Have you ever heard a speaker whose words were so convincing they inspired you to act? Aristotle taught that there are three parts of a strong persuasive argument: Logos (argument), Ethos (credibility), and Pathos (passion). Pathos refers to the speaker’s ability to evoke emotions in the hearer, knowing that our emotions affect the judgments we make.

Paul was an accomplished speaker and writer who used logos, ethos, and pathos to communicate God’s truth. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul finds himself involved in an indirect “debate” with the false teachers who have infiltrated the Galatian church. In Galatians 4:17–20, he focuses his argument directly on those opponents, challenging their credibility (ethos).

But first, Paul acknowledges the zeal (pathos) of his enemies. “Zeal” here means to be intensely interested in someone, wanting to win them over to your side. These zealous false teachers were trying to pull the Galatian believers away from Paul and the true gospel. Paul takes this as a personal affront. He warned the Galatians that the goal of these false teachers was not just to win them over (v. 17) but also to drive a wedge between the Galatian believers and Paul. On the role of the Law in the believer’s life, these infiltrators and Paul held opposing views. The Galatian Christians could not hold to both views. They had to choose.

As Paul was physically absent from them, he found himself at a painful disadvantage. He heart- breakingly calls the Galatian believers his “dear children,” and he likens his pain to childbirth. He is so invested in their spiritual maturity, “until Christ is formed in you” (v. 19), that he longs to be with them. But he cannot.

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