McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries
Galatians 4:8
Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods
Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods
Verse 8. _WHEN YE KNEW NOT GOD_] Though it is evident, from the complexion of the whole of this epistle, that the great body of the Christians in the Churches of Galatia were converts from among the...
HOWBEIT - But, ἀλλὰ alla. The address in this verse and the following is evidently to the portion of the Galatians who had been pagan. This is probably indicated by the particle ἀλλὰ alla, but den...
CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Under the law in the state of minority. (Galatians 4:1)_ 2. The Son revealed to redeem. (Galatians 4:4) 3. Because ye are Sons; the Spirit of Sonship. (Galatians 4:6) 4. The backslid
The state of the Galatians, while heathen, was similar but worse. They had not been heirs in a state of temporary slavery, but frankly slaves to the mere element-spirits, those undivine gods they wors...
THE DAYS OF CHILDHOOD (Galatians 4:1-7)...
There was a time when you did not know God, and when you were slaves to gods who are no gods at all; but now that you know God or rather now that god knows you--how can you turn back again to the weak...
KNEW. Greek. _oida_, App-132. NOT. Greek. _ou_. App-105. DID SERVICE. Greek. _douleuo_. App-190. Compare Galatians 4:3. UNTO. to. NO. not. Greek. _me_. App-105. GODS. App-98,...
Danger of going back to the observance of the legal ceremonial. 8 11 8. Notwithstanding, is it so that you who once were idolaters and ignorant of God, yet after having been brought to the knowledge...
8–11. _Appeal; after so great a change how can you go back!_ (Galatians 4:8) But—before your conversion, when you knew not God, ye were slaves to them which by origin are not gods; (Galatians 4:9) and...
ΤΟΙ͂Σ ΦΎΣΕΙ ΜῊ ΟΥ̓͂ΣΙ ΘΕΟΙ͂Σ אABCD*cP vulg. τοῖς μὴ φύσει οὖσι θεοῖς Text. Rec. with DbGKL etc. syrHarcl; omitting φύσει K d aeth. Irenint. 8. This and the following verses are a “sad and startling c...
ΕΊΔΌΤΕΣ _perf. act. part. от_ ΟΙΔΑ (G1492) знать (_см._ Galatians 2:16). ΈΔΟΥΛΕΎΣΑΤΕ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΔΟΥΛΕΎΩ (G1398) быть порабощенным, ΟΎΣΙΝ _praes. act. part. от_ ΕΙΜΊ (G1510) быть. _Dat._ ука...
YE DID SERVICE UNTO THEM, &C.— _Ye were in bondage unto those which,_ &c. See on Galatians 4:1. It is evident here, that though these Christians had, before their conversion, been idolatrous Gentiles,...
TEXT 4:8-11 (8) Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods: (9) but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back...
_VERSES 8, 9. HOWBEIT THEN, WHEN YE KNEW NOT GOD, YE DID SERVICE UNTO THEM WHICH BY NATURE ARE NO GODS. BUT NOW, AFTER THAT YE HAVE KNOWN GOD, OR RATHER ARE KNOWN OF GOD, HOW TURN YE AGAIN TO THE WEAK...
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. HOWBEIT - contrast of their former with their present state. Appeal not to turn back from their privileges...
1 The place of an infant heir differs from that of a slave in right but not in fact. Though entitled to all, he is treated as though master of nothing. He is watched by guardians, and supervised by st...
4:8 gods; (l-18) As the Hebrew in 2 Chronicles 13:9 , 'what is not God.'...
THE BONDAGE OF THE LAW. FREEDOM IN CHRIST 1-7. Under the Law we were in bondage; under the Gospel we have received the freedom of sons. PARAPHRASE. '(1) The heir before he comes of age can no more en...
HOWBEIT THEN] RV 'At that time,' when they were yet unconverted heathen. NO GODS] cp. 1 Corinthians 8:5; 1 Corinthians 10:20 the so-called divinities of the heathen....
CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE GALATIANS _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 4 YOU ARE GOD’S SONS, YOU ARE NOT SLAVES V1 I will continue what I was saying to you. A young son will receive the property that his fath...
The *Gentiles did not understand anything about God until they became Christians. They were like slaves because they could not trust the real God. Instead, they obeyed their false religions. They used...
(8-11) The results of the foregoing argument are now turned against the Galatians. In their old heathen state they had been in bondage to gods that were no gods. From this bondage they had been delive...
THEM WHICH BY NATURE ARE NO GODS. — The gods of the heathen are called by St. Paul “devils.” (See 1 Corinthians 10:20 : “The things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to devils, and not to Go...
CHAPTER 17 THE RETURN TO BONDAGE. Galatians 4:8 "Sons of God, whom He made His heirs in Christ, how are you turning back to legal bondage!" Such is the appeal with which the Apostle follows up his a...
BUT THOUGH IN TIME PAST WHEN YOU KNEW NOT GOD YOU WERE SLAVES TO FALSE GODS, HOW CAN YOU, NOW THAT YOU HAVE LEARNT TO KNOW HIM, OR RATHER HAVE BEEN RECOGNISED BY HIM, TURN BACK TO THE LESSONS OF CHILD...
LIVE AS SONS, NOT AS BONDMEN Galatians 4:1 The Apostle often uses the word _elements_ or “rudiments,” Galatians 4:3; Galatians 4:9;...
He now declared the process of freedom. "God sent forth His Son... under the law." Thus the law He kept was justified, and He lived thereby. But more than this, He bore its penalty, and so procured ju...
(4) Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. (4) He applies the former doctrine to the Galatians, with a special rebuke: for in comparison with them,...
You served them, who by nature are no gods. These words are to be understood of the converts, who had been Gentiles. --- Known of God. That is, approved and loved by him. (Witham) --- The language of...
