In Galatians 4:19 (today’s Text) Paul calls the Galatian Christians “my little children!” Whereas back in Galatians 3:1 they were “foolish Galatians!”
Then with some degree of accuracy I think we can observe that Paul’s “hope” for these Believers at times “waxed and waned.” Had its “ups” and “downs.”
But in Galatians 4:19 (“as sweet as it gets”) this hope is cautious (based on Galatians 4:20) … but still in existence!
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” A line dominated by word pictures!
For example, Paul here is an expectant Mother! “Travailing in birth” over these nascent Christians! The words “travail in birth” translate “odino” in Greek. Meaning “to feel the pains of childbirth!” It’s root word, “odin,” means “sorrow” as well as “pain,” at least 4 times that’s the case.
Paul is fretful about the welfare of his converts! (Do remember that one of his burdens expressed in that great 2 Corinthians 11 “hardship” paragraph was “the care of all the churches!” Literally the “worry” of all the churches!)
But suddenly, in a clear “twist” of the metaphor … just like a pregnant Mom has a little boy or girl “forming” or “growing” within her body … so Paul senses “Christ Jesus” growing (not in him now) in the Galatians themselves! Paul is in agony … “until Christ be formed in them,” you Galatians who have earnestly expressed faith in the Lord!
The verb translated “be formed” is “morpho,” meaning something like “duplicated.” But in an “outward, visible” sense, the textbooks say! “External appearance,” according to my laptop lexicon! Talk about metamorphosis, the ugly worm to the gorgeous butterfly! For anyone desiring more information about the verb here … subjunctive aorist passive, in the 3rd person singular!
Paul is stressing … praying … that the Galatians will once again start growing in the likeness of Jesus Christ! In Romans 8:29 Paul considers God’s “goal” for us all … “to be conformed to the image of his (the Lord’s) Son.” That’s Jesus, of course!
Then back to Paul’s “name” for these Galatians …“my little children.”
Here he chooses the noun “teknon,” not “huios” … for the words “little children.” NOT the highest word (in dignity) available to him, again … for “little children.”
In fact, “teknon” usually carries the idea of a child in this sense: “in the New Testament used as a term of kindly address by teachers to their disciples.” A direct quote from a Greek lexicon. To a student who needs to be taught a lot!
Really, “teknon” gives the idea of an incomplete individual; “someone whose mind yet needs to be nourished and whose character yet needs to be molded!”
Wow!
Paul longs for more of JESUS and less of Moses to be ingrained, to be grown into these Galatian churches, their membership.
What an enlightening verse on growth, spiritual growth in the life of a follower of Christ!
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.”
May we all today grow in the Lord!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Do you know someone today, a Christian for whom you could pray … pray that he or she will (yet) grow more (and more) in the Lord?
If so … travail, dear friend, travail!