Galatians 4:9

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Galatians 4:8-11

Galatians 4:8-11. 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 elements of the world, and compare it with your present happy state: that then, when ye knew not the one living and true God, ye did service Performed many degrading, burdensome, irrational, and abominable acts of worship and service, unto them which by nature are no... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:8-20

Paul’s concern for the Galatians (4:8-20)Before they believed in Christ, most of the Galatians were pagans, in bondage to idols of wood and stone. Now that they have come to know the true God, they are foolish to get into bondage again by trying to keep the Jewish law. By doing so they are not going forward in their Christian lives; they are going backwards (8-11).The Galatians should live as those free from the law, just as Paul does. He feels sorry for them, not angry with them. He does not... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Galatians 4:9

after , &c. = having come to know. known. Greek. ginosko App-132 . of . Greek. hupo . App-104 . to . Greek. epi . App-104 . beggarly , Greek. ptochoe . App-127 . whereunto = to which. desire . Greek. thelo . App-102 . again . Greek. palin anothen . This is emph. For anothen see Luke 1:3 . The Revised Version reads "over again". be in bondage. Greek. donleuo , as Galatians 4:8 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Galatians 4:9

But now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?To know God, rather to be known by God ... There is a distinction in this that Paul always observed, as in 1 Corinthians 8:3; because, as Leon Morris noted, "The really important thing is not that we know God, but that he knows us!"[14] All true knowledge of God comes from God, and even that conveyed by the blessed... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Galatians 4:9

Galatians 4:9. Are known of God,— Or, are approved of God. The Apostle having said, ye have known God, he subjoins, or rather are known of him, in the Hebrew latitude of the word known; in which language it sometimes signifies, "knowing with choice and approbation." See Amos 3:2. 1 Corinthians 8:3. The law is here Called weak, because it was not able to deliver a man from bondage and death into the glorious liberty of the sons of God; and it is called beggarly, or poor, because it kept men in... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:9

9. known God or rather are known of God—They did not first know and love God, but God first, in His electing love, knew and loved them as His, and therefore attracted them to the saving knowledge of Him (Matthew 7:23; 1 Corinthians 8:3; 2 Timothy 2:19; compare Exodus 33:12; Exodus 33:17; John 15:16; Philippians 3:12). God's great grace in this made their fall from it the more heinous. how—expressing indignant wonder at such a thing being possible, and even actually occurring (Galatians 1:6).... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:1-11

1. The domestic illustration 4:1-11Continuing his case for faith over the Mosaic Law, Paul cited an illustration from family life. He did this to clarify the condition of believers as contrasted with nomists and to warn his readers to abandon nomism. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:8-9

Before conversion Paul’s readers (mainly Gentiles but some Jews) were slaves to religious traditions that, in the case of Gentiles, included counterfeit gods. Now at liberty they were in danger of turning back to the same slavery. They might return to a system that was weak (with no power to justify or sanctify), worthless (providing no inheritance), and elementary."To recognize oneself to be the centre of divine attention [Galatians 4:9 a] is one of the profounder aspects of Christian... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:8-11

The appeal 4:8-11Paul next reminded his readers of their former way of life, the transformation that their adoption into God’s family had wrought, and his concern that they were in danger of trading their future for a mess of pottage. read more

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