Galatians 4:12-20

Expanded Bible

¹² Brothers and sisters, I became like you [^Cliving like a Gentile to win them to Christ; 1 Cor. 9:21], so I beg you to become like me [^Cdepending on God’s grace, not the Jewish law, for salvation]. You ·were very good to me before [^Ldid me no wrong]. ¹³ You remember that it was because of an illness that I came to you the first time, preaching the ·Good News [Gospel]. ¹⁴ Though my sickness was a ·trouble for you [trial for you; or test of your concern], you did not ·hate [despise] me or ·make me leave [reject me]. Instead, you welcomed me as an angel from God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself! ¹⁵ But where is that ·joy [happiness; blessedness] you had then? I am ready to testify that you would have taken out your eyes and given them to me if that were possible. ¹⁶ Now am I your enemy because I tell you the truth?

¹⁷ Those people [^Cthe false teachers; 1:7] ·are working hard to persuade you [or show great interest in you; or are eager to win your favor; ^Lare zealous for you], but ·this is not good for you [for no good purpose; or their intentions are not good]. They want to persuade you to ·turn against [reject; exclude] us and ·follow only [care only for; ^Lbe zealous for] them. ¹⁸ It is good ·for people to show interest in you [or to be passionate/enthusiastic; ^Lto be zealous/the object of zeal], but only if their ·purpose [intention] is good. This is always true, not just when I am with you. ¹⁹ My little children, again I feel the pain of childbirth for you until ·you truly become like Christ [^LChrist is formed in you]. ²⁰ I wish I could be with you now and could change ·the way I am talking to you [or my tone of voice; ^Lmy voice], because I ·do not know what to think about [or don’t know how to help; or am perplexed/at wit’s end about] you.