Paul's Personal Request

"I beg you, brothers and sisters, become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong! But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you,  and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, as though I were Christ Jesus himself! Where then is your sense of happiness now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me!" (Galatians 4:12-15, New English Translation)

 

This passage is a break in Paul’s theological arguments. He seems to have become at this point in writing the letter overcome with emotion. This emotion floods out in a few rapidly written disjointed sentences. R. Alan Cole says that this passage has “an erratic style and grammar, springing from violent emotion.” (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Galatians, IVP, 1989)

Because of this compressed choppy style, there are many difficult phrases in this passage. However, the overall idea that Paul wanted to get across is clear. It is not at all difficult to understand what Paul is trying to say and there are no theological problems raised by this passage.

Paul when he was among Gentiles acted as a Gentile. He adapted himself to the culture of those around him as much as possible without violating moral principles. Now he begged the Galatians to be like him. Paul, who had once been a Pharisee, urged them to live free in Christ as Paul did.

Paul mentions that he had some type of physical problem when he first preached to the Galatians. There are three main ideas about what this physical problem could have been. Some suggest that Paul and Barnabas had malaria when they first arrived in Asia Minor. This has been suggested as one factor that contributed to John Mark leaving them when they arrived at Pamphylia.

Others suggest that Paul had a painful eye disorder. Many think that Paul did have some type of chronic eye problem. Those who hold to this view use verse 15 as evidence. Others suggest that Paul had some continuing physical problems because of the stoning at Lystria.

Whatever the physical problem was, the Galatians did not allow it to become a barrier between them and Paul. They welcomed him in spite of his physical appearance. They treated him as a messenger of God. They treated him as they would have treated Jesus Himself.

During the time that Paul ministered among them, they were greatly blessed. They had great joy. Their affection for Paul was so great that they would have done anything for him. The picture of plucking out their eyes for him does not necessarily mean that he had an eye problem. This was a common expression for a great sacrifice. It meant that they would do anything for him. The idea is similar to our expression of giving someone the shirt off our back.

At one time they would do anything Paul asked. Now he asks that they would reject the teaching of the legalist. Yet Paul was not sure that they would do as he requested.