Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Galatians 4:13

οἴδατε δὲ. δὲ contrasts the supposition of ἠδικήσατε. So far from unkindness was your treatment of me that even when it might have been unkind, it was not.

ὅτι διʼ ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκὸς, “that because of infirmity of the flesh.” Illness was the cause of St Paul’s first evangelistic efforts among the Galatians. Of the nature of the illness we know nothing, save that Galatians 4:15 suggests that it seriously affected his eyes. “A very early tradition defined the complaint; ‘per dolorem, ut aiunt, auriculae vel capitis’ says Tertullian, de Pudic. § 13. And this statement is copied or confirmed by Jerome (in loco) ‘tradunt eum gravissimum capitis dolorem saepe perpessum’ ” (Lightfoot, Gal. p. 183).

Ramsay (Gal. pp. 420 sqq.), in the interests of the S. Galatian theory, argues that this illness explains the visit to the interior in Acts 13:14, saying that St Paul had intended to stay on the coast, and that it was this sudden change of plan which made John Mark leave. But this is to make John Mark’s fault greater than ever, if he left St Paul when the latter was ill. It is more likely that Mark’s experience of difficulties had already been too much for him, and that as he saw they were likely to increase when St Paul followed out his plan of going inland he felt he could stand them no longer and therefore returned to Jerusalem.

There is no special difficulty in supposing that St Paul was travelling in haste through North Galatia, and was stopped in his journey by illness, and therefore preached to those among whom he was delayed. He does not say that he came, but that he preached, to them because he was ill. See Introduction, pp. xxiii. sq.

εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν τὸ πρότερον. (1) In itself this may mean “formerly” (1 Timothy 1:13; John 6:62; John 9:8; cf. Hebrews 10:32; see Blass, Gram. § 11. 5). But in each of these instances there is a sharp contrast to the present time, and τὸ πρότερον is necessary. In our verse this is not so. There is of course a contrast between this verse and Galatians 4:16 sq., but if τὸ πρότερον means “formerly,” “long ago,” it adds nothing to the thought, and is in fact tautological.

(2) Hence it must mean “the former time” (cf. R.V. marg.; Deuteronomy 9:18; cf. 1 Chronicles 15:13), in contrast to a second visit paid since. If he was writing to South Galatians the first visit was that of the first Missionary Journey, Acts 13:14 to Acts 14:23, the second that of the second Missionary Journey, Acts 16:1-5, for Mr D. Round’s interpretation is very improbable (see Introd. p. xxxi.). If he was writing to North Galatians the first visit was that of Acts 16:6 (second M. J.), and the second Acts 18:23 (third M. J.).

εὐηγγελισάμην. For naturally he would not only build up the converts but also preach to the unconverted.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Galatians 4:13

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