Galatians 4:17

ἐκκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς אABCD etc. ἐκκλεῖσαι ἡμᾶς The editions of Beza and the Elzevirs, with only a few cursives.

17. ζηλοῦσιν ὑμᾶς οὐ καλῶς. In contrast to my plain speaking and apparent enmity, the false teachers pay court to you. The close connexion of thought with Galatians 4:16 makes Ramsay’s otherwise attractive explanation improbable, i.e. that the Galatians had in a letter used the phrase “they take a keen interest in us,” to which St Paul replies, “Yes, but in no good way; they seek to mislead you to think that they are a superior class to you by right of birth” (cf. Gal. p. 429). For this sense of “pay court to,” “take warm interest in,” cf. 1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Corinthians 14:39. In 2 Corinthians 11:2 St Paul uses ζηλοῦν of his jealousy for his converts.

ἀλλὰ ἐκκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς θέλουσιν. ἐκκλείω. Romans 3:27[128]. Contrast συνκλειόμενοι, Galatians 3:23. “Shut out” from what? (a) Hardly “from us,” for that itself would be a comparatively unimportant matter. Nor (b) “in fact from salvation,” St Paul saying that this will be the effect of their teaching if the Galatians listen to them, cf. Galatians 5:4. For θελουσιν then loses its force. But, as the context suggests, (c) “from salvation,” as the false teachers wished them to believe; they would be excluded from salvation unless they observed the Law.

[128] Is affixed to a word it means that all the passages are mentioned where that word occurs in the New Testament.

ἵνα αὐτοὺς ζηλοῦτε. Dependent on ἐκκλ. ὑμᾶς θέλ. They wish to exclude you (according to their teaching) from salvation in order that you may pay court to them (so as to be included). It is hardly possible that the words depend on ζηλοῦσιν ὑμᾶς, and ἀλλὰ … θέλουσιν form a parenthesis stating the fact (see last note).

ζηλοῦτε, probably conjunctive as though ζηλῶτε, cf. φυσιοῦσθε, 1 Corinthians 4:6; see Blass, Gram. § 22. 3, § 65. 2 note. Winer-Schm. § 5. 21 f. calls attention to the interchange of ου with ω and ο in the popular Egyptian dialect, making it uncertain whether ζηλοῦτε be conjunctive or indicative. The uncial MSS. of the LXX. do not appear to confuse these sounds to any great extent (see Thackeray, Grammar, § 6, 32–34). Compare Galatians 2:4 notes on καταδουλεύσουσιν and Galatians 6:10; Galatians 6:12. See also Burton, Moods and Tenses, § 198, who takes ζηλοῦτε as indicative.