38 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
38 lines
1.9 KiB
Markdown
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title = "Galatians 4:12–20"
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date = "2023-08-13"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Galatians4.12-20)
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In his other letters, Paul talks about his evangelism strategy, where he meets
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his audience in their context. When he first taught to the pagan Galatians, he
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did not seek to keep himself separate through the ceremonial laws of his
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upbringing, but showed them that he was a man just like them, a sinner in need
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of grace. Now he wants them to return the favor by remaining free of the law's
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demands because they are free in Christ.
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We learn here that Paul was ill in some way when he was with the Galatians,
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though we don't know exactly what it was. It might have had to do with his
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eyes, though some have suggested malaria or epilepsy. Whatever it was isn't
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important, but the way the Galatians reacted to it is important. They received
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him and took care of him in his ailment in spite of the hardship it caused them
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to do so. But because he was sick and because they took him in, he was able to
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preach the gospel to them and planted the churches in the region.
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The point of bringing this up in the letter is that Paul wants the Galatians to
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remember the blessing God gave them when they heard his message, and to
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remember the tender-hearted feelings they had for Paul at that time. He
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contrasts this with the hard-heartedness that comes from following the
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legalistic practices of Paul's opponents. The Galatians know Paul and loved
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him, and there is no reason for that to change because Paul has not changed nor
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has his message from God changed. But the attitudes of the Galatians towards
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Paul have changed, and this causes him anguish and perplexity, which is why he
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has been using such strong language in this letter. But loves the Galatians
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still and wishes this were not so.
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* * *
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The pain of discipline and correction comes because You love us too much to
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leave us in our error.
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