Galatians 4 13

Galatians 4:13 kjv

Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

Galatians 4:13 nkjv

You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.

Galatians 4:13 niv

As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you,

Galatians 4:13 esv

You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first,

Galatians 4:13 nlt

Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News.

Galatians 4 verses

Galatians 4 13 Meaning

Paul, remembering his initial visit, states that he preached the Gospel to the Galatians not out of personal obligation or human weakness, but because of a recurring illness. This illness prompted his first ministry among them, suggesting divine providence even in physical frailty.

Galatians 4 13 Context

The Galatian churches were facing a severe crisis. Judaizers, Jewish Christians who insisted that Gentile believers must adopt Jewish customs like circumcision to be truly saved, had infiltrated the congregations. Paul, in the preceding verses, appeals to his relationship with the Galatians, reminding them of his personal affection and the warmth with which they initially received him. He expresses his concern that their newfound commitment to the Gospel is being undermined by these false teachers, who are causing them to return to bondage under the Law. This verse serves as an explanation for why he initially ministered among them, setting the stage for his further arguments about freedom in Christ.

Galatians 4 13 Word Analysis

• εἰδῶτες (eidōtes): "knowing" or "having known." A perfect active participle from the verb oida (οἶδα), meaning "to know," particularly a knowledge that is intrinsic and certain. It emphasizes Paul's consciousness of his action.
• ὅτι (hoti): "that." A conjunction introducing the content of what Paul knew.
• τῆς προτέρας (tēs proteras): "the former" or "the first." Genitive feminine singular of the adjective proteros (πρότερος), meaning "former," "before," or "first." It refers to his initial visit.
• ὑμῖν (hymin): "you" (plural). Dative case, the indirect object.
• εὐαγγελίζεσθαι (euangelizesthai): "to evangelize" or "to preach the good news." Present infinitive of the deponent verb euangelizo (εὐαγγελίζω). The present tense indicates a continuous or repeated action in the past during his first stay.
• οὐκ (ouk): "not." A negative particle.
• ἐν ἑτέρᾳ (en heterā): "in another" or "in a different." Preposition en (ἐν) with the dative feminine singular of the adjective heteros (ἕτερος), meaning "other," "different," "another of a different kind."
• ψυχῇ (psychē): "soul," "mind," or "spirit." Dative feminine singular of psychē (ψυχή). The phrasing suggests it wasn't due to a deliberate, independent choice apart from divine leading.
• ἐν ἑτέρᾳ ψυχῇ: "in another soul" - this idiomatic phrase conveys "by different inclination," "with a different disposition," or "on another occasion." It can also mean "in a different way," implying not of his own independent mental or spiritual inclination.
• ἀλλ’ (all'): "but." A conjunction contrasting the preceding negative statement with the following positive one.
• ἥτις (hētis): "which." Nominative feminine singular relative pronoun. Refers back to "weakness."
• ἐξανθρώπησις (exanthrōpēsis): "a human weakness" or "infirmity," literally "a falling out of humanity," suggesting being made weak. It's an hapax legomenon (occurs only once) in the New Testament, possibly coined by Paul. It could refer to an eye condition (common scholarly speculation, based on ex antheros, referring to the white of the eye).
• ἐν ἑτέρᾳ ψυχῇ (en hetera psyche): This phrase is more literally "in another soul." The interpretation varies among scholars. Some see it as "in a different disposition" or "another motive." A strong interpretation connects it to divine guidance overriding any personal disposition or strategy.
• ἠσθένειαν (asthenian): "weakness" or "infirmity." Accusative feminine singular of astheneia (ἀσθένεια). This is the illness itself.
• τῆς σαρκός (tēs sarkos): "of the flesh." Genitive feminine singular of sarx (σάρξ), meaning "flesh." Refers to a physical ailment or weakness of his body.
• καὶ (kai): "and." A conjunction.
• περισσότερον (perissoteron): "more abundantly" or "exceedingly." Comparative adverb from perissos (περισσός), meaning "exceeding," "more than," "superfluous."
• ἐν ἐμοὶ (en emoi): "in me." Preposition en (ἐν) with the first person singular pronoun emoi (ἐμοὶ) in the dative case.
• κατὰ σάρκα (kata sarka): "according to the flesh." Preposition kata (κατά) with the accusative feminine singular of sarx (σάρξ). This phrase means "in my bodily life," or "in my earthly existence," rather than being from the inner spiritual man.

Galatians 4 13 Bonus Section

The word exanthrōpēsis (ἐξανθρώπησις) is unique to this verse. Its precise meaning has been debated by scholars. Some suggest it indicates a weakness that caused him to seem less than fully human or that he was "out of himself." A prominent interpretation, derived from early church tradition and a consideration of classical Greek usage, points towards a severe affliction, potentially of the eyes. This would explain why the Galatians' initial response was so compassionate, even likening him to an angel (Galatians 4:14). If his eyesight was impaired, it would naturally make him more dependent on divine revelation and spiritual perception, rather than human sight or strength, thus reinforcing his message about reliance on faith. His message was not about outward appearances but about inward transformation. This divine weakness then became the very instrument of his powerful evangelism in Galatia.

Galatians 4 13 Commentary

Paul's transparency here is remarkable. He doesn't present himself as a perfectly invincible apostle. Instead, he candidly shares that his initial ministry in Galatia was significantly influenced by a physical ailment, referred to as a "weakness of the flesh." This isn't to diminish his apostolic authority but to highlight God's sovereignty and grace working even through human frailty. It reassures the Galatians that his presence among them wasn't a matter of convenience or human planning but was ordained by God. Furthermore, by acknowledging this weakness, he subtly counters any arrogance that might have arisen from his extraordinary ministry. It serves as a testimony that God's power is often perfected in human weakness, as he later elaborates in 2 Corinthians 12. This also emphasizes that his message was not based on his physical prowess or rhetorical skill but on divine commission.

• Practical Application: Recognizing that God can use our weaknesses for His glory. We are not called to be perfect, but to be available.
• Encouragement: Our limitations don't disqualify us from God's service; they can be the very platform for His power.