Verse Lens · Context pointer
Galatians 4:18 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 18. 18But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Role in This Section
This verse qualifies that zeal for good can be appropriate consistently, not only in Paul's presence.
Read It With
- Galatians 4:12–20
Read Galatians 4:18 with 4:12–20. This verse qualifies that zeal for good can be appropriate consistently, not only in Paul's presence. The complete unit establishes this movement: Paul asks the Galatians to share his law-free position, recalls that bodily weakness did not prevent their generous welcome, distinguishes truthful care from rivals seeking exclusive allegiance, and pictures his renewed anguish as labor until Christ is formed in them.
Why It Needs Context
Read this line within Galatians 4:12–20. The surrounding lines are necessary because they complete this movement: Paul asks the Galatians to share his law-free position, recalls that bodily weakness did not prevent their generous welcome, distinguishes truthful care from rivals seeking exclusive allegiance, and pictures his renewed anguish as labor until Christ is formed in them.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Galatians 4:12–20 — Paul Appeals through Shared History and Labor Pains, Not FlatterySources used for this context pointer
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: Galatians 4:12–20, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and original-language discussion.
Exact location: SBLGNT official text file Gal.txt, 4:12–20
Open the Galatians Greek text file ↗