Galatians 4:18 BSB — MannaFest

Galatians 4:18

Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

KJV

But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

⋯

Commentary

4 voices

Jerome

Commentary on Galatians (420)

(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.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

Jerome

EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS 2.4.17-18 (420)

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.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

But it is good to be zealously affected,.... A zealous affection when right is very commendable, as the instances of Phinehas, Elijah, John the Baptist, and our Lord Jesus Christ show, and a contrary spirit is very disagreeable.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

My reason for saying the "not well" (Ga 4:17; the Greek is the same as that for "good," and "in a good cause," in Ga 4:28), is that their zealous courting of you is not in a good cause.

Voices on this verse

loading…

Original language & word study

15 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
καλὸν	kalon	Good [it is]	G2570 →
δὲ	de	now	G1161 →
ζηλοῦσθαι	zēlousthai	to be zealous	G2206 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
καλῷ	kalō	a right [thing]	G2570 →
πάντοτε,	pantote	at all times,	G3842 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
μὴ	mē	not	G3361 →
μόνον	monon	only	G3441 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
τῷ	tō	<the>	G3588 →
παρεῖναί	pareinai	being present	G3918 →
με	me	me	G3165 →
πρὸς	pros	with	G4314 →
ὑμᾶς,	humas	you,	G4771 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
leads to
- Galatians 6:9
  Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
- 2 Chronicles 15:7
  But as for you, be strong; do not be discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.”
- Hebrews 6:10
  For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Philippians 2:16
  as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
- 1 Corinthians 3:8
  He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
Through
Philippians 2:12
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
leads to
- 2 Peter 1:5–10
  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
- Luke 13:23–24
  “Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered,
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Featured studies on this passage

Walks through Galatians 4

Hagar and Sarah: the Allegory, MannaFest

Open the study →

Walks through Galatians 4

Jesus on the Father

Open the study →

Judas Maccabeus before the Army of Nicanor — engraving by Gustave Doré

Walks through Galatians 4

The Intertestamental Period

Open the study →

Walks through Galatians 4

Zion & Jerusalem

Open the study →

About Galatians

The Crucifixion — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Galatians: the study guide →Read chapter 4 →The featured study →

Continue: Galatians 4 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Galatians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Galatians