‘You were running well. Who hindered you that you should not obey the truth?'
Their progress and growth had been fully satisfactory, who was it now then who was hindering them from obeying the truth? The illustration is from the games. They were putting in a good performance, and then someone had cheated in order to prevent their success. Note how Paul confidently describes what he has told them as ‘the truth'. For it is God's special revelation of Himself. But while it is the truth, sadly they are not ‘obeying' it. For truth when accepted produces obedience.
‘Who hindered you?' A deliberate act of cheating is in mind. These were not fair-minded men but cheats.