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Selected Verse: Galatians 3:4 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ga 3:4 |
Strong Concordance |
Have ye suffered [3958] so many things [5118] in vain [1500]? if it be yet [1489] [2532] in vain [1500]. |
| |
King James |
Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet 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] |
Have ye suffered so many things--namely, persecution from Jews and from unbelieving fellow countrymen, incited by the Jews, at the time of your conversion.
in vain--fruitlessly, needlessly, since ye might have avoided them by professing Judaism [GROTIUS]. Or, shall ye, by falling from grace, lose the reward promised for all your sufferings, so that they shall be "in vain" (Gal 4:11; Co1 15:2, Co1 15:17-19, Co1 15:29-32; Th2 1:5-7; Jo2 1:8)?
yet--rather, "If it be really (or 'indeed') in vain" [ELLICOTT]. "If, as it must be, what I have said, 'in vain,' is really the fact" [ALFORD]. I prefer understanding it as a mitigation of the preceding words. I hope better things of you, for I trust you will return from legalism to grace; if so, as I confidently expect, you will not have "suffered so many things in vain" [ESTIUS]. For "God has given you the Spirit and has wrought mighty works among you" (Gal 3:5; Heb 10:32-36) [BENGEL]. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| Have ye suffered so many things in vain? - Paul reminds them of what they had endured on account of their attachment to Christianity. He assures them, that if the opinions on account of which they had suffered were false, then their sufferings had been in vain. They were of no use to them - for what advantage was it to suffer for a false opinion? The opinions for which they had suffered had not been these which they now embraced. They were not those connected with the observance of the Jewish rites. They had suffered on account of their having embraced the gospel, the system of justification by a crucified Redeemer; and now, if those sentiments were wrong, why, their sufferings had been wholly in vain; see this argument pursued at much greater length in Co1 15:18-19, Co1 15:29-32. If it be yet in vain. That is, I trust it is not in vain. I hope you have not so far abandoned the gospel, that all your sufferings in its behalf have been of no avail. I believe the system is true; and if true, and you are sincere Christians, it will not he in vain that you have suffered in its behalf, though you have gone astray. I trust, that although your principles have been shaken, yet they have not been wholly overthrown, and that you will not reap the reward of your having suffered so much on account of the gospel. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Have ye suffered (ἐπάθετε)
Or, did ye suffer. The exact sense is doubtful. By some it is held that the reference is to sufferings endured by the Galatian Christians either through heathen persecutions or Judaising emissaries. There is, however, no record in this Epistle or elsewhere of the Galatians having suffered special persecutions on account of their Christian profession. Others take the verb in a neutral sense, have ye experienced, or with a definite reference to the experience of benefits. In this neutral sense it is used in Class. from Homer down, and is accordingly joined with both κακῶς evilly, and εὖ well. Paul habitually used it in the sense of suffering evil, and there is no decisive instance, either in N.T. or lxx, of the neutral sense. In Class., where it is used of the experience of benefits, it is always accompanied by some qualifying word. When it stands alone it signifies to suffer evil. The evidence on the whole makes very strongly for the meaning suffer; in which case the reference is, probably, to the annoyances suffered from Judaising Christians. It must be said, on the other hand, that a reference to such annoyances seems far-fetched. If we could translate did ye experience (so Weizscker, Lipsius, Sieffert), the reference would be to the impartation of the gifts of the Spirit.
In vain (εἰκῇ)
So that ye have fallen from the faith and missed the inheritance of suffering and the rich fruitage of your spiritual gifts. See Mat 5:10-12; Rom 8:17; Co2 4:17.
If it be yet in vain (εἴ γε καὶ εἰκῇ)
The A.V. misses the force of the particles. Καὶ should be closely joined with εἰκῇ, with the sense of really. If, that is, it be really in vain. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Have ye suffered - Both from the zealous Jews and from the heathens. So many things - For adhering to the gospel. In vain - So as to lose all the blessings which ye might have obtained, by enduring to the end. If it be yet in vain - As if he had said, I hope better things, even that ye will endure to the end. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Have ye suffered so many things in vain? - Have ye received and lost so much good? The verb πασχων, as compounded with ευ, well, or κακως, ill, and often without either, signifies to suffer pain or loss, or to possess and enjoy. In such a case the man is considered as the patient, and the good or ill acts upon him. Though it is possible that the Galatians had suffered some persecution for the truth of Christ, yet it is as likely that the apostle refers to the benefits which they had received. Ye have received faith, the pardon of your sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and with it many extraordinary gifts and graces; and have ye suffered the loss of all these things? Have ye received all these in vain? if yet in vain - if it be credible that ye have sacrificed so many excellent benefits for an imaginary good. |
32 But [1161] call to remembrance [363] the former [4386] days [2250], in [1722] which [3739], after ye were illuminated [5461], ye endured [5278] a great [4183] fight [119] of afflictions [3804];
33 Partly [5124] [3303], whilst ye were made a gazingstock [2301] both [5037] by reproaches [3680] and [2532] afflictions [2347]; and [1161] partly [5124], whilst ye became [1096] companions [2844] of them that were [390] so [3779] used [390].
34 For [2532] [1063] ye had compassion [4834] of me in my [3450] bonds [1199], and [2532] took [4327] joyfully [3326] [5479] the spoiling [724] of your [5216] goods [5224], knowing [1097] in [1722] yourselves [1438] that ye have [2192] in [1722] heaven [3772] a better [2909] and [2532] an enduring [3306] substance [5223].
