Galatians 4:17 kjv
They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
Galatians 4:17 nkjv
They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.
Galatians 4:17 niv
Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.
Galatians 4:17 esv
They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.
Galatians 4:17 nlt
Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them.
Galatians 4 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Galatians 1:6 | I am astonished that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you | Turn away from God |
| Galatians 1:7 | Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are determined to distort the gospel of Christ | Distorting the gospel |
| Galatians 3:1 | Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? | Foolishness and deception |
| Galatians 4:18 | It is always good to be eagerly sought and used for a good purpose, but not just when I am with you | Zealous for good |
| Galatians 5:10 | I am confident in you in the Lord that you will not adopt a different view. But the one who is throwing you into confusion will be judged, whoever that may be. | Judgment on distorters |
| 2 Corinthians 11:2 | I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God. I promised you to one husband, to present you to Christ as a pure virgin. | Spiritual jealousy |
| 2 Corinthians 11:4 | For if someone comes to you with a different Jesus, whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit, which you have not received, or a different gospel, which you have not preached, you submit to it readily enough. | False teachings |
| 1 Timothy 1:3 | As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay at Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer | False doctrines |
| 2 Timothy 2:18 | Such men turn away from the truth. They claim that the resurrection has already happened, and they upset the faith of some. | Upsetting faith |
| Titus 1:10-11 | For there are also many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deceivers, especially those who profess circumcision. They must be silenced, because they are the ones who ruin whole families by teaching things they ought not to, for sordid gain. | Deception and gain |
| Matthew 24:24 | For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect. | Deception |
| Acts 20:30 | and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. | Drawing away disciples |
| Romans 16:17-18 | I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. | Division and deception |
| John 8:44 | You belong to your father the devil, and you want to do the things your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. | Father of lies |
| Ephesians 4:14 | Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of deceitful scheming. | Instability in teaching |
| 1 Peter 5:8 | Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. | Enemy prowling |
| Jeremiah 23:16 | This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to the prophecies of the prophets, for they are deluding you. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. | False prophecy |
| Deuteronomy 13:5 | But you must kill that prophet or dreamer of dreams, because he has spoken revolt against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. You must purge the evil from among you. | Rebelling against God |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 | The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceits those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. | Counterfeit miracles |
| Colossians 2:8 | See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, which are based on human tradition and the elementary principles of this world, rather than on Christ. | Captive by deceit |
Galatians 4 verses
Galatians 4 17 Meaning
The verse speaks about an intense, even zealous, activity of some individuals who sought to draw the Galatians away from Paul's gospel. This zealousness, however, was not for what is good. Paul characterizes their efforts as "not good," implying their aims and motives were contrary to the true gospel and beneficial Christian life. This pursuit of an altered message sought to alienate the Galatians from Paul and, more importantly, from Christ himself.
Galatians 4 17 Context
Galatians 4:17 follows Paul's explanation of the allegory of Abraham's two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, and his contrast between the law given at Sinai (represented by Hagar) and the new covenant in Christ (represented by Sarah). Paul asserts that believers are children of the free woman, Sarah. In this context, verse 17 describes the nature of those who oppose Paul's teaching and are attempting to lead the Galatians astray by introducing a different gospel. These individuals are "zealous" not in a good way, but with a destructive intent to pull the Galatians away from genuine faith in Christ and his finished work. Their motive is to gain influence and loyalty for themselves, not for the glory of God.
Galatians 4 17 Word Analysis
- "They zealously seek you":
- "Zealously" (ζηλόω - zeloo): This Greek word carries the sense of ardent desire, enthusiasm, or earnest pursuit. However, as the verse clarifies, the "zeal" here is not for good, meaning it is misguided, fervent, and potentially dangerous in its aim. It suggests a strong, driving passion. This is a zeal rooted in human effort and the desire for human approval, rather than the genuine, love-driven zeal for God and His truth.
- "Seek" (ζητέω - zeteo): Implies active searching or attempting to find or obtain. They are actively pursuing the Galatians.
- "but not for a good purpose":
- "Not" (οὐκ - ouk): A strong negation.
- "For a good purpose" (εἰς τὸ καλόν - eis to kalon): Literally "unto the good." This signifies that their energetic efforts are not directed towards a beneficial or godly outcome. The intent is ultimately harmful. Their pursuit aims at an outcome that is contrary to the good of the Galatians' spiritual welfare.
- "but they want to alienate you":
- "But" (ἀλλά - alla): A contrastive conjunction, highlighting the negative intent behind their actions.
- "They want" (θέλω - thelo): Expresses a desire or intention.
- "To alienate you" (ἀποκλεῖσαι ὑμᾶς - apokleisai hymas): This verb means to shut out, to exclude, or to debar. It implies a deliberate act to prevent access. The "you" is plural, referring to the Galatian believers. Their aim is to close off the Galatians from something essential, which the next clause specifies.
- "so that you may be sought for them":
- "So that" (ἵνα - hina): Indicates purpose.
- "You may be sought" (ζηλoutezɛ - zelouzetɛ): This is the passive form of "zeloo" (to zealously seek). It means "to be zealously sought." In this context, it implies that the Galatians themselves would become objects of ardent pursuit or admiration by these other teachers, becoming disciples under their influence. The plural "you" shows this applies to the community.
- "For them" (αὐτούς - autous): Refers back to the "they" who are zealously seeking the Galatians. Their ultimate goal is to have the Galatians devoted to them, not to Christ. This reflects a form of spiritual arrogance and a desire for control and discipleship under their own names.
Group Analysis:
- The phrase "zealously seek you, but not for a good purpose" contrasts a passionate action with a depraved intention, highlighting that outward fervor can mask inwardly corrupt motives, especially in spiritual matters. This is a key warning against deception, emphasizing that the heart behind the action determines its nature.
- The phrase "alienate you, so that you may be sought for them" reveals the ultimate divisive goal: to redirect the Galatians' devotion from Christ to the false teachers, severing their connection to Paul's legitimate apostolic authority and the true gospel, and securing these Galatians as adherents to their own misguided teaching.
Galatians 4 17 Bonus Section
The fervor described here ("zeloo") is similar to the zeal experienced by prophets and apostles for God's work, but it is here perverted. This perversion is consistent with demonic strategy, which often mimics divine action or cloaks deception in the guise of piety. The core of their action is "apokleisai" (to shut out), indicating a desire to block access to Christ, to the true gospel, and perhaps even to relationship with Paul as the apostle. This highlights the spiritual warfare at play, where truth is contrasted with persuasive but false teaching designed to create separation and dependence on human leaders. The focus shifts from Christ's sufficiency to the teacher's authority or message.
Galatians 4 17 Commentary
Paul warns the Galatians that those seeking to influence them with a different gospel are acting with intense but misdirected zeal. Their fervent efforts are not for the good of the believers but for their own selfish gain. The goal of these false teachers is to cut the Galatians off from the true source of spiritual life in Christ, isolating them and making them disciples of these teachers themselves. This serves as a crucial reminder that sincere-sounding or passionate teaching must be evaluated by its faithfulness to the gospel and its ultimate aim to glorify Christ, not men. The "zeal" described here is often a manipulative tactic to gain followers and promote personal agendas rather than advancing God's kingdom.