Do Not Be Enslaved Again

But at that time when you[a] did not know God, you were enslaved to the things which by nature are not gods. But now, because you have come to know God, or rather have come to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to be enslaved to them[b] all over again? 10 You carefully observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest perhaps I have labored for you in vain!

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:8 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as temporal
  2. Galatians 4:9 Literally “to whom”

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

Formerly, when you did not know God,(A) you were slaves(B) to those who by nature are not gods.(C) But now that you know God—or rather are known by God(D)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[a]? Do you wish to be enslaved(E) by them all over again?(F) 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!(G) 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.(H)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:9 Or principles