Galatians 4:8-10
New Catholic Bible
No Return to Slavery.[a] 8 Previously, when you did not know God, you were slaves to forces who were not really gods at all. 9 But now that you have come to know God—or rather to be known by God—how can you turn back once again to those powerless and destitute forces? How can you consider becoming enslaved once again? 10 You even observe special days and months and seasons and years.
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- Galatians 4:8 The baptized have suddenly become concerned with the calendar of Jewish feasts or of pagan cults; do they, then, believe themselves to be slaves of the forces that they think rule the world and do they therefore desire to conciliate those forces by rites? God is not to be confused with any force, known or unknown, of this world.
Galatians 4:8-10
King James Version
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
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Galatians 4:8-10
New King James Version
Fears for the Church
8 But then, indeed, (A)when you did not know God, (B)you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now (C)after you have known God, or rather are known by God, (D)how is it that you turn again to (E)the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 (F)You observe days and months and seasons and years.
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Galatians 4:8-10
English Standard Version
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you (A)did not know God, you (B)were enslaved to those that by nature (C)are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather (D)to be known by God, (E)how can you turn back again to (F)the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 (G)You observe days and months and seasons and years!
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
