Galatians 4:18 Commentary and Bible Study

Paul explains the words ‘but not well’ in the previous verse. The Galatians were in danger of having their affections reset in a bad way for two reasons. To bring out these reasons the verse should be read with the stress on the phrase ‘in a good thing’ and the word ‘always’ (the KJV moves ‘always’ in an effort to make it qualify ‘in a good thing’ and so separates it from the words that follow to which it is more naturally connected). To be commendable, zeal requires both a good object and constancy, but the Galatians had failed on both counts. The Judaizers had persuaded them to be attracted to a bad object, to have a zeal for the law which could never justify them in preference to the gospel which alone gives life. They had also failed in the constancy of their affections, for while they had previously loved true gospel and had loved the one who brought it to them, they had allowed the truth to slip from their grasp by listening to the deceitful message of works righteousness. As long as he was present with them they had loved him and his message, but in his absence they had proven unstable in their love and had become zealous for a contrary message.It should not have required his presence and his reminders to produce affection for him. The Galatians ought to have kept their own affections alive by holding on to God’s word. But if they could only maintain affection for him while he was present with them, then they showed how fickle they were. Does a husband have to be constantly present with his wife in order to guarantee her affection for him? Is it never safe for him to go away for a period of time? Many lessons suggest themselves concerning our affection and loyalty to Christ whose presence we do not always feel, but whose love for us never changes and to whom our response should not change either.