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Galatians 4:17

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.

16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.
KJV
They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
WEB
They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
ASV
They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.
DARBY
They are not rightly zealous after you, but desire to shut you out [from us], that ye may be zealous after them.
BLB
They are zealous for you⁺, not nobly, but they want to exclude you⁺ [from us], so that you⁺ may be zealous for them.
ÅB
De legger seg etter dere med en iver som ikke er god; men de vil stenge dere ute, for at dere skal være ivrige for dem.
OTB
De er ivrige etter å vinne dere, men ikke for det gode. De ønsker å isolere dere, så dere kan være ivrige for dem.
B1930
De legger sig efter eder med en iver som ikke er god; men de vil stenge eder ute, forat I skal være ivrige for dem.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Corinthians 11:13–15

    For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

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  • Romans 16:18

    For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

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  • 2 Peter 2:3

    And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

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  • Matthew 23:15

    Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

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  • 1 Corinthians 4:8

    Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

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  • Romans 10:2

    For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

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  • Philippians 2:21

    For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

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  • 2 Peter 2:18

    For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

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