Charles Ellicott Commentary Galatians 4:12

"I beseech you, brethren, become as I [am], for I also [am become] as ye [are]. Ye did me no wrong:" — Galatians 4:12 (ASV)

Be as I am.—Use the same Christian freedom that I use.

For I am as you are.—I lay no stress on my pure Jewish descent. I claim no privileges because I was circumcised the eighth day. I do not count myself holier than you because I belonged to the strictest of all sects, the Pharisees. I stripped myself of all this, and became a Gentile among Gentiles.

You have not injured me at all.—You did me no wrong. There is a transition of subject at this clause. The Apostle goes back in thought to his first visit to Galatia. He had no complaint to make of the Galatians then. They did him no injury, showed him no unkindness, but, on the contrary, received him gladly.

On verses 12-16:

Let me beg of you: cast off the bondage of Judaism as I have done, just as I gave up its privileges to place myself on a level with you. I have no complaint to make against you.

You remember the illness which detained me among you and led me first to preach the gospel to you. You received me kindly and warmly enough then, though my bodily infirmities might well have tempted you to despise me. You treated me as if I had been a messenger direct from heaven.

You thought yourselves “blessed” by my teaching. You would have done anything for me; you would have given me even your eyes.

What has become of all this now? Why do you consider yourselves “blessed” no more? Why do you treat me as an enemy, merely for telling you the truth?