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galatians 4:8-21

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Galatians 4:8-21

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”

— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

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. 11. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. 12. Brethren, I beseech you, be as I [am]; for I [am] as ye [are]: ye have not injured me at all. 13. Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. 14. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus. 15. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if [it had been] possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. 16. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? 17. They zealously affect you, [but] not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. 18. But [it is] good to be zealously affected always in [a] good [thing], and not only when I am present with you. 19. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, 20. I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. 21. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

Galatians 4:8-21 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Galatians 4:8

Theological / Devotional

When ye knew not God. Paul now apparently addresses himself particularly to the Gentile members of the Galatian churches, and reminds them of their experience before becoming Christians. God had not revealed Himself to them, nor had He given them His law. This did not mean that they had been altogether without any knowledge of God (see Rom. 1:18-21), but God had given a special revelation of Himself to the Jews, who thereby had enjoyed a distinct advantage (see Rom. 3:1,2). God had “winked” at the former comparative ignorance of the Gentiles (Acts 17:30).

Are no gods. They were idols, or false gods, and thus really not gods at all (see 1 Cor. 8:4; cf. ch. 10:20). Before they learned of Christ, the Gentiles had been in bondage to their gods. This was not true of Jewish Christians, for they had not been worshiping idols when they learned of Christ.

By SdaBc

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