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Commentary on Galatians 4 verses 17–18
The apostle is still carrying on the same design as in the foregoing verse, which was, to convince the Galatians of their sin and folly in departing from the truth of the gospel: having just before been expostulating with them about the change of their behaviour towards him who endeavoured to establish them in it, he here gives them the character of those false teachers who made it their business to draw them away from it, which if they would attend to, they might soon see how little reason they had to hearken to them: whatever opinion they might have of them, he tells them they were designing men, who were aiming to set up themselves, and who, under their specious pretences, were more consulting their own interest than theirs: "They zealously affect you," says he; "they show a mighty respect for you, and pretend a great deal of affection to you, but not well; they do it not with any good design, they are not sincere and upright in it, for they would exclude you, that you might affect them. That which they are chiefly aiming at is to engage your affections to them; and, in order to this, they are doing all they can to draw off your affections from me and from the truth, that so they may engross you to themselves." This, he assures them, was their design, and therefore they must needs be very unwise in hearkening to them. Note, 1. There may appear to be a great deal of zeal where yet there is but little truth and sincerity. 2. It is the usual way of seducers to insinuate themselves into people's affections, and by that means to draw them into their opinions. 3. Whatever pretences such may make, they have usually more regard to their own interest than that of others, and will not stick at ruining the reputation of others, if by that means they can raise their own. On this occasion the apostle gives us that excellent rule which we have, Gal 4:18, It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing. What our translation renders in a good man, and so consider the apostle as pointing to himself; this sense, they think, is favoured both by the preceding context and also by the words immediately following, and not only when I am present with you, which may be as if he had said, "Time was when you were zealously affected towards me; you once took me for a good man, and have now no reason to think otherwise of me; surely then it would become you to show the same regard to me, now that I am absent from you, which you did when I was present with you." But, if we adhere to our own translation, the apostle here furnishes us with a very good rule to direct and regulate us in the exercise of our zeal: there are two things which to this purpose he more especially recommends to us: - (1.) That it be exercised only upon that which is good; for zeal is then only good when it is in a good thing: those who are zealously affected to that which is evil will thereby only to do so much the more hurt. And, (2.) That herein it be constant and steady: it is good to be zealous always in a good thing; not for a time only, or now and then, like the heat of an ague-fit, but, like the natural heat of the body, constant. Happy would it be for the church of Christ if this rule were better observed among Christians!
Here he hints that his absence had been the cause of this, and that the true blessing was for disciples to hold right opinions not only in the presence but also in the absence of their master. But as they had not arrived at this point of perfection, he makes every effort to place them there.
No wonder indeed that on the apostle’s departure … the Galatians were changed, since even now we witness the same occurrence in the church. For never was there a teacher in the church so distinguished in speech and life.… We see people busy with haste and fervor about alms, fasting, sexual abstinence, relief of the poor, taking care of graves, etc. But when he departs we see that they waste away and, from loss of their food, grow thin, pale and languid. Then follows the death of all that was thriving before.
