Galatians 4:18
But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
Galatians 4:18 in other translations
| BSB | Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you. |
|---|---|
| WEB | But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you. |
| ASV | But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you. |
| YLT | and it is good to be zealously regarded, in what is good, at all times, and not only in my being present with you; |
| DARBY | But it is right to be zealous at all times in what is right, and not only when I am present with you — |
| BBE | But it is good to have an interest in a good cause at all times, and not only when I am present with you. |
| Webster | But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. |
What does Galatians 4:18 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
And not only when I am present with you. It seems to me that there is great adroitness and great delicacy of irony in this remark; and that the apostle intends to remind them, as gently as possible, that it would have been as well for them to have shown their zeal in a good cause, when he was absent, as well as when he was with them. The sense may be, "You were exceedingly zealous in a good cause when I was with you. You loved the truth; you loved me. Since I left you, and as soon almost as I was out of your sight, your zeal died away, and your ardent love for me was transferred to others. Suffer me to remind you, that it would be well to be zealous of good when I am away, as well as when I am with you. There is not much true affection in that which dies away as soon as a man's back is turned." The doctrine is, that true zeal or love will live alike when the object is near, and when it is removed; when our friends are present with us, and when they leave us; when their eye is upon us, and when it is turned away.
(a) "always in a good thing" 1Cor 15:58
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
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…
Galatians 4:18 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Galatians 4:18
- Philippians 2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
- Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
- Philippians 1:27
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
- Psalms 119:139
My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
- Titus 2:14
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
- Galatians 4:13
Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
- Isaiah 59:17
For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
- John 2:17
And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
- Numbers 25:11-13
Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.
- Psalms 69:9
For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
- Galatians 4:20
I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Galatians 4:17
They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
- Galatians 4:18
But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
- Galatians 4:19
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Galatians 4:18 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Bueno es ser celosos en bien siempre; y no solamente cuando estoy presente con vosotros. |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Mais il est bon d’être toujours zélé pour le bien, et de ne pas l’être seulement quand je suis présent avec vous. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Es ist aber gut, allezeit im Guten zu eifern, und nicht allein, wenn ich bei euch gegenwärtig bin. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Bonum autem æmulamini in bono semper: et non tantum cum præsens sum apud vos. |