Galatians 4:20 (8-20) “but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.”
Paul was perplexed with them mainly because they had so easily been lead away from the truths they had so eagerly embraced when He was there. The strangers that showed up after he left had convinced them to go back to observing the ritual feast days of the Law as part of a salvation process. We don’t have to go to church Sundays and Wednesdays to be saved (4:9), just to grow up.
Paul is also confused because, while with them, he had apparently gotten really sick and they went way out of their way to take care of him. Maybe he thought that their relationship was such that they wouldn’t let just anyone contradict him. It is kind of strange how even today we’re so eager to believe almost any lie about our trusted friends.
But these guys came to the church acting all authoritative and claiming to have the latest word of God for their poor souls. Listen, the Bible is not as complicated and mysterious as some would have us believe. There are no higher-class believers that truth has been revealed to and to no other. Remember we are all equally priests, princes and sons of God, 1 Peter 2:9.
Cautiousness involves learning to recognize and avoid those intent on destroying right relationships.
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