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12 Believers, I beg of you, become as I am [free from the bondage of Jewish ritualism and ordinances], for I have become as you are [a Gentile]. You did me no wrong [when I first came to you; do not do it now]. 13 On the contrary, you know that it was because of a physical illness that I [remained and] preached the gospel to you the first time; 14 and even though my physical condition was a trial to you, you did not regard it with contempt, or scorn and reject me; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus Himself. 15 What then has become of that sense of blessing and the joy that you once had [from your salvation and your relationship with Christ]? For I testify of you that, if possible, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me [[a]to replace mine]. 16 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 These men [the Judaizers] eagerly seek you [to entrap you with honeyed words and attention, to win you over to their philosophy], not honorably [for their purpose is not honorable or worthy of consideration]. They want to isolate you [from us who oppose them] so that you will seek them. 18 Now it is always pleasant to be eagerly sought after [provided that it is] for a good purpose, and not just when I am with you [seeking you myself—but beware of the others doing it]. 19 My little children, for whom I am again in [the pains of] labor until Christ is [completely and permanently] formed within you— 20 how I wish that I were with you now and could change my tone, because I am perplexed in regard to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:15 Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” possibly afflicted his eyes in a visible way (see 2 Cor 12:7).

12 Become ginomai as hōs I egō am, because hoti I kagō have become as hōs you hymeis are; I plead deomai with you hymeis, brothers adelphos. You have done adikeō me egō no oudeis wrong adikeō. 13 You know oida · de that hoti it was due to dia a physical sarx infirmity astheneia · ho that I preached the gospel euangelizō to you hymeis at ho first proteros; 14 and kai though my egō condition sarx was a ho trial peirasmos to you hymeis, · ho you did not ou despise exoutheneō or oude reject ekptyō me, but alla you welcomed dechomai me egō as hōs an angel angelos of God theos, as hōs though I were Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous. 15 What pou then oun became of the ho blessing makarismos you hymeis enjoyed? For gar I testify martyreō about you hymeis that hoti, if ei possible dynatos, you would have torn out exoryssō · ho your hymeis eyes ophthalmos and given didōmi them to me egō! 16 So then hōste, have I become ginomai your hymeis enemy echthros by telling you hymeis the truth alētheuō?

17 They zealously seek zēloō your hymeis favor, but for no ou good kalōs purpose . Rather alla, they want thelō to separate ekkleiō you hymeis from us so that hina you will seek zēloō them autos. 18 Now de to be zealous zēloō for en a good purpose kalos is always pantote good kalos, · kai not just monon when en I egō am present pareimi with pros you hymeis.

19 My egō little children teknon, for whom hos I am again palin in the pain of childbirth ōdinō until mechri Christ Christos is formed morphoō in en you hymeis, 20 I wish thelō · de I could be pareimi with pros you hymeis now arti and kai change allassō · ho my egō tone phōnē, for hoti I am perplexed aporeō about en you hymeis.

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