The Epistle to the Galatians

Aug 8, 2010 Bob Eckel 1

• Gal 4:19 – NKJV ‘My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,’– My little children is teknon or born ones

• Thus, Paul is addressing them with great tender and care – New born saints - I John 2:1– Paul’s own children - I Tim 1:2; Titus 1:4

– labor in birth again is literally just that – The motive

• I Cor 4:15 - For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.’

– again – reflects his 1st visit• We discussed this last time + Gal 5:21

– until Christ is formed in you – morphoō, a late and rare verb

Law is Blessing Lost: Galatians 4:15-20, Part 2

The Epistle to the Galatians

Aug 8, 2010 Bob Eckel 2

• Only here in N.T. – This figure is the embryo developing into the child.– Paul boldly represents himself as again the mother with birth pangs over

them.

• is formed - aorist passive subjunctive - Blue Letter Bible– Aorist tense

» This tense is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar (relating to a point of time) action.

» That is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time.

» There is no direct or clear English equivalent for this tense, although it is generally rendered as a simple past tense in most translations.

– Passive voice» This voice represents the subject as being the recipient of the action.

– Subjunctive mood» This is the mood of possibility and potentiality. » The action described may or may not occur, depending upon circumstances.

Law is Blessing Lost: Galatians 4:15-20, Part 2

The Epistle to the Galatians

Aug 8, 2010 Bob Eckel 3

. – until Christ is formed in you,

• That you may live nothing but Christ• Think nothing but Christ • Glory in nothing but Him, and His death, resurrection, and righteousness

– Phil 3:7-10; Col 1:27, Rom 8:28,29; Rom 13:13,14; Eph 4:17-24• What about the verb tense?• How are you doing here?• What is the process?

• Gal 4:20 – NKJV ‘I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.’– I would like to be present now – reflects on the warm feelings in the past

• Gal 4:18• Imperfect active indicative – Paul kept on asking

– To change my tone or voice. • To speak, not severely, as a letter might sound, but tenderly.

Law is Blessing Lost: Galatians 4:15-20, Part 2

Gal 2:20

The Epistle to the Galatians

Aug 8, 2010 Bob Eckel 4

– for I have doubts about you – Paul is perplexed, or has doubts, by what he hears, and filled with fears.

– Ron Merryman• ‘Their inconsistency puzzled him.• Their immaturity grieved him.• Their positiveness to his detractors and those who taught false doctrine was an

agony.• Their lack of in-depth identity with his teachings on GRACE was baffling’.

– Do we in any way sense this frustration with our brothers/sisters in the Lord?– And then we turn back to ourselves and are humbled. – Scofield - ‘The allegory Gal 4:22-31 is addressed to justified

but immature believers who, under the influence of legalistic teachers, "desire to be under the law,” and has, therefore, no application to a sinner seeking justification. It raises and answers, for the fifth time in this Epistle, the question, Is the believer under the law?

• Gal 2:19-21; 3:1-3; 3:24-26; 4:4-6; 4:9-31’.

Law is Blessing Lost: Galatians 4:15-20, Part 2

The Epistle to the Galatians

Aug 8, 2010 Bob Eckel 5

Our entire mission by His Grace and our response by faith – is to have

Christ formed in us! (And it’s all to His Glory!!!)

Keep Looking Down!

Law is Blessing Lost: Galatians 4:15-20, Part 2