Galatians 4:14
in Galatians 4And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
KJV
And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
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This verse in Galatians 4
Commentary
14 notes on this verseAnd my temptation which was in my flesh - On this verse there are a great many various readings, as there are various opinions. Instead of μου, My temptation, ABC*D*FG, some others, with the Coptic, Vulgate, Itala, and several of the primitive fathers, have ὑμων, Your temptation. The word πειρασμον, which we translate temptation, signifies trial of any kind.
This site's exposition
become like me, for I became like you
on Galatians 4:12-14
Paul appeals to their old affection and recalls that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to them. They welcomed me as if I were an angel of God.
This site's exposition
as if I were an angel of God
In that world a sickness could be taken as a sign of divine displeasure, so the illness was a trial to the Galatians. They welcomed him anyway, as an angel of God and as Christ Jesus Himself. The comparisons mark how high that welcome rose.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
"Rather you received me as an angel of God." How then is it not unreasonable, he says, that one who is being persecuted and driven away should be received by you as an angel, and even as the Lord himself? Yet he is spat upon …
"I once preached the gospel." What do I say, Paul says, did you not wrong me? Therefore you showed me great honor. For even while being flogged and persecuted (for he says this was a weakness of the flesh), I was proclaiming the gospel to …
The ailment of the apostle was a temptation to the Galatians. But they were found constant, not doubting as to his faith. For they could have stumbled and said, "What virtue or hope is there in this faith when its minister is so humiliated?" But …
The weakness in my body was no obstacle for you, but you received me as an angel of God, that is, as a messenger, a preacher sent from God (for that is an angel of God); and you received me like Christ Jesus, whom I …
Not to have injured one is indeed no great thing, for no man whatever would choose to hurt wantonly and without object to annoy another who had never injured him. But for you, not only have ye not injured me, but ye have shown me great and inexpressible kindness, and it is impossible that one who has been treated with such attention should speak thus from any malevolent motive. My language then cannot be caused by ill-will; it follows, that it proceeds from affection and solicitude. "Ye did me no wrong; ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the Gospel unto you." What can be gentler than this holy soul, what sweeter, or more affectionate! And the words he had already used, arose not from an unreasoning anger, nor from a passionate emotion, but from much solicitude. And why do I say, ye have not injured me? Rather have ye evinced a great and sincere regard for me. For "ye know," he says, "that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the Gospel unto you; and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected." What does he mean? While I preached to you, I was driven about, I was scourged, I suffered a thousand deaths, yet ye thought no scorn of me; for this is meant by that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected." Observe his spiritual skill; in the midst of his self-vindication, he again appeals to their feelings by showing what he had suffered for their sakes. This however, says he, did not at all offend you, nor did ye reject me on account of my sufferings and persecutions; or, as he now calls them, his infirmity and temptation. But ye received me as an Angel of God. Was it not then absurd in them to receive him as an Angel of God, when he was persecuted and driven about, and then not to receive him when pressing on them what was fitting?
6 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verse 14.) And you did not despise or reject your temptation, which was in my flesh, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. It is a perplexing passage and requires careful attention. Indeed, I have preached to you like little ones and infants through the weakness of your flesh, starting from the least and speaking almost stammeringly.
The Medieval Church2 voices
And you, however, did not turn away from me; these trials of mine, that is, persecutions, wounds, and the like, did not lead you into temptation and did not cause you to despise and abhor me. And at the same time, in a subtle way, …
The second thing that strengthens love among men is mutual love and affection toward one another, according to Proverbs (8:17): "I love them that love me." As to this he says: "but you received me as an angel of God," i.e., with the honor accorded …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And my temptation which was in my flesh,.... The same with the infirmity of his flesh, and which was a trial of his faith and patience, and every other grace, as the afflictions of the saints be. The Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin version read, "your temptation in my flesh"; that which was a trial of them, whether they would receive him or not.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
An angel is free from the flesh, infirmity, and temptation. as Christ--being Christ's representative (Mt 10:40). Christ is Lord of angels.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And my temptation - “My trial,” the thing which was to me a trial and calamity. The meaning is, that he was afflicted with various calamities and infirmities, but that this did not hinder their receiving him as an angel from heaven. There is, however, a considerable variety in the mss. on this verse. Many mss., instead of “my temptation,” read “your temptation;” and Mill maintains that this is the true reading. Griesbach hesitates between the two. But it is not very important to determine which is the true reading. If it should be “your,” then it means that they were tempted by his infirmities to reject him; and so it amounts to about the same thing. The general sense is, that he had some bodily infirmity, perhaps some periodically returning disease, that was a great trial to him, which they bore with, with great patience and affection. What that was, he has not informed us, and conjecture is vain. But received me as an angel of God - With the utmost respect, as if I had been an angel sent from God. Even as Christ Jesus - As you would have done the Redeemer himself. Learn hence: (1) That the Lord Jesus is superior to an angel of God. (2) That the highest proof of attachment to a minister, is to receive him as the Saviour would be received. (3) It showed their attachment to the Lord Jesus, that they received his apostle as they would have received the Saviour himself; compare Mat 10:40.
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πειρασμὸν | peirasmon | test | G3986 → | |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σαρκί | sarki | flesh | G4561 → | 146 times |
| μου | mou | of mine | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἐξουθενήσατε | exouthenesate | you did despise [me] | G1848 → | |
| οὐδὲ | oude | nor | G3761 → | 141 times |
| ἐξεπτύσατε, | exeptusate | reject [me] with contempt, | G1609 → | |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἄγγελον | angelon | an angel | G32 → | 175 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἐδέξασθέ | edexasthe | you received | G1209 → | |
| με, | me | me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ὡς | hos | even as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| Χριστὸν | christon | Christ | G5547 → | 523 times |
| Ἰησοῦν.¶ | iesoun | Jesus. | G2424 → | 908 times |
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
πειρασμὸνtest
peirasmonG3986 →
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇthe
teaG3588 →19766 times
σαρκίflesh
sarkiG4561 →146 times
μουof mine
mouG3165 →1936 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἐξουθενήσατεyou did despise [me]
exouthenesateG1848 →
οὐδὲnor
oudeG3761 →141 times
ἐξεπτύσατε,reject [me] with contempt,
exeptusateG1609 →
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
ἄγγελονan angel
angelonG32 →175 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
ἐδέξασθέyou received
edexastheG1209 →
με,me
meG3165 →1936 times
ὡςeven as
hosG5613 →500 times
ΧριστὸνChrist
christonG5547 →523 times
Ἰησοῦν.¶Jesus.
iesounG2424 →908 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 13:2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
it leads to
- Matthew 25:35
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,
- Genesis 18:1
Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent.
- 1 Peter 4:9
Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
- Romans 12:13
Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
- Matthew 25:35
Through
1 Thessalonians 2:13And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the…
it leads to
- Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
- 1 Peter 1:23
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
- 1 Peter 1:25
but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.
- Hebrews 4:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies21
About Galatians
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 4.14.1-2; Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 2.4.14; J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Galatians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Galatians; John Chrysostom, Homily on Galatians 4; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Oecumenius, Commentary on Galatians; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Galatians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Galatians.