Galatians 4:16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 4:12-16

That these Christians might be the more ashamed of their defection from the truth of the gospel which Paul had preached to them, he here reminds them of the great affection they formerly had for him and his ministry, and puts them upon considering how very unsuitable their present behaviour was to what they then professed. And here we may observe, I. How affectionately he addresses himself to them. He styles them brethren, though he knew their hearts were in a great measure alienated from him.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 4:12-20

4:12-20 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, because I became as you are. I have no complaints against the way that once you treated me. You know that it was because I was ill that I first preached the gospel to you. It must have been a temptation to you to do so, but you did not look on me with contempt or turn with loathing from me, but you received me as if I were an angel of God, as you would have received Christ Jesus. I once had cause to congratulate you. Where has that cause gone... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:16

Am I therefore become your enemy ,.... Not that he was an enemy to them, he had the same cordial affection for them as ever; he had their true interest at heart, and was diligently pursuing it; but they, through the insinuations of the false teachers, had entertained an ill opinion of him, and an aversion to him, and treated him as if he had been an enemy to them, and as if they had a real hatred of him: and that for no other reason, as he observes, but because I tell you the truth ; the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:16

Am I therefore become your enemy - How is it that you are so much altered towards me, that you now treat me as an enemy, who formerly loved me with the most fervent affection? Is it because I tell you the truth; that very truth for which you at first so ardently loved me? read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:16

Verse 16 16.Am I therefore become your enemy? He now returns to speak about himself. It was entirely their own fault, he says, that they had changed their minds. Though it is a common remark, that truth begets hatred, yet, except through the malice and wickedness of those who cannot endure to hear it, truth is never hateful. While he vindicates himself from any blame in the unhappy difference between them, he indirectly censures their ingratitude. Yet still his advice is friendly, not to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:12-20

The appeal of the suffering apostle. To render Paul's appeal more emphatic, he proceeds next to remind them of the tender relations in which he had stood to them when he preached the gospel to them the first time. He had been suffering from the thorn in the flesh; he was consequently a very weak specimen when as a preacher he stood before them; but the message was so emancipating to their souls that they would have done anything for him in their gratitude. They would have even plucked out... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:12-20

Personal appeal. I. HE ASKS RECIPROCITY . "I beseech you, brethren, be as I am, for I am as ye are." Born a Jew, in accommodation to them he had taken up the Gentile position, i.e. in respect of freedom from Jewish ordinances. Let them, as brethren, show reciprocity. Let them give up their adopted Jewish practices and occupy the Gentile position along with him. II. HE RECALLS WITH PLEASURE THEIR RECEPTION OF HIM . 1 . Negatively. "Ye did me no wrong." He... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:13-16

A retrospect with its lessons. The apostle seeks an explanation of their changed attitude toward himself. I. HE RECALLS THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS FIRST RELATIONS WITH THE GALATIANS . "Ye know how on account of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first." 1 . His visit was not designed , but accidental. He was travelling through their country on his way to regions beyond, when he was seized with illness and detained so long... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:16

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? [ ὥστε ἐχθρὸς ὑμῶν γέγονα ἀληθεύων ὑμῖν ;]; so then , am I become your enemy , because I deal with you according to truth ? This is a wailing remonstrance against an apprehended incipient state of alienation. "So then," ὥστε (see note on Galatians 4:7 ), occurs repeatedly before an imperative; as 1 Corinthians 3:21 ; 1 Corinthians 4:5 ; 1 Corinthians 10:12 ; Philippians 2:12 ; Philippians... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:16

A friend mistaken for an enemy. On his first visit to Galatia, St. Paul was received, so he tells us, "as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus." He paid, it appears, a second visit to the province, and then the fickle people treated him with coldness and suspicion because he found it necessary to point out their faults and the danger of them, as though he had become their enemy solely because he told them the truth. This narrow and unfair conduct of the Galatians is only too common to... read more

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