Galatians 4:13

through infirmity of the flesh Rather, as R.V. -because of an infirmity of the flesh", owing to bodily sickness.

What was this infirmity? Most commentators identify it with the -thorn in the flesh", 2 Corinthians 12:7. Bp Lightfoot (p. 169 foll.) enumerates in chronological order the different conjectures which have been put forward in early and more modern times. They are (1) some bodily ailment, (2) persecution, (3) fleshly desires, (4) spiritual trials, such as temptations to despair, blasphemous suggestions of the Devil. The most recent expositors recur to the earliest view of this infirmity that it was some bodily ailment. Bp Lightfoot conjectures that it was -of the nature of epilepsy". Between this suggestion and that of some defect of eye-sight, perhaps acute ophthalmia, it is not easy to choose. The passages adduced in support of this latter conjecture are not conclusive in its favour, though their cumulative evidence is strong. They are discussed in an interesting note by Bp. Lightfoot, p. 174, note 1.

at the first Probably, -on the former occasion", i.e. on the earlier of my two visits, mentioned Acts 16:6. The second or later visit is named Acts 18:23. We may fairly infer from the Apostle's language that on the former occasion he had not intended to preach the Gospel in Galatia, but that sickness of some kind (probably acutedisorder) detained him there, and that notwithstanding weakness and pain distress to himself, and disadvantage to the reception of his message he proclaimed the Gospel of his Lord.