An online dictionary defines “cryptic” as “having an obscure meaning.” Then this little synonym, “perplexing.”

Yes, Galatians 4:17 and 18 fit into that category. At least to me they do. But I still feel it good to consider them one at a time. (Paul the Apostle is not always east to understand! That brilliant mind of his can soar to amazing heights! And reach profound depths! Here’s Peter writing about some of Paul’s Epistles: “in which are some things hard to be understood.” 2 Peter 3:16)

So … here’s today’s Text:

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.” Galatians 4:17

Paul is here mentioning (that first pronoun in the sentence, “they”) the false teachers who have so (dangerously) impacted his Galatian congregations. (In fact, three times in this short Verse! “They … they … them!”) Tons of Articles in theological journals have been written trying to specifically identify this crowd of objectors! Men guilty of adding to the Gospel of the Grace of God! Adding the Law of Moses, especially!

Whatever they (a delegation from certain sects in Jerusalem, Galatians 2:12) are doing in Paul’s Churches is not good! “They zealously affect you, but not well!”

“Zealously affect” translates the Greek verb “zeloo.” Which essentially means “to be on fire, to boil” with fervor! I think Paul is saying … “This crowd is ‘eager, very zealous, fanatical‘ to win you all over to their (devilish, detracting from Jesus) point of view!”

“Not well” speaks for itself, “ouk kalos” in Greek. “Not lovely, not beneficial, with no excellence!” Paul elsewhere would have said, “not edifying!” By the way, “ouk” is the absolute negative! No exceptions whatsoever!

But what does that word “exclude” mean? In our Text? “They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would EXCLUDE you, that ye might affect them.”

Again I suspect it means something like this: “These false teaches want to SEPARATE you young Galatians believers from the influence of Paul the older Apostle!” Yes, “exclude” translates the rare verb “ekkleo,” meaning “to shut out” someone. Here, hoping the Galatians will “shut Paul out” of the Law/Grace discussion! Break fellowship! 

Wow!

Then the last clause of our Text … “they would exclude you, THAT YE MIGHT AFFECT THEM!” Still using “zeloo” for “might affect!” That THEY might convert you Galatians to “boiling hot” faith in their (false) doctrines, no longer believing in Paul’s (true) preaching! 

Winning people (as many as they can) to a form of soul salvation (and preservation) that denies Jesus is the Only Way to Heaven!

Our Lord said this very thing about the Pharisees in Matthew 23:15. Read it please. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte (one convert, one believer), and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” 

Again, Wow!

Now here’s a loose paraphrase of today’s Verse. It might help. “Those heretical teachers will go to great lengths to flatter you, but their motives are wicked. They want to exclude you from the free world of God’s grace (and from Paul who first peached this Truth to you) … so that you will always depend on them for approval and direction, making them feel important.

Is Paul a bit jealous over his Galatian congregations?

Certainly!

And properly so!

So is God the father jealous over all us His children!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell