Galatians 4:8-11 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:9

A protest against relapse. "But now, after having known God, or rather were being known of God, how are you turning again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?" I. MARK THEIR NEW POSITION OF KNOWLEDGE AND PRIVILEGE . The Galatians had come to know God through the preaching of the gospel. 1 . This was their high privilege. "This is life eternal, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." 2 .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:10

Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years ( ἡμέρας παρατηρεῖσθε , καὶ μῆνας καὶ καιρούς καὶ ἐνιαυτούς ); days ye are intent on observing , and months , and seasons , and years. In the compound verb παρατηρεῖν , the prepositional prefix, which often denotes "amiss," seems rather, from the sense of "at one's side," to give the verb the shade of close, intent observation. This may be shown by the circumstances to be of an insidious character; thus... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:10

The observance of days. The apostle now gives a specimen of this bondage. "Days ye are observing, and months, and seasons, and years." The days were the Jewish sabbaths, with other times of religious observance; the months were the new moons, always exactly observed; the seasons were annual festivals, as Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Tabernacles; and the years were the sabbatical year and the year of jubilee. I. THE GROUNDS OF THE APOSTLE 'S CONDEMNATION OF HOLY ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:10-11

Observing seasons. St. Paul considers the observing of days, and months, and seasons, and years as so gross an instance of relapse to the weak and beggarly rudiments that he fears on that account that he may have bestowed labour in vain on the Galatians. So grave a judgment on the observance of seasons may startle us if we do not consider what the apostle really is condemning. I. THERE IS A RIGHT REGARD FOR SEASONS . The sabbath was made for man, and it is therefore good... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:11

I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain ." There is no need in respect to γίνεσθε to accentuate the notion of change this verb often means simply "show one's self, act as;" as e.g. 1 Corinthians 14:20 , ΄ὴ παιδία γίνεσθε … ταῖς δὲ φρεσὶ τέλειοι γίνεσθε : 1 Corinthians 15:58 , and often. "Be as I" to wit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus as our sole and all-sufficing Righteousness before God, and in that faith letting go all care about rites and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:11

The apostle's apprehensions for his converts. "I am apprehensive of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." I. THE GALATIANS COST THE APOSTLE MUCH LABOUR . He was their spiritual father; he had paid them a second visit which was full of effort and anxiety; and this Epistle represented effort and anxiety in a very extreme form. The apostle never spared himself. He laboured more abundantly than all the apostles. II. HIS UNCERTAINTY AND CONCERN FOR... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:11

Labour bestowed in vain. I. AN APOSTLE MAY BESTOW LABOUR IN VAIN . If St. Paul might thus fail, we are not to be surprised when we do not meet with success. We are not responsible for the results of our work, but only for the faithfulness of our efforts. II. A TRUE WORKMAN WILL BE ANXIOUS NOT TO BESTOW LABOUR IN VAIN . Christian work is not mere treadmill drudgery. It is labour of interest, of sympathy, of love. The servant of Christ will be anxious,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:8

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 denoting a transition. In the previous verses Paul had evidently had the Jewish converts more particularly in his eye, and had described their former condition as one of servitude to the Mosaic rites and customs, and had shown the inconveniences of that condition, compared with the freedom imparted by... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:9

But now ... - The sense is, that since they had been made free from their ignoble servitude in the worship of false gods, and had been admitted to the freedom found in the worship of the true God, it was absurd that they should return again to that which was truly slavery or bondage, the observance of the rites of the Jewish law.That ye have known God - The true God, and the ease and freedom of his service in the gospel.Or rather are known of God - The sense is, “Or, to speak more accurately or... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:10

Ye observe - The object of this verse is to specify some of the things to which they had become enslaved.Days - The days here referred to are doubtless the days of the Jewish festivals. They had numerous days of such observances, and in addition to those specified in the Old Testament, the Jews had added many others as days commemorative of the destruction and rebuilding of the temple, and of other important events in their history. It is not a fair interpretation of this to suppose that the... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:10-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:10

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