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Selected Verse: Galatians 4:11 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ga 4:11 |
King James |
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| lest--Greek, "lest haply." My fear is not for my own sake, but for yours. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| I am afraid of you ... - I have fears respecting you. His fears were that they had no genuine Christian principle. They had been so easily perverted and turned back to the servitude of ceremonies and rites, that he was apprehensive that there could be no real Christian principle in the case. What pastor has not often had such fears of his people, when he sees them turn to the weak and beggarly elements of the world, or when, after having "run well," he sees them become the slaves of fashion, or of some habit inconsistent with the simplicity of the gospel? |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
I am afraid of you (φοβοῦμαι ὑμᾶς)
Not a felicitous translation, though retained by Rev. Rather, "I am afraid for you or concerning you." The second ὑμᾶς is not attracted into the principal clause so as to read, "I am afraid lest I have bestowed labor," etc. The two clauses are distinct. I am afraid about you: then the reason for the fear is added, lest I have bestowed, etc.
Upon you (εἰς ὑμᾶς)
Lit. into you. The labor, though in vain, had born directly upon its object. See the same phrase Rom 16:6.
In vain (εἰκῇ)
Comp. Gal 3:4; Co1 15:2, and εἰς to no purpose, Phi 2:16; Co2 6:1; Gal 2:2; Th1 3:5. After all my labor, you may return to Judaism. Luther says: "These words of Paul breathe tears." |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| The apostle here, dropping the argument, applies to the affections, Gal 4:11-20, and humbles himself to the Galatians, with an inexpressible tenderness. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| I am afraid of you - I begin now to be seriously alarmed for you, and think you are so thoroughly perverted from the Gospel of Christ, that all my pains and labor in your conversion have been thrown away. |
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.