaffirming the deep bond he once had with the Galatians, and how this relationship, this deep love, was reciprocal. It’s like saying they would “go the extra mile” or would “cut off their right arm,” etc. (As a side note, the Greek word that is translated here as “torn out” is used in Mark 2:4 to describe the process that was used to tear open the roof of the house Jesus was in to lower the paralytic man in so Jesus could heal him. A rather graphic description! It is also indicative of the sincere dedication of one brother in Christ helping another).

Galatians Journal: Chapter 4, Verse 14

Galatians 4:14 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.

Paul continues in his more personal, heartfelt testimony regarding his past relations with the Galatians.

"Even though my illness was a trial to you” Obviously, whatever Paul’s infirmity had been, it was serious enough to be a burden, or at least a grave concern. But Paul is impliedly complimentary—even grateful to the Galatians because they did not treat him “with contempt or scorn” because of his illness. It was quite common in the ancient world to view physical illness as a curse or punishment by God (or “the Gods” if one was a pagan). Even Jewish tradition often viewed sickness as divine retribution. But the Galatians obviously received Paul, illness and all, with a welcome heart. He was received as an “angel of God.” The original Greek world for “angel” here was also commonly used to identify human as well as supernatural messengers – “angel” literally means messenger. And in ancient times, a messenger was received as the representative of their sender. For example, a messenger bringing a letter from the King would traditionally be given a "kings welcome."

Here Paul is received as God’s angel – God’s messenger. This is interesting, considering how Paul entered the city of Lystra, one of the chief cities of Galatia, as told in Acts 14: 8-13. After healing a man who could not walk, Paul and Barnabas were hailed as the Greek Gods Zeus and Hermes in the flesh. Indeed, Paul was hailed as Hermes, the messenger of the Gods! Of course, Paul makes it clear that the Galatians, at least once they received Christ, welcomed Paul not as a Greek God, but as if he were a messenger of Jesus.

As an aside, Acts 14 may give us a clue as to the nature of Paul’s illness. In Acts 14:19, amid the tumult of the confusion over this whole “Greek God” episode, some of the Jews in the area “won the crowd over,” and Paul was stoned, dragged outside the city, and left for dead. The healing process from such an ordeal would have taken a long time, and Acts 14:21 (and so on) outlines a journey back through the Galatian cities Paul had just traveled through, building up the churches. This would have necessarily taken a lot of time – perhaps years even – and Paul, in his injured, frail, recovering state, would have had the opportunity to establish deep ties with the Galatians.

But in relating and reminiscing about how Paul and the Galatians established their ministry together, there is a sad undertone. “You welcomed me” – yes, at the time Paul first came to Galatia, the new Christians there did not view his physical problems as God’s judgment, but took care of him joyfully (see the next verse regarding the concept of “joy”) and “welcomed” him as Christ’s true representative. BUT – the implication now is the “welcome” is strongly in the past tense. Something has changed. The influence of the Judiazers has caused a change in attitude. Paul no longer feels “welcomed.” In verse 16, he sees himself as he perceives the Galatians are seeing him, as an enemy. Paul is obviously deeply saddened by all this. The importance of RELATIONSHIP – here, a lateral one, between fellow believers in Christ – is vitally important to the Kingdom concept, and comes shining through.

Galatians Journal: Chapter 4, Verse 13

Galatians 4:13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.

The “illness” Paul mentions here is never specifically identified. On the basis of Galatians 4:15, and later on in 6:11 (where Paul identifies the handwriting on the letter as his own, in such large letters) many scripture scholars believe that this was some sort of problem with his eyes, or that Paul struggled with poor vision. Some scholars suggest something more serious, such as malaria or epilepsy. There is no mention of illness in the Acts 13 & 14 account, so we can only speculate as to what this means. The literal Greek word here for “illness” or “infirmity” (as the KJV translates it) could mean a physical ailment, or it could mean wounds, impliedly the result of physical persecution. Whatever it was, it was obviously serious enough to cause Paul to stay over in the Galatians’ region for some time in order to recuperate.

Another angle to consider is the ancient Greek’s attitude towards physical illness or infirmity. The stoic philosophers believed that illness should not affect one’s ability to function, so if we are to take the accounts of Acts 13 & 14 in tandem with this passage, Paul still actively functioned in his ministry, despite his illness. That would have scored him points with the “Greek” people among the Galatian congregations. As a side note, at least one of the commentaries I have consulted notes that southern Galatia (the area Paul was traveling through in Acts 13 & 14) would have had the ideal climate for recovery from illness. Indeed, this region was famous through the ages because of its “health benefits.” God knew what he was doing by having Paul “lay over” with the Galatians.

Galatians Journal: Chapter 4, Verse 12

Galatians 4:12 I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.

So far, Paul has spent the bulk of his energy in this letter in criticism. Its aimed either at the evils of the Judiazing heresy or at the Galatians themselves for succumbing to it. His focus has been on theology or the personal testimony of events which occurred in his own life, rather than on any shared experience with the Galatians. Even when he briefly appealed to the Galatians’ own experiences (3:1-5), it was to criticize them for believing in the lie of this heresy.

Here Paul shifts to a much more emotional and personal tone. While he is critical, even disappointed in what has happened to the Galatian churches, he doesn’t want to break fellowship with them. He still has a sense of hope. He cares deeply for them. The RELATIONSHIP side of he equation, here, is now played out in Paul’s own personal interactions with the Galatians, and the concept is clear – He truly loves them!

