i/, again) &s formerly ', ver. 13. — udivu, I travail) with the utmost affection (zeal) ; 2 Cor. xi. 2 ; accompanied with crying [referring to (puvqv, voice'], ver. 20. [ When Paul wrote these very words, he exerted himself to the utmost, straining every nerve. _ V. g.] He speaks according to the exigencies of the case, for in the natural birth, formation precedes the pains of labour. — ayjic, o5, until) We must not cease to strive. Always is the cor relative, ver. 18. — fAoppudfy be formed) that you may live nothing but Christ, and think nothing but Christ, ii. 20, and His su£- ferings, death, life, Phil. iii. 10, 11. This is the highest beauty. This form is opposed (troi^eiuffsi to worldly formation [the ffroi^eTa of the world, ver. 9]. — X?/<rroc, Christ) He does not say here Jesus, but Christ ; and this too by metonymy of the concrete for the abstract. Christ, not Paul, was to be formed in the Galatians. — kv vpft, in you) Col. i. 27.
20. AS, but [indeed]) although my presence is not the one and only cause which ought to kindleyour zeal. — vapeTvai, to be present) ver. 18. — apn) Now it would be more necessary than formerly ; comp. again, ver. 19. — dXXaga/) [to change] to accommodate the varying tones of the voice to the various feelings. They usually do so, who have zeal [are zealously affectionate in entreaties] whilst striving to recover the affections, that have been alienated from them. He writes mildly, ver. 12, 19, but he would wish to speak still more mildly. — rrtv (puvqy pov, my voice) The voice may be rendered more flexible than writing, according as the case demands. The art of speaking occupies the first place, that of writing is only vicarious and subsidiary ; 2 John ver. 12 ; 3 John ver. 13, 14. — affopovftai, / stand in doubt) I do not find the way of coining in and going out among you. Paul aimed at the greatest ease in speaking to the Galatians. He accommodated his discourse as much as possible to the dulness of the Galatians, with a view to convince them. The doctrine of inspiration is not endangered by this fact ; see 1 Cor. vii. 25, note.
21. Aeysrt poi, tell me) He urges them, as if he were present, tell me. — ovx dxov&rs ; do ye not hear ?) when it is publicly read. You therefore act, as if you heard nothing of Abraham written in the law. He has recourse to an allegory only by the force of extreme necessity. This is, as it were, a sacred anchor, ver. 20.