Galatians 4:11 kjv
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Galatians 4:11 nkjv
I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
Galatians 4:11 niv
I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Galatians 4:11 esv
I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
Galatians 4:11 nlt
I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing.
Galatians 4 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gal 4:20 | I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you. | Brotherly concern |
| Phil 2:16 | ...holding fast to the word of life. Then I will be proud on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. | Apostle's goal |
| 1 Thess 3:5 | So when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you, and our labor had been for nothing. | Similar fear of unproductive labor |
| 1 Cor 15:10 | But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. | Grace's effectiveness |
| 1 Cor 15:58 | Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. | Exhortation to persevere |
| Acts 20:24 | But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. | Ministry's purpose and commitment |
| Rom 15:18 | For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed— | Apostle's ministry results |
| 2 Cor 5:20 | Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. | Role of ambassadors |
| Gal 2:2 | I went in response to a revelation and, without consulting anyone, I laid before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles... | Gospel presentation |
| Gal 3:1-5 | O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified? Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing of the faith? ...Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? | Paul's initial questioning |
| John 15:4-5 | Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. | Importance of abiding in Christ |
| Heb 12:15 | See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled. | Danger of falling away |
| Rom 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. | Power of the Gospel |
| 1 Cor 9:27 | I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others, I myself should be rejected. | Personal spiritual discipline |
| Gal 1:6 | I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel— | Similar astonishment |
| Acts 16:14 | One such person was Lydia, a seller of purple goods from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to listen to what was said by Paul. | receptiveness to the Gospel |
| Col 1:29 | For this I toil and strive with all the endurance that Christ powerfully works in me. | Paul's diligent labor |
| Titus 1:11 | They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach for sordid gain. | Danger of false teaching |
| Eph 3:7 | Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his mighty power. | Grace as the source of ministry |
| Matt 7:22-23 | On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ | Final judgment and sincerity |
Galatians 4 verses
Galatians 4 11 Meaning
Paul expresses deep concern for the Galatians. He fears his labor among them might have been in vain. This signifies a profound pastoral anxiety about their potential straying from the Gospel message he preached. His teaching and effort, the "labor" of his apostleship, was aimed at establishing them in Christ.
Galatians 4 11 Context
In Galatians chapter 4, Paul is addressing the Galatians' deviation from the pure Gospel. He contrasts the experience of being under the Law with being under grace through faith in Christ. He previously used the allegory of Hagar and Sarah to illustrate the distinction between those born under law (Ishmael) and those born by promise under grace (Isaac). He emphasizes that believers are children of promise, freed from the bondage of the Law. This verse emerges from that discussion, where Paul expresses his fear that their return to Judaizing practices and emphasis on the Law is nullifying the effectiveness of his ministry among them and the saving work of Christ. He is worried they are reverting to a state of servitude rather than continuing in their spiritual freedom.
Galatians 4 11 Word Analysis
“I am afraid” (Gr. phoboumai): This verb denotes fear or apprehension. Paul is experiencing a genuine pastoral concern, a deep worry, not a paralyzing terror. It reflects his intense care for their spiritual well-being.
“of you” (Gr. hymin): The pronoun refers specifically to the Galatian believers. The focus of his fear is their spiritual state and potential backsliding.
“lest” (Gr. mēpote): This conjunction introduces a dreaded possibility or outcome. It’s a particle of apprehension expressing fear that something might happen.
“my labor” (Gr. pephaiōnen - literally, "I have labored in vain"): The verb pephaiōnen is the perfect tense of kainos, meaning "empty," "vain," or "without effect." Paul is not saying his labor was vain, but expresses a fear that it might become vain due to their current trajectory. The perfect tense emphasizes the resulting state of fruitlessness. It can also be related to perikontō, "to whiten," suggesting an accidental error leading to a futile result, or to phos, "light," implying that something bright and fruitful might become darkened and ineffective.
“among you” (Gr. eis hēmas): This preposition indicates the direction or purpose of his labor – it was directed towards them, for their benefit and spiritual growth.
Phrase: “my labor was in vain”: This phrase captures Paul's concern that all his efforts – his preaching, teaching, suffering, and prayers for the Galatians – would ultimately yield no lasting spiritual fruit in their lives, especially if they embraced legalism over grace.
Galatians 4 11 Bonus Section
The verb pephaiōnen is rare and carries a nuanced meaning. Some scholars suggest a connection to phaios (dusky, grey, obscure) rather than kenos (empty, void), implying that his labor might become obscure or indistinct from other forms of religious effort if the Galatians succumbed to legalism. This would mean his distinctive apostolic message, grounded in the freedom of the Gospel, could be rendered indistinguishable from a religion still bound by external regulations. This fits the context of them adding requirements like circumcision. Paul's labor was to reveal the newness and light of Christ; he feared it would be made "dim" by their turning back to shadow.
Galatians 4 11 Commentary
Paul’s fear is not for his own reward but for the spiritual condition of the Galatians. He had invested significant effort, endured hardship, and faithfully preached the Gospel of grace. The Galatians’ leanings toward circumcision and adherence to the Mosaic Law signaled a possible rejection of the very foundation of the Gospel. This concern highlights the gravity of deviating from the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. It underscores that true faith requires perseverance and steadfastness.
- Paul’s anxiety is a model for true spiritual leadership, showing the deep personal investment required.
- The potential for labor to be in vain emphasizes the need for believers to hold fast to the truth and not be led astray by false teachings.
- This verse serves as a perpetual warning against any attempt to add works or legalistic requirements to God’s unmerited favor in salvation.