SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:11
Temo por vosotros, que haya trabajado en vano en vosotros.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:11
Verse 11. I am afraid of you] I begin now to be seriously alarmed for you, and think you are so thoroughly perverted from the Gospel of Christ, that all my pains and labour in your conversion have been thrown away.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. I am afraid of you , etc..] Which shows the danger he apprehended they were in, by taking such large steps from Christianity to Judaism, and expresses the godly jealousy of the apostle over them; intimates he had some hope of them, and in the whole declares his great love and affection for them; for love is a thing full of care and fear: lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain ; in preaching the Gospel among them with so much diligence and constancy, though so many afflictions and pressures lay upon him. Faithful ministers of the word are laborious ones; and such an one was the apostle; and who indeed laboured more abundantly than the rest in all places wherever he came; and such will be concerned, as he was, lest their labours should be in vain, not to themselves, but to the souls of others, whose everlasting good and welfare they are seeking. But how is it that the apostle should fear that his labour in preaching the Gospel would be in vain, and become of no effect through their observance of days, months, times, and years? because that hereby the pure spiritual and evangelic worship of God was corrupted, they bringing into it that which God had removed, and so became guilty of will worship; their Christian liberty was infringed, and they brought into bondage, a deliverance from which the Gospel proclaims; the doctrine of free grace in pardon, justification, and salvation, was made void, they observing these things in order to procure them thereby; and it was virtually and tacitly saying, that Christ was not come in the flesh, which is the main article of the Gospel; for since these things had respect to him, and were to continue no longer than till his coming, to keep on the observation of them, was declaring that he was not come; which is in effect to set aside the whole Gospel, and the ministration of it; so that the apostle might justly fear, that by such a proceeding all his labour, and the pains he had took to preach the Gospel, and salvation by Christ unto them, would be in vain.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-11 - The happy change whereby the Galatians were turned from idols to the living God, and through Christ had received the adoption of sons, wa the effect of his free and rich grace; they were laid under the greate obligation to keep to the liberty wherewith he had made them free. All our knowledge of God begins on his part; we know him because we ar known of him. Though our religion forbids idolatry, yet many practis spiritual idolatry in their hearts. For what a man loves most, an cares most for, that is his god: some have their riches for their god some their pleasures, and some their lusts. And many ignorantly worshi a god of their own making; a god made all of mercy and no justice. For they persuade themselves that there is mercy for them with God, thoug they repent not, but go on in their sins. It is possible for those wh have made great professions of religion, to be afterwards drawn asid from purity and simplicity. And the more mercy God has shown, in bringing any to know the gospel, and the liberties and privileges of it, the greater their sin and folly in suffering themselves to be deprived of them. Hence all who are members of the outward churc should learn to fear and to suspect themselves. We must not be conten because we have some good things in ourselves. Paul fears lest his labour is in vain, yet he still labours; and thus to do, whateve follows, is true wisdom and the fear of God. This every man mus remember in his place and calling.
Greek Textus Receptus
φοβουμαι 5399 5736 υμας 5209 μηπως 3381 εικη 1500 κεκοπιακα 2872 5758 εις 1519 υμας 5209
Vincent's NT Word Studies
11. I am afraid of you (foboumai umav). Not a felicitous translation, though retained by Rev. Rather, "I am afraid for you or concerning you." The second uJmav is not attracted into the principal clause so as to read, "I am afraid lest I have bestowed labor," etc. The two clauses are distinct. I am afraid about you: then the reason for the fear is added, lest I have bestowed, etc.
Upon you (eiv umav). Lit. into you. The labor, though in vain, had born directly upon its object. See the same phrase Rom. xvi. 6.
In vain (eikh). Comp. chapter iii. 4; 1 Cor. xv. 2, and eijv to no purpose, Philip. ii. 16; 2 Cor. vi. 1; Gal. ii. 2; 1 Thessalonians iii. 5. After all my labor, you may return to Judaism. Luther says: "These words of Paul breathe tears."
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:11 {I am afraid of you} (foboumai humas). He shudders to think of it. {Lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain} (me pws eikei kekopiaka eis humas). Usual construction after a verb of fearing about what has actually happened (me pws and the perfect active indicative of kopiaw, to toil wearily). A fear about the future would be expressed by the subjunctive. Paul fears that the worst has happened.
