Paul's Concern for the Galatians

Galatians 4

8 Formerly, when you l did not know God, you m were enslaved to those that by nature n are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather o to be known by God, p how can you turn back again to q the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 r You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid s I may have labored over you in vain.

12 Brothers, 1 t I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. u You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was v because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you w at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me x as an angel of God, y as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of the blessing you felt? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by z telling you the truth? 2 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and a not only when I am present with you, 19 b my little children, c for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ d is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

  1. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 1:21
    For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
    1 Thessalonians 4:5
    Not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.
    2 Thessalonians 1:8
    In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
    1 John 4:8
    Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
  2. Cross References
    Ephesians 2:11 - 12
    Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands -
    1 Thessalonians 1:9
    For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.
  3. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 13:9
    Have you not driven out the priests of the Lord...
    Isaiah 37:19
    And have cast their gods into the fire. For the...
    Jeremiah 2:11
    Has a nation changed its gods, even though they...
    Jeremiah 5:7
    How can I pardon you? Your children have forsak...
    Jeremiah 16:20
    Can man make for himself gods? Such are not gods!
    1 Corinthians 8:4
    Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to ...
  4. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 8:3
    But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
  5. Cross References
    Galatians 3:3
    Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
  6. Cross References
    Romans 8:3
    For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh.
    Hebrews 7:18
    For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
  7. Cross References
    Romans 14:5
    One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
    Colossians 2:16
    Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.
  8. Cross References
    Galatians 2:2
    I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.
    Galatians 5:2
    Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.
    Galatians 5:4
    You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
    1 Thessalonians 3:5
    For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
  9. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 6:13
    In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
  10. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:5
    Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure - not to put it too severely - to all of you.
  11. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 2:3
    And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling.
  12. Cross References
    Galatians 1:6
    I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel -
  13. Cross References
    1 Samuel 29:9
    And Achish answered David and said, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.
    Malachi 2:7
    For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
    2 Corinthians 5:20
    Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
  14. Cross References
    Matthew 10:40
    Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.
  15. Cross References
    Galatians 2:5
    To them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
  16. Cross References
    Galatians 4:13
    You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first.
  17. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 4:15
    For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
    Philemon 1:10
    I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.
  18. Cross References
    James 1:18
    Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
  19. Cross References
    Romans 8:10
    But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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