Zealously Affected Galatians 4:17 - Equipped for Battle

If Paul the apostle has not made it clear thus far, he extends his aversion to the Judaizers who were teaching the Galatian church members false doctrine. He has wondered if the church members in Galatia now see him as an enemy rather than the one who brought them the gospel in the first place, and he is attempting to show them their error before they lock into these false teacher's doctrine completely. In chapter four and verse seventeen, Paul spends more time telling the Galatians how these Judaizers have affected them. He wrote:

They zealously affect you, [but] not well; yes, they would exclude you, that you might affect them.

Paul begins with, “The zealously affect you” or rather they have a persuasive influence upon you. The idea is “to burn with zeal”. Just because a doctrine makes a person feel good or get excited doesn't necessarily mean that the teaching is truth. Many outside influences whip people into a frenzy without having true substance to their words. This is the way the Judaizers were affecting the Galatians. With persuasive words and appeal toward their longevity in religious things, the crowd the Judaizers were teaching would follow them zealously.

Paul adds though, “but not well;” Though they were excited about this teaching, the teaching itself was in the wrong direction. As we have learned before, a return to the law after experiencing the grace of Jesus Christ is a step backward in the Christian's beliefs. Paul knew the people were excited about what they learned, however, what they learned was not well for them.

Paul continues, “yes, they would exclude you, that you might affect them.” In other words, the Gentile believers in Galatia were separated from the Jewish ones. Almost as second class Christians the Galatian church members were pushed to the side. It was kind of like levels that one could be on. Of course the Judaizers were on one level - a higher one, and the Galatian church members were on the next – a lower one. Because the Judaizers were “so caring” for the Gentile believers, they would allow them to be a part of their fellowship, but just not quite as good as they were. The idea was that because the Judaizers were now teaching Gentile believers the way they should live, the Judaizers were superior to them. Thus, the Galatian believers elevated them and made them just a bit better in theory.

If we think about it, we can almost feel the furry that Paul has for these Judaizers and the exasperating affect they are having upon the church in Galatia.. So it is with us. Once again, the truth seems to come in on the back of a snail, and false teaching swoops in like an eagle. But what about us? Have we been “zealously affected” in any area? Is there teaching that has whooped us into a frenzy, and although it is exciting, it has no Biblical basis whatsoever? Perhaps as we meditate upon these things we will examine our lives and discover whether the things of God we are excited about are the trues in the word of God that will not only zealously affect us, but also affect those to whom we are around.

Next time we will see how it is good to be zealously affected, so read ahead, and let us join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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