Charles Ellicott Commentary Galatians 4:14

"and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus." — Galatians 4:14 (ASV)

My temptation which was in my flesh.—The true reading here is your temptation in my flesh—that is, my bodily infirmities, which might have been a temptation for you to reject me. St. Paul seems to have suffered from a grievous bodily infirmity, which he elsewhere (2 Corinthians 12:7) describes as a thorn in the flesh (or rather, stake). The effects of this were seen in his personal appearance, which his enemies described as mean (2 Corinthians 10:10); and he himself felt it as a corrective against any tendency to spiritual pride (2 Corinthians 12:7). An attack of this malady came upon him during his visit to Galatia, and it was with health shattered by this that he first preached the gospel to the Galatians. Still, to their credit, they took no notice of it, and gave him the warmest possible reception. Regarding the nature of the malady referred to, see Notes on 2 Corinthians 12.

Despised not, nor rejected.—The second of these two words is stronger than would appear from the English version. It is used for the expression of physical disgust: you despised not, nor loathed. The Apostle says that the Galatians did not despise “their temptation,” meaning “the thing (malady) which they were tempted to despise.”

Even as Christ Jesus.—You showed to the ambassador of Christ as much enthusiasm, as deep and ardent an affection, as you could have shown to Christ Himself.