Galatians 4:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"You know," he says, "that though through weakness of the flesh I preached the Gospel to you at first, you did not despise my trial in my flesh or loathe it."

What does he mean by this? "When I preached to you," he says, "I was persecuted, scourged, and subjected to a thousand deaths. Yet despite all this, you did not despise me."

This is precisely the meaning of the words, "You did not despise my trial in my flesh, nor did you loathe it."

Do you see spiritual wisdom? In the very act of defending himself, he again rebukes them, when he sets before them how much he suffered for their sake.

"And yet," he says, "this in no way scandalized you. You did not loathe me because of these sufferings and persecutions."

For these sufferings and persecutions are what he calls weakness and trial.

"But you received me as an angel of God."

Is it not strange, then, to receive one who is persecuted and driven out as an angel of God, but not to receive one who teaches what is necessary?

"But you did not despise my trial in my flesh, nor did you loathe it."

These trials of mine, that is, persecutions, wounds, and the like, did not scandalize you. They did not cause you to despise or loathe me.

At the same time, he imperceptibly shames them by showing how much he endured for their sake from his opponents.

"But you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus."

You honored me, he says, as though I were more than a man.

Is it not strange that, when I was suffering persecutions and was being driven out, you received me as an angel and as Christ, and were not scandalized?

Yet now, when I advise what is right, you regard me as an enemy and do not receive me.

Paul, rejoicing and greatly marveling at the reverence for God among the Christians living in Galatia, and also at their love for him, said, "You received me as an angel of God."

Extending his praise still higher, he added, "as Christ Jesus."

As for the excellence of Christ above an angel, let him himself teach this when he says: "When He brings the Firstborn into the world, He says, 'Let all the angels of God worship Him'" (Heb 1:6).

Again: "For to which of the angels did He ever say, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You,' and, 'Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies the footstool of Your feet'?" (Heb 1:13).

It is also written of them: "Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire" (Ps 103:4; Heb 1:7).

This very trial, which I bore in myself, you did not despise. Rather, in the midst of suffering you received me as an angel, one who is free from sufferings.

This is an obscure passage and must be examined with more than ordinary attention.

Indeed, he says, because of the weakness of your flesh, I had already preached the Gospel to you before as to infants and those fed with milk.

I began with lesser things and, so to speak, with almost childish speech. This condescension and imitation of weak preaching was, on my part, deliberate, mea gubernatio.

But for you it was a trial. Would what was conditionally less than itself, and was presented by me as lowly, please you and seem great?

Indeed, when you received this not as something slight, but as something great, you were so amazed that you received me, who proclaimed it, as a messenger, angelum, of God.

Or, even more, you received me as the Son of God.

Here Paul praises their constancy in the faith, for they did not depart from it.

The Apostle's weakness became a trial for the Galatians. In that trial they stood firm and did not doubt the faith.

For they could have been deceived and said, "What power and hope is there in such a faith, if its minister himself is so humbled?"

But when their soul was filled with future hopes, they did not fear present death in the name of Christ.

They were convinced that the dignity of our faith is revealed not on earth but in heaven, and that present sufferings will be counted worthy of a high reward.

Paul shames them about these very things, because after such praiseworthy deeds they fell into deception and thus deserved rebuke.

“You know that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Gospel to you at first; and my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but received me as an angel of God.” I have not forgotten the honor you showed me. Although I bore great dishonor in my body, having been mocked, tortured, and having endured countless afflictions, you did not look at the dishonor. You honored me “as an angel of God.” And why do I say, “as an angel”? “As Christ Jesus,” because you thought that in serving me you were serving Christ Himself.

It was no obstacle for you, Paul says, that I was weak in the flesh. You received me as an angel of God, that is, as a messenger and preacher sent by God, for such is an angel of God. You received me as Christ Jesus, whom I preached to you. Therefore you truly received Jesus Christ, if you received me as an angel of God, and through this you received Jesus Christ (cf. Mt 25:40).

“My trial which was in my flesh,” πειρασμόν μου. But most manuscripts read ὑμῶν, showing that the Galatians themselves saw the trial that was in the Apostle’s flesh and could be assured of his strength.

Here is the foundation for honoring Christ’s saints. Among us they are honored as Paul was honored by the Galatians, not because of their nature, subject to passions like ours, but because of Christ, who chose and glorified them. They are honored for the word of Christ that they proclaim in the world, and for the virtues that shine in their life. Therefore, like the Galatians, we honor them as angels of God, as Christ Himself.

In order to act more deeply upon the hearts of the Galatians, he reminds them with what love they received his preaching of the Gospel.

"You know that, though through weakness of the flesh I preached the Gospel to you at first, you did not despise my trial in my flesh or loathe it. Rather, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus."

Interpreters try to determine what weakness of the flesh the Apostle had. Some think it was some bodily illness. Others think it was persecutions, reproaches, and wounds, which are more fittingly called a trial in the flesh.

But there is no need to define this precisely.

Seeking to move the Galatians by his good disposition toward them, the Apostle recalls how kindly they once behaved toward him. When they first heard him, they received him as an angel of God, and even more, as Christ Himself. Moreover, according to the Apostle, the Galatians were then ready for every self-sacrifice, even one as precious as their eyes. And this happened when the Apostle was weakened by illness. Could this great trust in the Apostle, and such honor for him, now be replaced by distrust? Would it be replaced by the unfriendliness and enmity inevitably joined to distrust? This would surely undermine all his labor among them. It would also take from them the blessedness they enjoyed when they believed him who spoke to them.