Galatians 4 · Verse 14

Galatians 4:14

And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
Galatians 4:14, King James Version

Galatians 4:14 in other translations

BSBAnd although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.
WEBThat which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
ASVand that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
YLTand my trial that is in my flesh ye did not despise nor reject, but as a messenger of God ye did receive me--as Christ Jesus;
DARBYand my temptation, which was in my flesh, ye did not slight nor reject with contempt; but ye received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
BBEAnd you did not have a poor opinion of me because of the trouble in my flesh, or put shame on it; but you took me to your hearts as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
WebsterAnd my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

What does Galatians 4:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. my temptation--The oldest manuscripts read, "your temptation." My infirmity, which was, or might have been, a "temptation," or trial, to you, ye despised not, that is, ye were not tempted by it to despise me and my message. Perhaps, however, it is better to punctuate and explain as Lachmann, connecting it with Ga 4:13, "And (ye know) your temptation (that is, the temptation to which ye were exposed through the infirmity) which was in my flesh. Ye despised not (through natural pride), nor rejected (through spiritual pride), but received me," &c. "Temptation does not mean here, as we now use the word, tendency to an evil habit, but BODILY TRIAL." as an angel of God--as a heaven-inspired and sent messenger from God: angel means "messenger" (Mal 2:7). Compare the phrase, 2Sa 19:27, a Hebrew and Oriental one for a person to be received with the highest respect (Zec 12:8). An angel is free from the flesh, infirmity, and temptation. as Christ--being Christ's representative (Mt 10:40). Christ is Lord of angels.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. And my temptations. My trial; the thing which was to me a trial and calamity. The meaning is, that he was afflicted with various calamities and infirmities, but that this did not hinder their receiving him as an angel from heaven. There is, however, a considerable variety in the Mss. on this verse. Many Mss., instead of "my temptation" read "your temptation;" and Mill maintains that this is the true reading. Griesbach hesitates between the two. But it is not very important to determine which is the true reading. If it should be "your," then it means that they were tempted by his infirmities to reject him; and so it amounts to about the same thing. The general sense is, that he had some bodily infirmity; perhaps some periodically returning disease, that was a great trial to him, which they bore with, with great patience and affection. What that was he has not informed us, and conjecture is vain.

But received me as an angel of God. With the utmost respect, as if I had been an angel sent from God.

Even as Christ Jesus. As you would have done the Redeemer himself. Learn hence,

(1.) that the Lord Jesus is superior to an angel of God.

(2.) That the highest proof of attachment to a minister is to receive him as the Saviour would be received.

(3.) It showed their attachment to the Lord Jesus, that they received his apostle as they would have received the Saviour himself. Comp. Mt 10:40.

(b) "an angel of God" 2Sam 19:27, Mal 2:7 (c) "Christ Jesus" Mt 10:40

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 And my temptation which was in my flesh - On this verse there are a great many various readings, as there are various opinions. Instead of μου, My temptation, ABC*D*FG, some others, with the Coptic, Vulgate, Itala, and several of the primitive fathers, have ὑμων, Your temptation. The word πειρασμον, which we translate temptation, signifies trial of any kind. The verse therefore may be read, "Ye despised not the trial which was in my flesh;" or, "Ye despised not your trial, which was in my flesh:" i.e. what my flesh suffered on your account, the afflictions I passed through in consequence of my severe labors on your account. You did not consider me less an apostle of God on account of my sinking for a time under the weight of my work. Had they been disaffected towards him at that time, they would have used this to the prejudice of his apostolic mission. "What! do you pretend to be an extraordinary messenger from God, and yet are suffered to fall into sickness under the severity of your labor? If God sent you, would he not sustain you?" This would have been quite natural, had they not been well affected toward him. But, on the contrary, notwithstanding these afflictions, they received him as an angel of God - as a messenger from heaven, and as Jesus Christ himself. This appears to me to be the simple meaning of the apostle, and that he neither alludes to a bodily nor mental infirmity, which generally or periodically afflicted him, as some have imagined. Nor does he appear at all to speak of the same case as that mentioned 2Cor 12:7, where I wish the reader to consult the notes. That St. Paul had frequent and severe afflictions, in consequence of his constant and severe exertions in the Gospel ministry, we may readily believe, and of this his own words bear sufficient testimony. See his affecting account, 2Cor 11:23-29, and the notes there.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Galatians 4:12-18

The apostle desires that they would be of one mind with him respecting the law of Moses, as well as united with him in love. In reproving others, we should take care to convince them that our reproofs are from sincere regard to the honour of God and religion and their welfare. The apostle reminds the Galatians of the difficulty under which he laboured when he first came among them. But he notices, that he was a…

Read the full comment on Galatians 4:12-18 →

Galatians 4:14 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiandG2532
τὸνtontheG3588
πειρασμὸνpeirasmontestG3986
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
ἐνeninG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
σαρκίsarkifleshG4561
μουmouof mineG3165
οὐκouknotG3756
ἐξουθενήσατεexouthenēsateyou did despise [me]G1848
οὐδὲoudenorG3761
ἐξεπτύσατε,exeptusatereject [me] with contempt,G1609
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ὡςhōsasG5613
ἄγγελονangelonan angelG32
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
ἐδέξασθέedexastheyou receivedG1209
με,memeG3165
ὡςhōseven asG5613
ΧριστὸνChristonChristG5547
Ἰησοῦν.¶IēsounJesus.G2424

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Galatians 4:14

  • Matthew 10:40

    He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:13

    For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

  • Hebrews 13:2

    Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

  • 2 Samuel 19:27

    And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:20

    Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

  • Isaiah 53:2-3

    For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

  • Zechariah 12:8

    In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.

  • Luke 10:16

    He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

  • Malachi 2:7

    For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

  • 2 Samuel 14:17

    Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the Lord thy God will be with thee.

  • Matthew 18:5

    And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:10

    We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
ye.
13; Job 12:5; Ps 119:141; Ec 9:16; Isa 53:2,3; 1Co 1:28; 4:10
1Th 4:8
an angel.
2Sa 14:17; 19:27; Zec 12:8; Mal 2:7; Heb 13:2
as Christ.
Mt 10:40; 18:5; 25:40; Lu 10:16; Joh 13:20; 2Co 5:20; 1Th 2:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Galatians 4:13

    Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

  • Galatians 4:14

    And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

  • Galatians 4:15

    Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

Read all of Galatians 4

Galatians 4:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y no desechasteis ni menospreciasteis mi tentación que estaba en mi carne: antes me recibisteis como á un ángel de Dios, como á Cristo Jesús.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et vous n’avez point méprisé, ni rejeté avec dégoût ma tentation qui était en ma chair; mais vous m’avez reçu comme un ange de Dieu, comme le christ Jésus.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und meine Versuchung, die in meinem Fleische war, habt ihr nicht verachtet noch verabscheut, sondern wie einen Engel Gottes nahmet ihr mich auf, wie Christum Jesum.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		non sprevistis, neque respuistis: sed sicut angelum Dei excepistis me, sicut Christum Jesum.