Galatians 4:16-18 KJV
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.
But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
The wording of this passage leaves for a lot of "play" among the students of the Bible.
The false teachers pretended to love these people, but not for the right reasons and not with a genuine affection for them. In fact, they excluded the people.
They would not have true fellowship with them
They would not let them in on their own circles of friends
They would prevent them from knowing the plans these teachers had for their ministries
And they did it so that the people could not touch the hearts of these false teachers. They did not want to be influenced by the people, therefore they kept them at arm's length, acting like they really loved them, but carefully preventing the people from growing close in their hearts.
Paul said two truths in the face of this
First, a man who tells us the truth is a friend, not an enemy
Even when the truth he tells us hurts.
Second, it is a good thing to have a passionate affection for spiritual leaders who teach you the truth.We should be zealously affected one for another.
The preacher should have a zealous affection for his congregation and
The congregation should have a zealous affection for their preacher
And not just when he is around, but all of the time.
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.
But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
The wording of this passage leaves for a lot of "play" among the students of the Bible.
The false teachers pretended to love these people, but not for the right reasons and not with a genuine affection for them. In fact, they excluded the people.
They would not have true fellowship with them
They would not let them in on their own circles of friends
They would prevent them from knowing the plans these teachers had for their ministries
And they did it so that the people could not touch the hearts of these false teachers. They did not want to be influenced by the people, therefore they kept them at arm's length, acting like they really loved them, but carefully preventing the people from growing close in their hearts.
Paul said two truths in the face of this
First, a man who tells us the truth is a friend, not an enemy
Even when the truth he tells us hurts.
Second, it is a good thing to have a passionate affection for spiritual leaders who teach you the truth.We should be zealously affected one for another.
The preacher should have a zealous affection for his congregation and
The congregation should have a zealous affection for their preacher
And not just when he is around, but all of the time.
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