Galatians 4:12-20

An affectionate paragraph, reminding the Galatians how he had conformed in every legitimate way (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:19 ff.) to their customs, and begging them not to desert his faith. In the past, he and they had been good friends. His humiliating illness (epilepsy according to Lightfoot, malaria according to Ramsay, see p. 769. This attack is recorded nowhere else. His illness may be the stake in flesh of 2 Corinthians 12:7 *), which either drove him at the first into their country or at the least prolonged his (original) visit, had not proved offensive to them: they saw in him an angel (cf. Galatians 1:8), nay (observe the climax, cf. Mark 13:32), Christ. Then they had thought themselves very happy to know Paul. If possible, they would have given him their own eyes (either because he had defective sight, cf. Galatians 6:11, or as the most precious thing they had, cf. Matthew 5:29). Now his frankness has angered them. Other teachers are, no doubt, more flattering from sinister motives; if Judaizers carry their point, they will become an aristocracy and Gentile Christians their humble clients. The bond between evangelist and convert ought to hold even in absence. But it is a hard thing to win souls. It costs travail pangs. And the pains of spiritual labour may repeat themselves! What new thing can he say to them in this emergency?