Galatians 4:8-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:8

Howbeit ( ἀλλά ); a strongly adversative conjunction, belonging to the whole sentence comprised in this and the next verse, which are closely welded together by the particles μὲν and δέ . In contravention of God's work of grace just described, they were renouncing their sonship and making themselves slaves afresh. Then ( τότε μέν ). The μέν , with its balancing δέ , here, as often is the case, unites together sentences not in their main substance strictly adverse to each... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:8

An appeal to the Gentile Galatians. "Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods." The apostle here seems to turn to the Gentile portion of the Church, and impresses upon them the folly of placing themselves under the yoke of Mosaic Law. 1. CONSIDER THEIR FORMER IGNORANCE OF GOD . "When ye knew not God." The apostle gives no hint here of that self-satisfied agnosticism of our day, which says either we cannot or we do not know... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:8-9

"Beggarly rudiments." I. THE OLD HEATHENDOM . St. Paul needs to remind the Galatians of the evils of the condition from which they have been liberated. We are all inclined to gild the past with false glories, looking back with fond regret to its lost delights, while we forget the things that troubled it. Note three characteristics of this evil past. 1 . Ignorance of God. The heathen were without the light, the joy, the guidance, and the help that come with the true knowledge of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:8-11

The return of the legal spirit. Having spoken of the majority which it is intended we should realize through the gospel, Paul proceeds next to speak about the return to legalism which had characterized the Gauls. Before Paul's advent to Galatia and his gospel message, they had been idolaters, but his preaching had brought them face to face, so to speak, with God. Into this Divine knowledge they had dipped, but, alas] it had only been a swallow-flight, for, after tasting the liberty of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:9

But now ( νῦν δέ ); and now. (See note on " then " in Galatians 4:8 ). After that ye have known God, or rather are known of God ( γνόντες θεόν μᾶλλον δὲ γνωσθέντες ὐπὸ θεοῦ ); after that ye have gotten to know God , or rather to be known of God. Considering the interchangeable use of γνῶναι or ἐγνωκέναι and εἰδωέναι in John 8:55 and 2 Corinthians 5:16 , it seems precarious to make much distinction between them as applied to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

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