The occasion of Paul’s telling the Galatians the truth is quite disputed. Among the suggestions are (1) it was during a second visit or in an unrecorded letter, in which he warned them of the apostasy they are now confronted with; or (2) the reference is to the present letter, in which case Paul is simply expressing his fears that the strong language of his letter may lead the Galatians to treat him as an enemy. The first possibilities involve conjectures with no evidence at all. Against the second one must note that the verb form of “become” implies a result which already exists (though the verbal forms are not conclusive), and the Galatians have not yet read the letter. A third suggestion may be brought forth, and that is to interpret truth as the message which Paul preached among the Galatians during his first visit to them. The message of Paul’s enemies is, of course, contrary to what he preached to the Galatians, and since the Galatians, or some of them, have already accepted the Judaizers’ message, they are questioning the accuracy of Paul’s gospel and his right to proclaim it. The word enemy then could be interpreted as hostility to Paul and his message. This fourth suggestion would fit the context best, though no modern commentary takes this line of interpretation.

It may be difficult to speak of Paul as having actually “become an enemy.” Obviously he is not in reality an enemy; it is only that he is suggesting the possibility that the people in the congregations in Galatia might regard him as such. Therefore it may be better to render this verse as “Because I tell you the truth, do you now regard me as your enemy?”, “Does my telling you the truth cause you to think of me as your enemy?”, or “… cause you to say, He is now our enemy?”

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .