Galatians 4:9-11 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 4:8-11

In these verses the apostle puts them in mind of what they were before their conversion to the faith of Christ, and what a blessed change their conversion had made upon them; and thence endeavours to convince them of their great weakness in hearkening to those who would bring them under the bondage of the law of Moses. I. He reminds them of their past state and behaviour, and what they were before the gospel was preached to them. Then they knew not God; they were grossly ignorant of the true... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 4:8-11

4:8-11 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 and poverty-stricken elementary things, for it is to them that you wish to be enslaved all over again? You meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest all the labour I spent on you is to go for nothing. Paul is still basing on the conception... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:9

But now, after that ye have known God , God in Christ, as their covenant God and Father, through the preaching of the Gospel, and in the light of divine grace; God having caused light to shine in their dark hearts; and having given them the light of the knowledge of himself in the face of Christ, and having sent down into their hearts the Spirit of his Son, crying "Abba", Father. Or rather are known of God ; for it is but little that the best of these, that have the greatest share of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:10

Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. Lest the apostle should be thought to suggest, without foundation, the inclination of these people to be in bondage to the ceremonies of the law, he gives this as an instance of it; which is to be understood, not of a civil observation of times, divided into days, months, and years, for which the luminaries of the heavens were made, and into summer and winter, seedtime and harvest, which is not only lawful, but absolutely necessary; but of a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:11

I am afraid of you ,.... Which shows the danger he apprehended they were in, by taking such large steps from Christianity to Judaism, and expresses the godly jealousy of the apostle over them; intimates he had some hope of them, and in the whole declares his great love and affection for them; for love is a thing full of care and fear: lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain ; in preaching the Gospel among them with so much diligence and constancy, though so many afflictions and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:9

Now, after that ye have known God - After having been brought to the knowledge of God as your Savior. Or rather are known of God - Are approved of him, having received the adoption of sons. To the weak and beggarly elements - After receiving all this, will ye turn again to the ineffectual rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic law - rites too weak to counteract your sinful habits, and too poor to purchase pardon and eternal life for you? If the Galatians were turning again to them, it is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:10

Ye observe days - Ye superstitiously regard the Sabbaths and particular days of your own appointment; And months - New moons; times - festivals, such as those of tabernacles, dedication, passover, etc. Years - Annual atonements, sabbatical years, and jubilees. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:11

I am afraid of you - I begin now to be seriously alarmed for you, and think you are so thoroughly perverted from the Gospel of Christ, that all my pains and labor in your conversion have been thrown away. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:9

Verse 9 9.But now, (67) after that ye have known God. No language can express the base ingratitude of departing from God, when he has once been known. What is it but to forsake, of our own accord, the light, the life, the fountain of all benefits, — “to forsake,” as Jeremiah complains, “the fountain of living waters, and hew out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water!” (Jeremiah 2:13.) Still farther to heighten the blame, he corrects his language, and says, or rather have been,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:10

Verse 10 10.Ye observe days. He adduces as an instance one description of “elements,” the observance of days. No condemnation is here given to the observance of dates in the arrangements of civil society. The order of nature out of which this arises, is fixed and constant. How are months and years computed, but by the revolution of the sun and moon? What distinguishes summer from winter, or spring from harvest, but the appointment of God, — an appointment which was promised to continue to the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 4:8-11

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 4:8-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:10

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