‘I am imploring you brothers, become even like me, [ego], because I also am like you. You have wronged me in nothing. 13 But you know that by means of weakness of the flesh I previously announced and proclaimed the good news to you, 14 and within your putting my flesh to proof, not despising or treating with contempt, nor spitting out in disgust. But you received me like a messenger from God, like Jesus the anointed. 15 Therefore, where is your benefit? For I am bearing you witness, that if possible, your eyes having been gouged out, you would haven them to me. 16 So have I become your hateful enemy, speaking the truth to you? 17 They are not burning with passion after you in the right way, but are separating and excluding you. They wish that you might be passionate and zealous after them. 18 But it is good to be zealous within good and virtue at all times, and not only within my being present with you. 19 My children, whom I am once more labouring in birth pangs as far as that the anointed is formed and fashioned within you, 20 I am indeed wishing to be present with you at this moment and to be changing my tone, because I am without a way within you’, (Galatians 4 v 12 – 20).
Paul implores the Hebrew Christians to be like him because like them he is a Jew, and a Hebrew Christian, himself. Despite the strength of his letters, Paul was not an eloquent, gifted orator. He was described as ‘unimpressive in person’ and he declared the gospel in the weakness of his flesh, yet the Jews in Galatia received him with warmth and loyalty. But where is their benefit? Paul asks if he has become their hated enemy because he is speaking the truth to them.
Paul then turns his attention to the Jews who had come into Galatia away from James – the ‘Judaizers’ who were leading Peter and Barnabas astray and insisting that male Gentile Christians be circumcised as required by Covenant law. These Jews were passionate, burning with zeal, focused and intense. But not in the right way, says Paul. By turning Hebrew Christians back to Covenant law, they were being divisive, separating and excluding Hebrew Christians away from Gentile Christians. He accuses these Jews as being self-interested and wanting their fellow countrymen to be passionate and zealous after them. Paul acknowledges that to be zealous at all times is praiseworthy, as long as such passion is within the boundaries of what is good and virtuous. He does not expect the Hebrew Christians to put on a zealous, passionate attitude for show only at the times when he was present with them.
If you are a Christian who has been or is exasperated in relating to Christian legalists, then you are not alone. Paul is exasperated with these Hebrew Christians who are being drawn back under Covenant law. He longs to be present with them, and he finds himself ‘once more labouring in birth pangs as far as that the anointed is formed and fashioned within you’. He is right back to basics with them, seeking to be present with them to assist in bringing them forth so that the Messiah is formed and fashioned within them, then he can change his tone and manner with them. Finally he says ‘I am without a way within you’. He does not know what to do or say next.
