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Galatians 4:19
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17 They azealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.  
18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.
19 aMy little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,  
20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

Two Covenants

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: athe one by a bondwoman, bthe other by a freewoman.  
23 But he who was of the bondwoman awas born according to the flesh, band he of the freewoman through promise,  
24 which things are symbolic. For these are1 the two covenants: the one from Mount aSinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—  
25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—
26 but the aJerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.  
27 For it is written:
a“Rejoice, O barren,
You who do not bear!
Break forth and shout,
You who are not in labor!
For the desolate has many more children
Than she who has a husband.”  
28 Now awe, brethren, as Isaac was, are bchildren of promise.  
29 But, as ahe who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, beven so it is now.  
30 Nevertheless what does athe Scripture say? b“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for cthe son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”  
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
<< Galatians 4:18   Galatians 4:20 >>


Galatians 4:19

My little children - The language of tender affection, such as a parent would use toward his own offspring; see the note at I Corinthians 4:15; compare Matthew 18:3; John 13:33; I John 2:1, I John 2:12-13; I John 4:4; I John 5:21. The idea here is, that Paul felt that he sustained toward them the relation of a father, and he had for them the deep and tender feelings of a parent.

Of whom I travail in birth again - For whose welfare I am deeply anxious: and for whom I endure deep anguish; compare I Corinthians 4:15. His anxiety for them he compares to the deepest sufferings which human nature endures; and his language here is a striking illustration of what ministers of the gospel should feel, and do sometimes feel, in regard to their people.

Until Christ be formed in you - The name Christ is often used to denote his religion, or the principles of his gospel; see the note at Romans 13:14. Here it means, until Christ reigns wholly in your hearts; until you wholly and entirely embrace his doctrines; and until you become wholly imbued with his spirit; see Colossians 1:27.




Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Galatians 4:19:

Isaiah 13:8
Zechariah 12:8
John 13:33
John 17:26
1 Timothy 1:2

 

<< Galatians 4:18   Galatians 4:20 >>

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