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Verse Takeaways
1
Truth Can Feel Like an Attack
Commentators universally agree that Paul's question highlights a painful reality: speaking the truth, especially to correct error, can cause people to view you as an enemy. Scholars like Albert Barnes note the human tendency to resent correction. However, they affirm that the one who speaks a difficult truth out of love is acting as the truest friend, even if it's not received well initially.
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Book Overview
Galatians
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Commentaries
8
Albert Barnes
On Galatians 4:16
18th Century
Theologian
Am I therefore become your enemy, etc.? Is my telling you the truth regarding the tendency of the doctrines you have embraced, the charact…
AT Robertson
On Galatians 4:16
Your enemy (εχθρος υμων). Active sense of εχθρος, hater with objective genitive. They looked on Paul now as an enemy to them. So t…
Charles Ellicott
On Galatians 4:16
19th Century
Bishop
Your enemy.—“The enemy” was the name by which Saint Paul was commonly referred to by the party hostile to him in the next century.…
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Charles Spurgeon
On Galatians 4:15–16
19th Century
Preacher
For I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Galatians 4:16
In spite of their initial attitude toward Paul, their opinion of him had changed. The joy (lit., “blessedness,” GK 3422) they experienced as a resu…
John Calvin
On Galatians 4:16
16th Century
Theologian
Am I therefore become your enemy? He now returns to speak about himself. It was entirely their own fault, he says, that they had changed t…
John Gill
On Galatians 4:16
17th Century
Pastor
Am I therefore become your enemy
Not that he was an enemy to them, he had the same cordial affection for them as eve…
Matthew Henry
On Galatians 4:12–18
17th Century
Minister
The apostle desires that they would be of one mind with him regarding the law of Moses, as well as united with him in love. In reproving others, we…