Gálatas 4

Gálatas 4

Boice explains that Paul "became like them, in order to win them to Christ.... This is a principle of great importance for all who are trying to win other people for Christ. Our goal must be to make them like us, while the means to that end is to make ourselves like them. Witnessing involves doctrine, but it also involves the most personal involvement of the witness with those to whom he or she is witnessing." (The Expositor's Bible Commentary) Stott explains that "The reference is probably to his visits to them. When Paul came to them in Galatia, he did not keep his distance or stand on his dignity, but became like them. He put himself in their place and identified himself with them. Although he was a Jew, he became like the Gentiles they were. This was in accordance with his principle stated in 1 Corinthians 9:20–22." (See The Message of Galatians) THOUGHT - "Embedded here is a principle of far-reaching importance for ministers, missionaries and other Christian workers. It is that, in seeking to win other people for Christ, our end is to make them like us, while the means to that end is to make ourselves like them. If they are to become one with us in Christian conviction and experience, we must first become one with them in Christian compassion. We must be able to say with the apostle Paul: ‘I became like you; now you become like me.’" (Stott) African Bible Commentary - The reason Paul gives for asking them to become like him is that I became like you (4:12b). He had become like the Jews who had been freed from the demands of the law, and like the Gentiles in that he no longer prized his Jewish heritage as making him superior to them. You have done me no wrong - This is explained in the following passages where he reminds them of their exemplary behavior toward him.