(Verse 17, 18.) They imitate you, but not in a good way: rather, they want to exclude you so that you may imitate them. But always imitate the good in what is good, and not only when I am present with you. Those imitate well who, when they see that others have gratitude, gifts, virtues, desire to possess those themselves: and they strive to imitate their faith, life, and industry through which they have earned those things, so that they may also attain those things which are worthy of good emulation. Of these things, the Apostle also says: Envy spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. And further: So also you, since you are eager for spiritual gifts, seek to excel for the edification of the church. And again: Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But those who envy do not do so well, for they do not desire to be better themselves in order to imitate those who are worthy of envy, but rather they want to make them worse and backwards with perverse envy. For example, let it be said: a Christian is someone who reads Moses and the prophets; he knows that everything in the shadow and the image preceded that people; but that the scriptures were written for us on whom the ends of the ages have come. He understands circumcision not so much of the foreskin, but of the ears and the heart. He has risen with Christ: he seeks the things that are above. He is freed from the burden and slavery of the Law, of not touching, not tasting, not handling, which commands: if someone wants to persuade him with the words of the Scriptures, that he should receive them not through a figure of speech, but as they are written in a literal sense, so that he may become a Jew openly, not secretly, he imitates him not well: but he quickly rushes to pull him back as he moves towards greater things; so that he may rather imitate him who goes backward: or indeed he does not advance him much further."+ "\n" +"Liberated from the burden and slavery of the Law, of not touching, not tasting, not handling, which commanded, being able to read the scriptures in their literal sense, an individual who is a Christian demonstrates the true meaning of these commandments. They understand that the Old Testament accounts serve as types and foreshadows of Christ and that the observance of these commandments no longer holds the same significance as it did for the Jewish people. They are no longer bound by the strict regulations of the Law but are free to seek the things above and live according to the spirit of the New Covenant. Therefore he speaks to the Galatians who had been led astray by the advocates of the Law, urging them to imitate the advocates of the Law, when rather the Galatians should have imitated them. For it is natural for the greater to be made from the lesser, not the lesser from the greater, and he says: 'Imitate what is good in what is good,' that is, do not imitate the advocates of Jewish observance, but imitate those things which are good. For just as someone who imitates someone else in riches, power, or dignity, not only imitates good things, but also imitates things that should be avoided; so likewise, you in turn, imitate what is good in what is good: seeking spiritual things more than carnal things; so that you may not teach them to be Jews, but to be Christians. But do this always, so that you may be able to reach the end of a good work with a persevering step. For I emulated good in you when I was with you, but after I left, you lost everything that I had handed over to you, from a secure station and a trustworthy port, and you were carried away again in the high waves. And it is not surprising that, with the Apostle departing, the Galatians were changed from a chosen vessel and one in which Christ the Lord spoke: for even now we see the same thing happening in the churches. For whenever a doctor happens in the Church, adorned with eloquence of speech and with a virtuous life, who, like some sort of spur, incites those who hear him to virtues, we see all people hasten, fervor, and run about concerning almsgiving, fasting, chastity, receiving the poor, burials, and other similar things. But when he has departed, they gradually wither away, and with food removed, they grow thin, pale, weak, and death follows all those things which were previously flourishing. Therefore, because the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few (Matthew 9:37), let us pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to reap the ears of the Christian people, which are prepared for the future wheat in the Church, to gather and carry them into the barns so that they may not perish. This is about that zeal and perverse emulation, of which it is also said elsewhere: Do not emulate the wicked (Psalm 37:1), and here: They emulate you, but not for good. But we find another kind of zeal, with which the sons of Jacob were zealous for their brother Joseph (Gen. XXXVII seqq.); and Mary and Aaron were zealous for their friend the Lord Moses (Num. XII). Neither Joseph nor Moses were incited to zeal in order to be better than others, but because they were grieved that they were better. This kind of zeal is akin to envy. It would be long if I wished to enumerate all the kinds of zeal, whether good or bad, found in the treasure of the Scriptures. We read of the righteous zeal of Phinehas (Num. XXV), Elijah (III Kings XIX), Matthias (I Macc. II), and the Apostle Judas (but not the traitor), who received the name Zealot for his outstanding virtue of zeal (Acts I). But we also read of the evil zeal, like that of Cain towards Abel (Gen. IV), and others towards one another. And there is the zeal of a man, of whom it is written: 'And if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him' (Num. V). Perhaps this is the middle kind of zeal, which cannot be taken on either the good or the bad side; rather, it is called zealotry between the two. Otherwise: Seeing that those who were from circumcision, the Galatians from the Gentiles, were abundantly filled with the virtues of the Holy Spirit, but indeed did not speak in tongues, did not have the gifts of healings; did not have the gift of prophecy, they eagerly desired to incite them with the stings of zeal, to transfer them to the burdens of the Law, so that they would begin to become like them.
