Galatians 4:15 ESV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Galatians 4:15-16

Galatians 4:15-16. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of On which ye so congratulated one another? Since ye once thought yourselves so happy in my presence with, and my preaching among you, how happens it that you are now so alienated from me? For if it had been possible If it had been a thing allowable, and I could have received any benefit by it; ye would have plucked out your eyes, and have given them to me As a convincing proof of your affection for me. Am I become your enemy ... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:8-20

Paul’s concern for the Galatians (4:8-20)Before they believed in Christ, most of the Galatians were pagans, in bondage to idols of wood and stone. Now that they have come to know the true God, they are foolish to get into bondage again by trying to keep the Jewish law. By doing so they are not going forward in their Christian lives; they are going backwards (8-11).The Galatians should live as those free from the law, just as Paul does. He feels sorry for them, not angry with them. He does not... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Galatians 4:15

the blessedness , &c. = your blessedness. Greek. makarismos . See Romans 4:6 . plucked out . Literally dug out. Greek. exorusso Here and Mark 2:4 , read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Galatians 4:15

Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.Of course, here is the ground of the speculation that Paul's infirmity was temporary blindness, which of course is a possibility; but such an expression as Paul used here is proverbial, and there can be no certainty that any such thing is meant. Ridderbos said, "Galatians 4:15 has nothing to do with Paul's infirmity."[22] Whatever lay behind such a... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Galatians 4:15

Galatians 4:15. Where is then the blessedness, &c.— What benedictions did you then pour out upon me! Locke; who observes, that the context makes this sense of the words so necessary and visible, that it is to be wondered how any one could overlook it. Several commentators, however, do not agree with Mr. Locke; but think that by blessedness here we are to understand the sense which they had of their own happiness, in being enlightened by St. Paul in the knowledge of the gospel. See Romans... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:15

15. Where, c.—Of what value was your congratulation (so the Greek for "blessedness" expresses) of yourselves, on account of your having among you me, the messenger of the Gospel, considering how entirely you have veered about since? Once you counted yourselves blessed in being favored with my ministry. ye would have plucked out your own eyes—one of the dearest members of the body—so highly did you value me: a proverbial phrase for the greatest self-sacrifice (Matthew 5:29). CONYBEARE and HOWSON... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:12-20

2. The historical illustration 4:12-20Paul appealed next to his past contacts with the Galatians and called on them to remember his visits to Galatia to move them to abandon nomism."If the reader is inclined to think Paul has been impersonal in dealing with the problems at Galatia, that he has been arguing as a scholar and not as a pastor, the present passage should disabuse him of this idea." [Note: Boice, p. 477.] "What we have in this personal aside is a poignant witness to the indissoluble... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:15-18

The Galatians were losing their good attitude toward Paul and its accompanying sense of blessing. They had appreciated Paul so much that they would have given him their most precious possessions. "Plucked out your eyes" is probably a figurative expression similar to "given your eye teeth." Now the Galatians were regarding Paul suspiciously as an enemy. The Judaizers were seeking to shut the Galatians out of the sphere of Paul’s influence and gospel so his readers would be dependent on them.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:1-31

The Bondage of the Law. Freedom in Christ1-7. Under the Law we were in bondage; under the Gospel we have received the freedom of sons.Paraphrase. ’(1) The heir before he comes of age can no more enter upon his inheritance than a servant in the family can possess himself of it, (2) but must continue, until the set time, in a subordinate position, and under the authority and training of others. (3) So, when we were under the elementary Law system, we were in a position like that of the heir in... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Galatians 4:12-16

(12-16) Let me beg of you: cast off the bondage of Judaism as I have done, just as I gave p its privileges to place myself on a level with you. I have no complaint to make against you. You remember the illness which detained me among you, and led me first to preach to you the gospel. You received me kindly and warmly enough then, though my bodily infirmities might well have tempted you to despise me. You treated me as if I had been a messenger direct from heaven. You thought yourselves “blest”... read more