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No Return to Slavery.[a] Previously, when you did not know God, you were slaves to forces who were not really gods at all. But now that you have come to know God—or rather to be known by God—how can you turn back once again to those powerless and destitute forces? How can you consider becoming enslaved once again? 10 You even observe special days and months and seasons and years.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:8 The baptized have suddenly become concerned with the calendar of Jewish feasts or of pagan cults; do they, then, believe themselves to be slaves of the forces that they think rule the world and do they therefore desire to conciliate those forces by rites? God is not to be confused with any force, known or unknown, of this world.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

Formerly, when you did not know God,(A) you were slaves(B) to those who by nature are not gods.(C) But now that you know God—or rather are known by God(D)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[a]? Do you wish to be enslaved(E) by them all over again?(F) 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:9 Or principles