Galatians 4:19 kjv
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Galatians 4:19 nkjv
My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
Galatians 4:19 niv
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
Galatians 4:19 esv
my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
Galatians 4:19 nlt
Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I'm going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.
Galatians 4 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Galatians 4:19 | "My little children, of whom I birth pains again until Christ be formed in you" | Parentage, Spiritual Birth |
| 2 Cor. 11:2 | "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy. For I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a pure virgin to Christ." | Paul's concern for purity |
| 1 Cor. 2:2 | "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." | Focus on Christ |
| Phil. 3:10 | "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" | Conformed to Christ |
| Col. 1:27 | "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" | Christ in believers |
| Eph. 3:17 | "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love," | Christ dwelling in hearts |
| Rom. 8:29 | "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." | Conformed to God's Son |
| 1 Thess. 3:12-13 | "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." | Growth in love and holiness |
| Gal. 5:22-23 | "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." | Fruit of the Spirit |
| 1 Peter 1:23 | "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." | Born again |
| 1 John 3:9 | "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." | Seed of God |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." | Abiding in Christ |
| 2 Cor. 5:17 | "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." | New Creation |
| Acts 16:5 | "And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily." | Churches established |
| Rom. 15:16 | "That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost." | Minister to Gentiles |
| 1 Cor. 4:15 | "For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." | Spiritual fathers |
| 1 Cor. 3:2 | "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet are ye able to bear it." | Spiritual nourishment |
| Gal. 4:11 | "I fear, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." | Fear of wasted labor |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." | The Word made flesh |
| Gal. 4:1 | "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;" | Heir as a child |
| Gal. 4:6 | "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." | Spirit of sonship |
Galatians 4 verses
Galatians 4 19 Meaning
Paul, writing to the Galatians, expresses his deep parental anguish and labor pains over them. He longs for Christ to be formed in them, signifying a process of spiritual maturation and conformity to Christ's image. This verse underscores the personal investment and spiritual burden Paul felt for the churches he led.
Galatians 4 19 Context
In Galatians chapter 4, Paul is addressing the Galatian churches, who are being persuaded by false teachers to adopt Jewish legalistic practices, particularly circumcision, as a requirement for salvation and maturity. Paul contrasts the condition of being under the law with the freedom and maturity found in Christ through faith. He uses the analogy of inheritance to illustrate that believers, through Christ, are heirs, not mere servants. He has already expressed his concern that his ministry to them might be in vain (4:11) and reminds them of their initial joyful reception of the gospel. This verse, 4:19, expresses Paul's continued spiritual struggle and longing for the Galatians to fully embody Christ.
Galatians 4 19 Word Analysis
- Teknia mou (τέκνιά μου): My little children. This diminutive term of endearment highlights Paul’s tender, fatherly affection and personal investment in the spiritual well-being of the Galatians. It emphasizes their spiritual immaturity in the current context.
- Pālō mōdin (πάλιν ὠδίνω): I travail in birth pangs again. This imagery of labor pains is intense. It suggests intense spiritual suffering, agonizing effort, and a powerful, recurring desire for their spiritual completion. "Again" (palin) indicates this is a renewed experience of distress for their sake.
- Hōs An Christos: Until Christ. The purpose of his pains is tied to Christ's formation.
- Ekistōthē (ἐκτυπωθῇ): Be formed. This Greek word signifies being stamped, impressed, or clearly shaped, like an imprint from a mold. It conveys the idea of Christ’s character and likeness being deeply and visibly formed within them. It implies an active shaping process, not merely passive reception. This contrasts with merely following external rules; it's an internal transformation.
Word Group Analysis
- "My little children, of whom I travail in birth pangs again until Christ be formed in you": This entire phrase paints a picture of Paul’s deep, parental distress and his ongoing, painful effort to see the true essence of Christ become fully evident and operational in the lives of the Galatians. His desire is not just for them to profess belief but for them to truly reflect the image and character of Christ in their daily lives.
Galatians 4 19 Bonus Section
The metaphor of birth pains is significant, linking Paul's ministry to the divine creative and redemptive work. In Jewish thought, childbirth could symbolize suffering preceding redemption or a new beginning. Paul identifies his spiritual labor with God’s redemptive purpose, mirroring the pains and travail of creation and the birth of a new humanity in Christ. The formation of Christ in them is the ultimate goal of God’s work in salvation—to bring believers to mature sonship, fully representing Christ in the world. This emphasizes that genuine Christian life is a dynamic process of Christ’s growing influence and expression through believers.
Galatians 4 19 Commentary
Paul expresses an overwhelming burden for the Galatians, seeing their current state as one of spiritual immaturity, causing him deep concern, akin to birth pangs. His labor is a persistent, agonizing effort aimed at the full realization of Christ’s character within them. He longs for them to be thoroughly shaped by Christ’s image, not by external laws or traditions. This formation signifies an internal transformation where Christ’s life, teachings, and spirit are deeply imprinted and actively manifest in their lives. It is a plea for them to embrace the transformative power of the Gospel fully, moving beyond superficial observance to genuine, Christ-centered living.
- Practical Usage Example: When we see a fellow believer struggling with spiritual growth or succumbing to doctrinal error, our prayer and effort for them should reflect Paul's parental love and his agonizing desire for Christ to be truly formed in them, not our condemnation.