16. Have I then become your enemy by telling the truth to you and dealing sincerely with you?
17. These men [the Judaizing teachers] are zealously trying to dazzle you [paying court to you, making much of you], but their purpose is not honorable or worthy or for any good. What they want to do is to isolate you [from us who oppose them], so that they may win you over to their side and get you to court their favor.
18. It is always a fine thing [of course] to be zealously sought after [as you are, provided that it is] for a good purpose and done by reason of purity of heart and life, and not just when I am present with you!
19. My little children, for whom I am again suffering birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently formed (molded) within you,
20. Would that I were with you now and could coax you vocally, for I am fearful and perplexed about you!
21. Tell me, you who are bent on being under the Law, will you listen to what the Law [really] says?
22. For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondmaid and one by the free woman. [Gen. 16:15; 21:2, 9.]
23. But whereas the child of the slave woman was born according to the flesh and had an ordinary birth, the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of the promise.