Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

The opening words of this verse are somewhat puzzling, for there is not enough said to know precisely what Paul is referring to. Most likely he is asking the Galatians to enter into the Christian freedom he knows, with the reminder that he had identified himself with them in order to preach the Gospel to them (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:20–22). That is, when Paul went to the Galatians, he did not stand on any special dignity or insist that the Galatians first come to him by becoming Jews. He became like them, in order to win them to Christ.

This is a principle of great importance for all who are trying to win other people for Christ. Our goal must be to make them like us, while the means to that end is to make ourselves like them. Witnessing involves doctrine, but it also involves the most personal involvement of the witness with those to whom he or she is witnessing.