Galatians 4:20 Commentary

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Galatians 4:20

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Paul desires most of all that he could see evidence that the things he was saying had affected them for good. For then he would no longer have to keep up this tone of rebuke and correction. But being unsure what their reaction will be, he must continue with his admonition and wait patiently to hear the outcome. The parent willingly punishes the child because he looks forward to the good outcome that will follow. If there was no prospect of changing the child’s behaviour then the giving of punishment would be a miserable business. Paul longs to adopt a gentler tone towards them, consistent with his restored confidence in them.‘For I stand in doubt of you’. The reason he stands in doubt is because they have lost hold of the truth. Would they turn out to be those that loved Christ and followed him to the end, the elect of God, or would they prove to be deluded, stony ground hearers, who turned back or were offended because of trials that arose in the Christian life? Paul had had such high hopes for them. It is because he currently stands in doubt of them that he desires to be present with them, for he hopes that once he is with them, he will discover that they have responded well to his admonition and repented of their backslidings. If that is what he discovers then he will be able to speak to them in a much gentler and more encouraging tone as he longs to do.

Application

The only appropriate response to Paul’s expression of doubt is for the Galatians to be horrified at the thought that he could doubt their state, and to admit that it is true that they have given him just cause for concern. They must realise the seriousness of their departure from the gospel, and strive to end their foolishness and return to the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Sometimes the pastor must use shock in his effort to wake a soul from their sleep-walk before they step over some precipice of destruction. Paul was genuinely in doubt about their salvation because he had not been given privileged information about the elect status of every individual; he had to work as any pastor would by reading the signs of life in the conduct of each professing Christian.

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Galatians 4:20 Commentary and Bible Study