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SUMMARY
Galatians 4:18 encapsulates a profound principle regarding the nature of genuine spiritual passion, urging believers to cultivate a consistent and rightly directed zeal for what is truly good and aligned with God's truth. Paul contrasts a commendable, steadfast fervor with the inconsistent and misguided enthusiasm the Galatians had shown, which was easily swayed by external influences rather than rooted in an enduring, internal conviction. This verse serves as a timeless call to examine the object and constancy of our spiritual devotion.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Paul masterfully employs Contrast in this verse, juxtaposing a desirable, consistent, and rightly-directed zeal with the Galatians' apparent inconsistent and misdirected fervor. The phrase "not only when I am present with you" serves as a Rhetorical Appeal and a subtle Reproach, gently but firmly calling out their dependency and lack of steadfastness. It functions as a Parenthetical Remark that clarifies the specific deficiency Paul observes. Furthermore, the entire verse serves as an Exhortation, a strong encouragement for the Galatians to cultivate a mature, internal commitment to the truth, rather than relying on external influences or the presence of a spiritual leader.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Galatians 4:18 underscores the vital theological truth that the quality and direction of our spiritual passion are paramount. True faith is not merely intellectual assent but involves a fervent, active commitment that is consistently applied to what is genuinely good and true in God's eyes. This verse implicitly teaches the necessity of spiritual discernment, reminding believers that not all zeal is godly; indeed, zeal without knowledge or directed towards error can be destructive, as seen in the misguided zeal of some of Paul's Jewish contemporaries (Romans 10:2). Moreover, it highlights the importance of spiritual maturity, where faith is internally driven by the Holy Spirit rather than externally dependent on human leaders or fleeting circumstances, fostering a steadfastness that endures trials and temptations.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Galatians 4:18 offers a powerful and enduring challenge for believers today, prompting us to critically examine the nature and object of our spiritual zeal. Are we consistently passionate about the things of God—His Word, His truth, His kingdom, and His righteousness—or does our fervor wane when the immediate accountability of spiritual leaders or the excitement of a new movement fades? This verse calls us to cultivate a deep, internal conviction that fuels our devotion "always," independent of external pressures or the presence of others. It encourages us to develop spiritual discernment, ensuring that our zeal is directed towards what is truly "good" in God's sight, rather than being misdirected by fleeting trends, human ideologies, or divisive issues that detract from the core of the Gospel. Ultimately, it is a call to mature, steadfast faith that reflects an abiding love for God and His unchanging truth, lived out consistently in every season of life.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does Paul mean by "a good thing" when referring to zeal?
Answer: When Paul speaks of being "zealously affected... in a good thing," he is referring to zeal directed towards objects that are morally excellent, biblically sound, and aligned with God's will and purpose. In the immediate context of Galatians, this "good thing" would be the pure Gospel of grace, the truth of Christ, and living a life that reflects genuine faith and love, rather than adherence to human traditions or a works-based righteousness. It contrasts sharply with the misguided zeal the Galatians had shown for the teachings of the Judaizers, which Paul considered a deviation from the truth (see Galatians 1:6-9). True "good" zeal is for God's glory, the advancement of His kingdom, and the spiritual well-being of others, rooted in sound doctrine.
Why does Paul emphasize "not only when I am present with you"?
Answer: Paul's emphasis here reveals his concern that the Galatians' spiritual fervor or commitment might have been contingent on his physical presence and direct oversight. He had personally evangelized them and established their churches, and their initial enthusiasm for the Gospel was evident (see Galatians 4:13-15). However, once he departed, they became susceptible to false teachers, suggesting their zeal was not deeply rooted in personal conviction but perhaps in their affection for Paul or the initial excitement of his ministry. Paul desires a mature faith that is self-sustaining and consistently zealous for the truth, regardless of whether a specific spiritual leader is physically present to guide or encourage them. This highlights the importance of an internal, Spirit-led commitment over external dependency.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Galatians 4:18, while a direct pastoral exhortation, finds its ultimate fulfillment and perfect example in Jesus Christ. Our Lord embodied a consistent and perfectly directed zeal, not merely when His disciples were present, but "always" and "in a good thing"—the will of His Father. Jesus's zeal for God's house consumed Him (as prophesied in Psalm 69:9 and demonstrated in John 2:17). His entire earthly ministry was characterized by an unwavering passion for truth, righteousness, and the redemption of humanity, culminating in His obedient sacrifice on the cross (see Philippians 2:8). Believers, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, are called to imitate this Christ-like zeal. Our ability to be "zealously affected always in a good thing" is not by our own strength, but by the power of Christ working within us (as Paul himself testifies in Philippians 2:13). The Spirit empowers us to discern what is truly "good" and to pursue it with a steadfast, Christ-like passion that transcends human presence or fleeting circumstances, ultimately conforming us to the image of the Son (see Romans 8:29).