Galatians 4:8
6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
- KJV
- Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
- WEB
- However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
- ASV
- Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:
- DARBY
- But then indeed, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods;
- BLB
- But then, indeed, not knowing God, you⁺ were in slavery to those by nature not being gods.
- ÅB
- Men dengang da dere ikke kjente Gud, slavet dere under de guder som i virkeligheten ikke er guder;
- OTB
- Tidligere, da dere ikke kjente Gud, var dere slaver under dem som av naturen ikke er guder.
- B1930
- Men dengang da I ikke kjente Gud, trælet I under de guder som i virkeligheten ikke er guder;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Corinthians 8:4
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one.
Read in context1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
Read in context1 Thessalonians 4:5
not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;
Read in contextEphesians 2:11–12
Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh and called uncircumcised by the so-called circumcision (that done in the body by human hands)—
Read in context1 Corinthians 10:19–20
Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?
Read in context2 Thessalonians 1:8
in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Read in contextIsaiah 37:19
They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.
Read in context1 Corinthians 1:21
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Read in context