But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable way, and not only when I am present with you.
Parallel translations
- WEB But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
- KJV But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
- 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.
- NKJV But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.
- NLT If someone is eager to do good things for you, that’s all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I’m with you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Zeal is good when it is for a good purpose and consistent, not just when Paul is present. He commends right-hearted earnestness while contrasting it with the false teachers' selfish zeal.
Overview
Paul concedes that enthusiasm itself is commendable, provided its object is good and it endures in his absence. He implies the Galatians' zeal had been misdirected by the agitators. The verse encourages steadfast, well-aimed devotion that does not depend on the presence of a particular leader.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Phil 2:12So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
- Rev 3:19As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.
- Phil 1:27Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;
- Titus 2:14who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
- 1 Cor 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
- Gal 4:13but you know that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
- Ps 119:139My zeal wears me out, because my enemies ignore your words.
- John 2:17His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.”
- Ps 69:9For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
- Isa 59:17He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head. He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.
- Num 25:11–13“Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I didn’t consume the children of Israel in my jealousy.
- Gal 4:20but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
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Christ at the center
Christ became a curse for us to redeem us from the law's curse, that we might receive the Spirit and be sons — justified by faith in him, not by works.
How Galatians 4:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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