Some things, yes! (Though admittedly … we seldom see even a “hint” of doubting as far as Paul is concerned! But here’s an exception!)
Including the sincerity of the Galatian Christians, some of them anyway.
“I (Paul) desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you (plural pronoun, the Galatians).” Galatians 4:20
After just calling them “my little children,” one verse ago! Paul is disturbed, agitated, on a roller-coaster ride, concerning these converts of his!
The great Apostle has been gone from Galatia for months now, some dictionaries say about a year. He is preaching elsewhere, by now on what’s called his “Second Missionary Journey.” With Silas as his main co-worker, Barnabas having gone to Cyprus to preach, taking John Mark with him.
So now Paul wishes he were back in Galatia! “I desire to be present with you now …” With the verb “desire” translating “thelo” in Greek, meaning “to wish” something. It is an expression of free will, one of God’s many gifts to mankind.
But he wants to be there, in Galatia, “incognito!” In disguise, so he could just observe the situation! “I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice …” Paul seems to have had a distinct voice, some of his detractors even making fun of it at times! See 2 Corinthians 10:10 … “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech (can easily mean ‘voice’) contemptible.”
That verb “change” is “allasso,” simply “to swap” one human voice for another. Maybe a high pitched one for a more normal tone!
Anyway, if he could have been miraculously transported to the area of these churches in question, Paul would have so disguised himself and “listened, observed, attended services, etc.” to have better evaluated the situation at hand!
Why?
He was (frankly) worried!
He had begun to doubt the authenticity of their very salvation!
” I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; FOR I STAND IN DOUBT OF YOU.”
In English “to stand in doubt” expresses the verb “aporeo.” a tough little word to define. It basically means (as is so translated in our King James New Testaments) “to be perplexed” (though just one time). Then as here, “to stand in doubt,” again just one time. Then twice just simply “to doubt” In current vernacular, expression … it just carries the idea of “changing one’s mind,” looks like to me.
Almost … “not knowing what to think” about a situation!
So … what’s next?
As we shall see tomorrow, and even more so within the next few lessons, Paul uses a classic illustration to show how soul salvation is NOT a derivative of the Law of Moses, but a Gift of God, a Token of His Pure Grace!
Which is a way of saying … study with us again tomorrow, please!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell