Paul switches from an attitude of despair (4.19-20) to an expression of confidence in his readers.
The first part of the verse is literally “I have confidence in the Lord.” Several things should be noted.
I is emphatic and has the sense either of “I know you well, and therefore I am confident,” or “I, regardless of what others might think.”
The phrase “in the Lord” occurs some forty times in Paul’s writings. In accordance with his usage, it should refer to Christ. The meaning of the expression in this particular context depends on one’s conclusion regarding its relation to Paul’s confidence. It could denote the object of Paul’s confidence, that is, “I am confident about your being in the Lord,” or “… united with the Lord.” Most modern translators, however, understand “in the Lord” as the basis for Paul’s confidence (Jerusalem Bible “I feel sure that, united in the Lord”; New English Bible “united with you in the Lord, I am confident”). The causal relation between our life in union with the Lord and Paul’s confidence may be expressed in some languages by a clause of cause, for example, “because we are all joined together with the Lord, I am sure that….”
You will not take a different view may have as its reference Paul’s general position as reflected in the letter (Revised Standard Version “you will take no other view than mine”; Knox “you will be of the same mind with me”) or Paul’s statement in verses 7-9 (as it seems to be in Jerusalem Bible “you will agree with me”). Many translations, including Good News Translation, leave the statement ambiguous (New English Bible “you will not take the wrong view”; New American Bible “you will not adopt a different view”).
It is possible to interpret the man who is upsetting you as referring to all the false teachers, with a singular standing for the whole (Knox “leaving the disturbers of your peace, be they who they may”), or as a general statement referring to no one in particular but to anyone who disturbs (Jerusalem Bible “anybody who troubles you,” New American Bible “whoever it is that is unsettling you”). Many scholars, however, take the position that Paul has a specific person in mind, perhaps the leader of the false teachers. In that case, the expression whoever he is might indicate that he has quite a high position within the group. It could, however, only emphasize the indefiniteness of the reference.
The expression will be punished by God is literally “will bear the judgment,” but it is clear from the context that this has reference to God’s act in regard to the disturber, and that this act carries with it both judgment and punishment.
Paul’s confidence expresses itself with respect to two situations: (1) that the believers in Galatia will ultimately not have a different view from what Paul has, and (2) that the man who has been causing the trouble will be punished by God. It is necessary in a number of languages to divide the content of these two expressions of confidence into two completely different sentences, for example, “Because we are joined together with the Lord, I am sure that you will not see things differently from the way in which I see them. I am also sure that the man who is disturbing you, whoever that man happens to be, will suffer punishment by God,” or “… God will punish the one who is upsetting you, it makes no difference who he is.”
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 .