Galatians 4:19 NIV

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Galatians 4:19

(19) My little children.—The form is a diminutive, not found elsewhere in the writings of St. Paul, though common in St. John. It is used to heighten the tenderness of the appeal. The simple form, however, “my children,” is found in some of the best MSS., and perhaps should be adopted. St. Paul regards as his spiritual children all who first received the gospel from him.Of whom I travail in birth again.—The struggle which ends in the definite winning over of his converts to Christ, the Apostle... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Galatians 4:1-31

The Incarnation Galatians 4:4 Of all births this Bethlehem birth was the most unique. A superhuman life demands a superhuman birth. Let us gaze reverently into the abyssmal depths of that manger-cradle in the Bethlehem-khan. I. The first question that presents itself to us is this: 'Was it necessary that God should more fully reveal Himself to man?' We reply in the affirmative. Man had quarrelled with God; and to a rebel sinner the dim light of Nature and Providence was wholly insufficient.... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:12-20

Chapter 18PAUL’S ENTREATY.Galatians 4:12-20THE reproof of the last paragraph ended in a sigh. To see Christ’s freemen relapsing into bondage, and exchanging their Divine birthright for childish toys of ceremonial, what can be more saddening and disappointing than this? Their own experience of salvation, the Apostle’s prayers and toils on their behalf, are, to all appearance, wasted on these foolish Galatians. One resource is still left him. He has refuted and anathematised the "other gospel."... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Galatians 4:1-31

CHAPTER 4 1. Under the law in the state of minority. (Galatians 4:1-3 ) 2. The Son revealed to redeem. (Galatians 4:4-5 ) 3. Because ye are Sons; the Spirit of Sonship. (Galatians 4:6-7 ) 4. The backsliding Galatians. (Galatians 4:8-20 ) 5. The sons of the bondwoman and of the free woman. (Galatians 4:21-31 ) Jewish believers were, before Christ had died, the children of God, and as such they did not differ from servants. They were in a state of minority, as children who do not know the... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:1-31

HOW CHILDREN ARE ADOPTED AS SONS (vs.1-7) The first few verses of chapter 4 give us the distinctive Christian position in more detail. This position is the result of promise accomplished, as contrasted to the position under the Law, promise being then an object of indefinite hope, a prospect unfulfilled. Verses 1 Timothy 3:0 show the Jewish position under law, the position even of the believer then, for it is of believers he is speaking. Though the child is heir and lord of all, yet in... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:1-31

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH Having established his authority as an apostle, and his right to expound the Gospel he had received, Paul now enters upon the elucidation of the latter, or rather proceeds to the defense of its cardinal teaching. This is the doctrine that man is justified only by faith in Jesus Christ without the works of the law. The same doctrine was enlarged upon in Romans, only there he was expressing the Divine side of its truth while here he is showing the human side. There he... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Galatians 4:1-31

Amended Expressions Gal 4:9 In the course of his writing the Apostle said, "After that ye have known God, or rather ." That is the point. The subject is Amended Expressions, self-correction in the use of language. Sometimes we are too fluent, and we are halfway through a sentence before it occurs to us that we are on the wrong track. We start sentences from the wrong end. However skilful we may be in the use of words, sometimes we are halfway through a sentence before we see that the sentence... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Galatians 4:19

(19) ¶ My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I pause over this verse, not so much to remark the tender reproof of Paul, to the Galatians, though his heart was grieved at their conduct; neither the soul-travail he speaks of, until their recovery was accomplished: but I pass over both these, to attend to an object of an infinitely higher nature. Paul here makes use of an expression, which demands our closest attention. He saith that his soul-travail... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:17-20

He tells them this change come from the false teachers among them, who with a false zeal would exclude them from a friendship and a submission to St. Paul, and deprive them again of that Christian liberty by which Christ, and the faith of Christ, had freed them from the yoke of the Mosaical law. On this account I must labor and travail, as it were to bring you forth a second time. How do I now wish to be with you, to change my voice, to exhort you, to reprehend you, to use all ways and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:19-20

19,20 The Galatians were ready to account the apostle their enemy, but he assures them he was their friend; he had the feelings of a parent toward them. He was in doubt as to their state, and was anxious to know the result of their present delusions. Nothing is so sure a proof that a sinner has passed into a state of justification, as Christ being formed in him by the renewal of the Holy Spirit; but this cannot be hoped for, while men depend on the law for acceptance with God. read more