(7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (8) В¶ Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods....
Galatians 1:1-24. We saw the second of Corinthians characterized by the most rapid transitions of feeling, by a deep and fervent sense of God's consolations, by a revulsion so much the more powerful i...
8._But when ye as yet knew not God. _This is not intended as an additional argument; and indeed he had already proved his point so fully, that no doubt remained, and the rebuke which was now to be adm...
The relative position therefore of the Jew (even though he were godly) before the coming of Christ, and of the believing Jew or Gentile when Christ had been revealed, is clearly set forth; and in the...
HOWBEIT THEN, WHEN YE KNOW NOT GOD,.... Whilst in Gentilism, and in a state of unregeneracy, they had no true knowledge of God; though they might know by the light of nature, and works of creation, th...
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. Ver. 8. _Ye did service_] Here all religious service done to any but God is manifestly condemned as impious,...
_Howbeit_ Αλλα, _but_, or _however_, that ye Gentiles may not foolishly reject, neglect, or forfeit your privileges, as the sons of God, you ought to remember what your condition was while under _the...
YE; the gentile part of the church. NO GODS; idols....
HOWBEIT, THEN, WHEN YE KNEW NOT GOD, YE DID SERVICE UNTO THEM WHICH BY NATURE ARE NO GODS....
The foolishness of backsliding from this truth:...
HOW CHILDREN ARE ADOPTED AS SONS (vs.1-7) The first few verses of chapter 4 give us the distinctive Christian position in more detail. This position is the result of promise accomplished, as contrast...
BUT THEN, INDEED, WHEN YOU DID NOT KNOW GOD, YOU SERVED THOSE WHICH BY NATURE ARE NOT GODS. Nature = long standing practice, habit, standard accepted custom NOW: You know God. And, God knows you. Wh...
8-11 The happy change whereby the Galatians were turned from idols to the living God, and through Christ had received the adoption of sons, was the effect of his free and rich grace; they were laid u...
WHEN YE KNEW NOT GOD, as he is, or as ye ought to have known him, or as, since, you have known him; for even the heathen have some knowledge of God, ROMANS 1:21. YE DID SERVICE UNTO THEM WHICH BY NATU...
Irenaeus Against Heresies Book II and "those which are not gods,"[45] Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III And the Apostle Paul also, saying, "For though ye have served them which are no gods; ye now...
Galatians 4:8 But G235 then G5119 indeed G3303 did G1492 not G3756 know G1492 (G5761) God G2316 served...
IS IT NOT THEN FOOLISH TO TRY TO TURN BACK TO THEIR FORMER STATE? (GALATIANS 4:8). Granted then that we have received these great privileges from God, would it not be foolish to revert back to being...
‘But at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature were no gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known of God, how do you turn back again to the wea...
Galatians 4:8. Here the Apostle evidently addresses Gentile Christians. But some may have been before their conversion proselytes to Judaism. But formerly (before your conversion, comp. Galatians 4:7)...
_The State of Adoption contrasted with the State of Slavery under the Law_. The Apostle proceeds to give a fuller exposition of the divine sonship and heirship, ch. Galatians 3:29, and shows that the...
TO THEM WHICH BY NATURE ARE NOT GODS (τοις φυσε μη ουσ θεοις). In 1 Corinthians 10:20 he terms them "demons," the "so-called gods" (1 Corinthians 8:5), worshipping images made by hands (Acts 17:29)...
Galatians 4:1. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father....
CONTENTS: Believers full redemption from the law. Sonship through the Spirit. Dangers of lapsing into legality. Impossibility of mixing law and grace. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Paul, Abra...
Galatians 4:1. _The heir, as long as he is a child,_ and a minor, _differeth_ _nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all._ He is under guardians, till the year appointed by the will of his fath...
IN ME PAST. "Don't be foolish enough to give up your favored status as God's sons!!! Remember what you used to be when you did not know God! Remember when you were slaves to idols and the spirits of d...
_Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods._ THE THREE ESTATES OF THE GALATIAN CHURCH I. Before their conversion. 1. Ignorance of God. There is a twof...
GALATIANS—NOTE ON GALATIANS 4:8 The Galatians are in danger of forfeiting sonship and abandoning the true God. They risk returning to false gods (v. Galatians 4:8) and to worldly ways of life (vv....
CHAPTER 4 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. He continues the argument of the preceding chapter that the Jews, like children and slaves, were under the Jewish law as a pædagague, while Christians, as sons o...
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Galatians 4:9. HOW TURN YE AGAIN [anew]?—Making a new beginning in religion, lapsing from Christianity just in as far as they embrace legalism. TO THE WEAK AND BEGGARL...
EXPOSITION GALATIANS 4:1 NOW I SAY (λέγω δέ). A form of expression usual with the apostle when introducing a new statement designed either to explain or elucidate something before said (of. Galati...
Now I say, That an heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father (Galatians 4:1-2...
1 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Corinthians 10:19; 1 Corinthians 10:20; 1 Corinthians 12:2;...
Over against their filial freedom in Christ, Paul sets their lapse into subjection to the elements of the world (verse 3). Knew not God. See on 2 Thessalonians 1:8. Ye did service [ε δ ο υ λ ε υ σ α...
TURNING UNTO LAW-WORKS Galatians 4:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. It is passing strange that, after we have come to know salvation by grace, we could turn back to the beggarly elements of salvation by law...
Indeed then when ye knew not God, ye served them that by nature — That is, in reality. Are no gods — And so were under a far worse bondage than even that of the Jews. For they did serve the true God,...
Our apostle having proved sufficiently the believing Christians freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law; next endeavours to convince the Galatians how absurd and unreasonable it was for them volun...