The Epistle to the Galatians Aug 8, 2010 Bob Eckel 1 Gal 4:19 – NKJV ‘My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,’ –My little children is teknon or born ones Thus, Paul is addressing them with great tender and care –New born saints - I John 2:1 –Paul’s own children - I Tim 1:2; Titus 1:4 –labor in birth again is literally just that –The motive I Cor 4:15 - For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.’ –again – reflects his 1 st visit We discussed this last time + Gal 5:21 –until Christ is formed in you – morphoō, a late and rare verb Law is Blessing Lost: Galatians 4:15-20, Part 2

The Epistle to the Galatians Aug 8, 2010 Bob Eckel 2 Only here in N.T. –This figure is the embryo developing into the child. –Paul boldly represents himself as again the mother with birth pangs over them. is formed - aorist passive subjunctive - Blue Letter Bible –Aorist tense »This tense is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar (relating to a point of time) action. »That is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time. »There is no direct or clear English equivalent for this tense, although it is generally rendered as a simple past tense in most translations. –Passive voice »This voice represents the subject as being the recipient of the action. –Subjunctive mood »This is the mood of possibility and potentiality. »The action described may or may not occur, depending upon circumstances. Law is Blessing Lost: Galatians 4:15-20, Part 2

The Epistle to the Galatians Aug 8, 2010 Bob Eckel 3. –until Christ is formed in you, That you may live nothing but Christ Think nothing but Christ Glory in nothing but Him, and His death, resurrection, and righteousness –Phil 3:7-10; Col 1:27, Rom 8:28,29; Rom 13:13,14; Eph 4:17-24 What about the verb tense? How are you doing here? What is the process? Gal 4:20 – NKJV ‘I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.’ –I would like to be present now – reflects on the warm feelings in the past Gal 4:18 Imperfect active indicative – Paul kept on asking –To change my tone or voice. To speak, not severely, as a letter might sound, but tenderly. Law is Blessing Lost: Galatians 4:15-20, Part 2 Gal 2:20

The Epistle to the Galatians Aug 8, 2010 Bob Eckel 4 –for I have doubts about you – Paul is perplexed, or has doubts, by what he hears, and filled with fears. –Ron Merryman ‘Their inconsistency puzzled him. Their immaturity grieved him. Their positiveness to his detractors and those who taught false doctrine was an agony. Their lack of in-depth identity with his teachings on GRACE was baffling’. –Do we in any way sense this frustration with our brothers/sisters in the Lord? –And then we turn back to ourselves and are humbled. –Scofield - ‘The allegory Gal 4:22-31 is addressed to justified but immature believers who, under the influence of legalistic teachers, "desire to be under the law,” and has, therefore, no application to a sinner seeking justification. It raises and answers, for the fifth time in this Epistle, the question, Is the believer under the law? Gal 2:19-21; 3:1-3; 3:24-26; 4:4-6; 4:9-31’. Law is Blessing Lost: Galatians 4:15-20, Part 2

The Epistle to the Galatians Aug 8, 2010 Bob Eckel 5 Our entire mission by His Grace and our response by faith – is to have Christ formed in us! (And it’s all to His Glory!!!) Keep Looking Down! Law is Blessing Lost: Galatians 4:15-20, Part 2