35 Cast [577] not [3361] away [577] therefore [3767] your [5216] confidence [3954], which [3748] hath [2192] great [3173] recompence of reward [3405].
36 For [1063] ye have [2192] need [5532] of patience [5281], that [2443], after ye have done [4160] the will [2307] of God [2316], ye might receive [2865] the promise [1860].
5 He therefore [3767] that ministereth [2023] to you [5213] the Spirit [4151], and [2532] worketh [1754] miracles [1411] among [1722] you [5213], doeth he it by [1537] the works [2041] of the law [3551], or [2228] by [1537] the hearing [189] of faith [4102]?
8 Look [991] to yourselves [1438], that [3363] we lose [622] not [3363] those things which [3739] we have wrought [2038], but [235] that we receive [618] a full [4134] reward [3408].
5 Which is a manifest token [1730] of the righteous [1342] judgment [2920] of God [2316], that [1519] ye [5209] may be counted worthy [2661] of the kingdom [932] of God [2316], for [5228] which [3739] ye [3958] also [2532] suffer [3958]:
6 Seeing [1512] it is a righteous thing [1342] with [3844] God [2316] to recompense [467] tribulation [2347] to them that trouble [2346] you [5209];
7 And [2532] to you [5213] who are troubled [2346] rest [425] with [3326] us [2257], when [1722] the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] shall be revealed [602] from [575] heaven [3772] with [3326] his [846] mighty [1411] angels [32],
29 Else [1893] what [5101] shall they do [4160] which are baptized [907] for [5228] the dead [3498], if [1487] the dead [3498] rise [1453] not [3756] at all [3654]? why [5101] [2532] are they then baptized [907] for [5228] the dead [3498]?
30 And [2532] why [5101] stand [2793] we [2249] in jeopardy [2793] every [3956] hour [5610]?
31 I protest by [3513] your [5212] rejoicing [2251] [2746] which [3739] I have [2192] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] our [2257] Lord [2962], I die [599] daily [2596] [2250].
32 If [1487] after the manner [2596] of men [444] I have fought with beasts [2341] at [1722] Ephesus [2181], what [5101] advantageth it [3786] me [3427], if [1487] the dead [3498] rise [1453] not [3756]? let us eat [5315] and [2532] drink [4095]; for [1063] to morrow [839] we die [599].
17 And [1161] if [1487] Christ [5547] be [1453] not [3756] raised [1453], your [5216] faith [4102] is vain [3152]; ye are [2075] yet [2089] in [1722] your [5216] sins [266].
18 Then [686] they also [2532] which are fallen asleep [2837] in [1722] Christ [5547] are perished [622].
19 If [1487] in [1722] this [5026] life [2222] only [3440] we have hope [1679] [2070] in [1722] Christ [5547], we are [2070] of all [3956] men [444] most miserable [1652].
2 By [1223] which [3739] also [2532] ye are saved [4982], if [1487] ye keep [2722] in memory what [5101] [3056] I preached [2097] unto you [5213], unless [1622] [1508] ye have believed [4100] in vain [1500].
11 I am afraid [5399] of you [5209], lest [3381] [4458] I have bestowed [2872] upon [1519] you [5209] labour [2872] in vain [1500].
29 Else [1893] what [5101] shall they do [4160] which are baptized [907] for [5228] the dead [3498], if [1487] the dead [3498] rise [1453] not [3756] at all [3654]? why [5101] [2532] are they then baptized [907] for [5228] the dead [3498]?
30 And [2532] why [5101] stand [2793] we [2249] in jeopardy [2793] every [3956] hour [5610]?
31 I protest by [3513] your [5212] rejoicing [2251] [2746] which [3739] I have [2192] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] our [2257] Lord [2962], I die [599] daily [2596] [2250].
32 If [1487] after the manner [2596] of men [444] I have fought with beasts [2341] at [1722] Ephesus [2181], what [5101] advantageth it [3786] me [3427], if [1487] the dead [3498] rise [1453] not [3756]? let us eat [5315] and [2532] drink [4095]; for [1063] to morrow [839] we die [599].
18 Then [686] they also [2532] which are fallen asleep [2837] in [1722] Christ [5547] are perished [622].
19 If [1487] in [1722] this [5026] life [2222] only [3440] we have hope [1679] [2070] in [1722] Christ [5547], we are [2070] of all [3956] men [444] most miserable [1652].
17 For [1063] our [2257] light [1645] affliction [2347], which [3588] is but for a moment [3910], worketh [2716] for us [2254] a far [2596] [5236] more exceeding [1519] [5236] and eternal [166] weight [922] of glory [1391];
17 And [1161] if [1487] children [5043], then [2532] heirs [2818]; heirs [2818] of God [3303] [2316], and [1161] joint-heirs [4789] with Christ [5547]; if so be [1512] that we suffer with [4841] him, that [2443] we may be [4888] also [2532] glorified together [4888].
10 Blessed [3107] are they which are persecuted [1377] for [1752] righteousness' sake [1343]: for [3754] theirs [846] is [2076] the kingdom [932] of heaven [3772].
11 Blessed [3107] are ye [2075], when [3752] men shall revile [3679] you [5209], and [2532] persecute [1377] you, and [2532] shall say [2036] all manner [3956] of evil [4190] [4487] against [2596] you [5216] falsely [5574], for my sake [1752] [1700].
12 Rejoice [5463], and [2532] be exceeding glad [21]: for [3754] great [4183] is your [5216] reward [3408] in [1722] heaven [3772]: for [1063] so [3779] persecuted they [1377] the prophets [4396] which [3588] were before [4253] you [5216].