Galatians 4:12-14 12 Become as I am, because I also became as you are, brothers, I ask you. You did no wrong to me. 13You know it was because of a weakness of the flesh that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
These verses give a personal glimpse of Paul’s experience in Galatia. He came with a weakness of the flesh. This likely refers to some kind of illness or physical ailment that Paul was experiencing at the time. This created some type of difficult situation for the Galatians who undoubtedly took care of Paul during this time. Paul apparently is appealing to their heart strings at this point in the letter. He is drawing upon the common experience he and the Galatians share. These moments of sharing in trials and hardships can be significant for relationships. Emotional memory can be deeper than intellectual memory.
Paul came in this weakened condition and still preached the gospel to the Galatians. Even in this type of situation, they believed. This implies that they believed in the message and not believed in the messenger. The weak messenger (Paul) only relayed the power message (the gospel). Paul was only the mouthpiece that allowed the power of God to work through the gospel. His example here attempts to help the Galatians see that faith and reliance upon Jesus is what matters. Paul is illustrating here what he wrote in 2:20: to live by faith in Jesus Christ. The gospel is the power of God in Christ, and this power is experienced as grace and forgiveness for those who trust in it.
Verse 12 is an appeal to the Galatians to follow this same pattern. They should not rely on their own strength, understanding, and ability to keep certain laws, regulations, traditions, or religious practices. This approach put human strength in front of divine grace. What they were doing by following the agitators’ doctrine of circumcision was relying on human abilities. They needed to crucify themselves just like Paul had done. The way of the cross brings freedom from this struggle to fulfill a set of regulations that have no positive impact on one’s salvation.
In v. 14, Paul draws upon this common memory and experience to point the Galatians to his own approach of the crucified life. They welcomed him in his weakened condition. They had faith. They started off well. What happened along the way? It is too easy for any person to get derailed by subtle but false doctrines. Our memories are short sometimes and need the reminder to go back to the heart of the faith.
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