Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Galatians 4:15

"Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me." — Galatians 4:15 (ASV)

In spite of their initial attitude toward Paul, their opinion of him had changed. The joy (lit., “blessedness,” GK 3422) they experienced as a result of his preaching had vanished, and they were now apparently regarding him as their enemy. If one thinks that Paul possibly suffered from bad eyesight (cf. 6:11), then the expression “you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me” refers to actual conversations they had at the time.

Why had Paul become their enemy? The only possible explanation is that he had become an offense to them through telling them the truth. Unfortunately, this is often the case for those who are faithful to Christ’s teaching.