4:17 They court you eagerly, 1 but for no good purpose; 2 they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly. 3 4:18 However, it is good 4 to be sought eagerly 5 for a good purpose 6 at all times, and not only when I am present with you. 4:19 My children – I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you! 7 4:20 I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice, 8 because I am perplexed about you.
4:21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law? 9
1 tn Or “They are zealous for you.”
2 tn Or “but not commendably” (BDAG 505 s.v. καλῶς 2).
3 tn Or “so that you would be zealous.”
4 tn Or “commendable.”
5 tn Or “to be zealous.”
6 tn Grk “But it is always good to be zealous in good.”
7 tn Grk “My children, for whom I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you.” The relative clauses in English do not pick up the emotional force of Paul’s language here (note “tone of voice” in v. 20, indicating that he is passionately concerned for them); hence, the translation has been altered slightly to capture the connotative power of Paul’s plea.
sn That is, until Christ’s nature or character is formed in them (see L&N 58.4).
8 tn Grk “voice” or “tone.” The contemporary English expression “tone of voice” is a good approximation to the meaning here.
9 tn Or “will you not hear what the law says?” The Greek verb ἀκούω (akouw) means “hear, listen to,” but by figurative extension it can also mean “obey.” It can also refer to the process of comprehension that follows hearing, and that sense fits the context well here.