Galatians 4:12-20

New International Reader's Version

¹² I make my appeal to you, brothers and sisters. I’m asking you to become like me. After all, I became like you. You didn’t do anything wrong to me. ¹³ Remember when I first preached the good news to you? Remember I did that because I was sick. ¹⁴ And my sickness was hard on you. But you weren’t mean to me. You didn’t make fun of me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God. You welcomed me as if I were Christ Jesus himself. ¹⁵ So why aren’t you treating me the same way now? Suppose you could have torn out your own eyes and given them to me. Then you would have done it. I am a witness to this. ¹⁶ Have I become your enemy now by telling you the truth?

¹⁷ Those people are trying hard to win you over. But it is not for your good. They want to take you away from us. They want you to commit yourselves to them. ¹⁸ It is fine to be committed to something, if the purpose is good. And you shouldn’t be committed only when I am with you. You should always be committed. ¹⁹ My dear children, I am in pain for you like I was when we first met. I have pain like a woman giving birth. And my pain will continue until Christ makes you like himself. ²⁰ I wish I could be with you now. I wish I could change my tone of voice. As it is, I don’t understand you.