A Challenge To Conform Series

A Challenge to Conform

Galatians 4: 12-20

As we come to the passage before us, we discover a clear and distinctive shift in Paul’s approach. Up until now, Paul has boldly defended and argued for the truth of the gospel, presenting one doctrinal argument after another to expose the false doctrine of the Judaizers. He had well defended that salvation was by grace through faith in Christ alone, apart from any works of the flesh.

The approach in the text we are considering is much more personal and compelling for the Galatians. Paul reveals his heart for the people and his desire for them to embrace the truth, while standing strong in the faith. It appears that Paul wanted them to understand why he had been so adamant in exposing the Judaizers – he genuinely loved the church and wanted her to be settled in the faith. He was not just an angry theologian; he loved the church.

As we examine the admonitions of Paul, I want to consider: The Challenge to Conform.

I. The Appeal of Paul (12) – Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. Here we discover the heart of a committed pastor for the church. He desired the Galatians to be as he was – he longed for them to embrace the gospel by faith alone, refusing to adhere to the false teachings of the Judaizers. If anyone understood their struggles, it would have been Paul. He was as they were – he had faced the rituals and demands of legalism, but turned from works of the flesh unto faith in salvation. If one such as Paul, having been as committed a Pharisee as anyone, could embrace the truth of the gospel apart from works, they could as well.

Paul commended the church for their affection and care for him. They had never hurt or injured Paul. They shared a common bond through the gospel, and there should be no division among them.

II. The Affliction of Paul (13-16) – Desiring to assure them of the love and devotion he has for them, Paul spoke of the struggles he had endured, many of which they had walked alongside him as he endured them. The behavior of some made no sense when compared with their past support. Consider:

A. His Dedication (13) – Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. Unfortunately, Paul does not provide details of the infirmity of which he spoke, but the Galatians would have well understood. It is evident that he was very sick when he first arrived at Galatia. Some speculate it may have been an illness Paul picked up on his first missionary journey, or possibly the thorn in the flesh that he begged God to provide deliverance. Whatever the infirmity, Paul was faithful to preach the gospel in spite of his illness. His dedication to the gospel and the church exceeded his desire for personal comfort.

B. His Affliction (14a) – And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected. Paul affirms the church did not despise, nor reject Paul due to the physical affliction he suffered. The word translated temptation has the idea of “adversity, affliction, or sorrow.” While this may appear to be nothing more than reasonable compassion, we must understand the context. In that day and culture, afflictions and disease were often viewed as signs of divine judgment. Often the sick and afflicted were shunned and expected to remain separate from society. Although Paul had been afflicted, the church in Galatia had shown great compassion and care for him.

C. Their Compassion (14b-15b) – but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15b for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Upon Paul arriving in Galatia, the church had received him as they would have an angel or the Lord Himself. They refused to allow Paul’s difficulties shape their opinion of him. He was received in light of the Lord he shared and the service he performed in ministry. He reminded the Galatians that some were willing to have given him their eyes, had it been possible to do so.

Some argue that Paul’s thorn in the flesh must have been a problem with his eyes or his vision, and they cite this verse as an argument for their case. The truth is, we really do not know what Paul’s affliction was. It very well could have been a vision problem, but it also could have been some other affliction. Since eye disease was prevalent then, with few options for healing, having good eyesight was a blessing. Some argue that Paul was merely using an illustration to refer to their compassion for him, being willing to give their own eyesight for Paul if possible.