Galatians 3:4

‘Did you suffer (or experience) so many things in vain? That is if it is indeed in vain.'

It is possible that the Galatian Christians had suffered persecution as a result of their response to Christ (Acts 14:22). If so, he is pointing out that they would not have suffered like that if they had simply become Jewish proselytes, for that was acceptable and even admired by some. Their suffering arises from the fact that they are following Christ. Thus if they now go back to Judaistic practices their suffering will have been in vain. They will have gained nothing.

But while the word used here means ‘suffer' in most New Testament uses that is because the context regularly demands it. It originally strictly meant ‘experience', and the context seems to require this here. There is no suggestion of suffering in the remainder of the context. Thus he may simply be saying, ‘have you had all these experiences to no purpose, if indeed it is to no purpose?' (However, the word did certainly develop at some time into being used almost solely in its bad sense of suffer, so the other is possible).

‘If it was to no purpose.' He adds this as a rider. He still cherishes hope for them.