What the Bible says about Paul's Physical Infirmity
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Galatians 4:14 Paul calls to their mind their first encounter with him, when his physical infirmity could have been a social stumbling block for them, but they received him warmly and without hesitation. He is drawing a contrast between their first meeting and their current rejection of his teaching. Paul says that they received him "as an angel [messenger] of God." In the beginning of the epistle, part of his stern warning was against any other doctrines from what he had originally taught them, which included a warning against the teachers of such doctrines (Galatians 1:8). Since the Galatians "received [him] as an angel," they may have likewise received a false teacher as a messenger from God and bestowed upon him the same warmth and acceptance. David C. Grabbe Related Topics: False Teachers | False Teaching | Galatians | Paul's Physical Infirmity

Galatians 4:15 Paul is not asking what had become of the blessedness, but it is an exclamation, referring to the "congratulations" (literally) the Galatians had formerly bestowed on him. This should read, "What then was the blessing you enjoyed?" Paul testifies that the Galatians' feeling for him was once so intense that they would have given him their own eyes! This phrase represents tremendous self-sacrifice (Matthew 5:29). In addition, given that Galatians 4:14 refers to some kind of physical infirmity, it may have been a problem with his eyes—in which case the Galatians would have gone so far as to give him their own so he could be whole again. David C. Grabbe Related Topics: Paul's Physical Infirmity

 

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