Galatians 4:8-20, Paul’s Genuine Concern

Paul’s defense of his gospel against the false teachers has been the testimony that he received his gospel by revelation from Christ, that he had little contact with the Jerusalem apostles but that when he did they approved his gospel, that he stood for his gospel against Peter and corrected his move to Judaize, that the Galatians’ experience of salvation by faith contradicted the Judaizers’ gospel, and that the Scriptures of the Old Testament confirmed his gospel. Now this abrupt apologetic pauses for a personal appeal to the Galatians.

8 But formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those who by nature are not gods. 9 Now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you return again to those weak and worthless principles? Do you want to serve them all over again? 10 You are observing days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am fearful for you that somehow I have labored in vain on your behalf. 12 Be like me, because I am also like you. Brothers and sisters, I am imploring you. You did me no wrong.

The Galatians had been pagans who worshipped false gods that were in reality demons. But they had come to know the true God, or as Paul corrects himself, the true God had known them, had entered into personal relationship with them. He is the sovereign God who initiates relationship with him. He loves us first (1 John 4:19). But now they were returning to what was enslaving and non-saving, the bankrupt earthly principles. And in this case, those immature ways of thinking were observance of Jewish seasons (Sabbaths, festivals, years of jubilee, etc.).

Beyond question, Paul’s lumping of Judaism and paganism together in this manner is radical in the extreme. No Judaizer would ever have accepted such a characterization of Torah observance; nor would those in Galatia who acceded to their message. . .For Paul, however, whatever leads one away from sole reliance on Christ, whether based on good intentions or depraved desires, is sub-Christian and therefore to be condemned. (Longenecker, NIV Life Application Commentary)

Paul’s great fear is that the Galatians might not have been saved after all. He urges them to become like him, once again, in that he did not observe Jewish rituals, but unlike Peter and the Judaizers, became like one not under the law (1 Corinthians 9). If they don’t, they are not hurting him, but themselves and, we suppose, God Himself.

13 You know that because of a bodily illness I preached the gospel to you the first time, 14 and though my illness was a trial for you, you did not look down upon or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, like Christ Jesus. 15 Where then is your blessing for me? I bear you witness that if you could have you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy because I’ve told you the truth?

Paul reminds them of the tremendous affection and favor they had toward him when he first came to them, because of an illness (did he come to their region for medical treatment, or simply stopped there because he could not go on with this illness?). They received him as if he were an angel or even Christ himself. And that was appropriate for he brought them the message of salvation. That they would have given their eyes for him suggests that perhaps the illness he suffered had something to do with his eyes, though this expression was a common one for willingness to help. Paul is confused as to why now the affection has disappeared. Is it because he told them the truth contrary to the false teachers?

17 They greatly desire you but not for good. They want to isolate you from us so that you might greatly desire them. 18 It is okay to desire in a good way always, and not just when I am with you, 19 my children, for whom I again am having birth pangs until Christ is formed in you. 20 I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed by you. (Galatians 4:8-20)

Paul characterizes the false teachers as seeking to alienate the Galatians from Paul so they can have them in dependence on themselves alone. This is the danger of false and/or unhealthy leaders. They become controlling and foster dependence, leading often to abuse. Paul had felt like a mother birthing children when he led the Galatians to Christ, and now it is like the birth had been aborted and he must start again. He wants nothing more than for Christ to be formed in their lives. If only he could be there with them right now. Why he can’t we do not know, but he feels his letter is but a feeble impact compared to being there in person.