First off, he uses the term “brothers.” This term has been used elsewhere so far in the book (e.g. 1:2, 3:15), and of course indicates that Paul considered the Galatians his fellow believes in the truest sense of the word. But some versions translate this word as “friends.” The implication of this concept is important. In ancient Greek culture, a “friend” was a social equal. Of course, Paul occupied a place of authority in the lives of the Galatians. The Romans had a concept of the “Patron,” a lord over a group of dependents. But a Patron has a relationship with his charges – a true friendship. Paul is not speaking to the Galatians merely as their teacher or master, but as a peer.

“I plead with you.” A passionate, heartfelt plea for a change of heart. In his plea, we see Paul’s heart, and his notion of friendship.

“become like me, for I became like you.” When Paul says “become like me” he is speaking of himself as a Jew who has been set free by Christ from the bondage of Jewish ritualism and tradition. He is speaking as a living example of what the Galatians are trying to be. They were trying to embrace ethnic Judaism – Paul’s been there, done that, and knows from personal experience that it doesn’t work. Not that being Jewish or ethnically Jewish is a bad thing, no -- but dependence on or identification with Judaism, or any culture for that matter, cannot bring us any closer to God. When he says “I became like you,” Paul is speaking of becoming like a Gentile. Because of his freedom in Christ, Paul lives his life separated from the world of law. His day to day practice, therefore, is just like the Galatians lived, at least as far as their Christianity was concerned. They had been delivered from the bondage of pagan idolatry. There might be some ethnic differences (language, music style, dress etc.), but the basic concepts were the same. Paul had really changed more than they had.

In addition, though, the underlying implication here is EQUALITY. The Jews are not better then the Greeks, in faith, in culture, in anything. Greek culture is not better either (through this was apparently not the issue in Galatia, but it is implied as an issue in the early verses of Chapter 4, and the Greeks themselves also traditionally had an air of superiority about them, regarding the Jews, and especially regarding the Romans). The pagan culture (here, Gallic) is not better. Paul himself as a spiritual authority is not “better” than they are. When Paul says, “I became like you,” he means he relates to the Galatians as equals , and not only as their spiritual father, as indicated in 4:19.

“You have done me no wrong.” Paul is not offended by what has happened. Indeed, he is about to emphasize the tender relationship he has shared with them; the closeness of that relationship. As we have seen, over and over, the Kingdom of God is all about RELATIONSHIP.

Galatians Journal: Chapter 4, Verses 10 & 11

Galatians 4:10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
(11) I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

Paul is criticizing the Galatians for exchanging the leading of the Holy Spirit for the tradition of following the calendar. The Jewish law and traditions are full of these, corresponding to each of Paul’s examples here in verse 10. “Special Days,” e.g. the Sabbath or the Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 16: 29-34); “months and seasons” e.g. new moon festivals (Numbers 28: 11-15, Isaiah 1:13-14), Passover (Exodus 12:18), or First Fruits (Leviticus 23:10); “years” e.g., the Sabbath year (Leviticus 25:4). None of these (in particular, the Day of Atonement) had ever been, could ever be, or would ever be in and of themselves a means of salvation or sanctification. Yet, the Pharisees meticulously observed all these to gain merit before God. But there’s even more here. Paul is suggesting that by returning to the ceremony of the calendar, the Galatians are returning to pagan bondage under the "spirits of the sky" referenced here and in verses 3 and 9. Jews, of course, would be offended by this – they felt Judaism and paganism had little in common. (Maybe the pagans would be offended too, but the issue in the Galatian churches was a drive to make everyone ethnically homogeneous under Jewish culture). But in a practical sense, the Jewish reliance on tradition and custom was no different than a pagan mindset. In both cases, the comparisons in verse 9 with a return to slavery, or going back earlier in Chapter 4, with the image of an adult going back to the guardianship of a child is appropriate. This is taking a step backward. Also a reliance on formula or our own efforts, negates the need for a personal relationship with God, which is always the ultimate goal of the promise. Its like the implied mistake the older brother made in the parable of the prodigal son. The older boy was offended when his history of good works and service on the family farm was not ostensibly good enough to “earn” a celebration from his father. But what the father wanted was a relationship – and the younger son, the prodigal, despite his sin, had availed himself of the promise and re-established the relationship with his Dad. The essence of Paul’s proofs and argument seems to always boil down to that concept – there is a need for a dependence on a RELATIONSHIP with God.

This argument regarding the emphasis on “special days” seems rather timely (I originally made this entry in my journal around Christmas time, so while it is currently in late September, I was originally thinking and meditating on these issues in late December or early January) with the recent controversy over some churches canceling their Christmas services so folks could spend time with their families. A lot of folks who are more on the conservative side in the evangelical community criticized this – it “wasn’t right,” and to do so would not"find favor" with God. Paul would seem to have a different view. Is it more important to follow tradition, and emphasize a “special day,” or emphasize the concept of relationship, with God, and with one another?

VERSE 11: An exasperated Paul appears to be giving up on the Galatians. But, as we will see in the next section, this is really genuine concern. There is also a connection here between Paul’s sense of “wasting his efforts” or as some translations put it, “laboring in vain,” with the prophets of the Old Testament, who had similar frustrations bringing their message to the nation of Israel. See Psalm 73:13, Isaiah 49:4, and Isaiah 65:23. Even God seemed to feel his judgments were “in vain” when the nation of Israel refused to return to Him (see Jeremiah 2:30). The image was always that of a great labor expended with no return because of the listener’s obstinacy (see Philippians 2:16, and Thessalonians 3:5) or the ineffectiveness of the message (see I Corinthians 15:2, 14,17, 58). Paul is experiencing both here. Anyone who ministers to people understands this concept.