Galatians 4:14

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does Galatians 4:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and 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.
Galatians 4:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Galatians 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14and 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.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And my temptation which was in my flesh, etc..] The same with the infirmity of his flesh, and which was a trial of his faith and patience, and every other grace, as the afflictions of the saints be. The Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin version read, “your temptation in my flesh”; that which was a trial of them, whether they would receive him or not. This ye despised not; nor the apostle on the account of it, nor his ministry; they thought never the worse of him, nor of the Gospel he preached, because of this: nor rejected; him, nor the counsel of God declared by him, but received me; as they did, into their cities and places of worship, into their houses, and into…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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 Gal 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…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And my temptation - “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…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And ye did not slight my temptation - That is, ye did not slight or disdain me for my temptation, my "thorn in the flesh." Galatians 4:15”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“ye: Gal 4:13; Job 12:5; Psa 119:141; Ecc 9:16; Isa 53:2, Isa 53:3; Co1 1:28, Co1 4:10; Th1 4:8 an angel: Sa2 14:17, Sa2 19:27; Zac 12:8; Mal 2:7; Heb 13:2 as Christ: Mat 10:40, Mat 18:5, Mat 25:40; Luk 10:16; Joh 13:20; Co2 5:20; Th1 2:13 Galatians 4:15”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification