⁸When you didn’t know God, you were slaves to things which are really not gods at all. ⁹But now you know God, or rather, God knows you. So how can you turn back again to the powerless and bankrupt principles of this world? Why do you want to become their slaves all over again? ¹⁰You religiously observe days, months, seasons, and years! ¹¹I’m afraid for you. Maybe the hard work I spent on you has been wasted.

What Happened to Your Positive Attitude?

¹²Brothers and sisters, I beg you to become like me. After all, I became like you were.

You didn’t do anything wrong to me. ¹³You know that the first time I brought you the Good News I was ill. ¹⁴Even though my illness was difficult for you, you didn’t despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were God’s messenger^bor Christ Jesus himself. ¹⁵What happened to your positive attitude? It’s a fact that if it had been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶Can it be that I have become your enemy for telling you the truth?

¹⁷These people ⸤who distort the Good News⸥ are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They don’t want you to associate with me so that you will be devoted only to them. ¹⁸(Devotion to a good cause is always good, even when I’m not with you.)

¹⁹My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until Christ is formed in you. ²⁰I wish I were with you right now so that I could change the tone of my voice. I’m completely puzzled by what you’ve done!

Read in Logos

Galatians 4:8–9: Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again…?

Footnotes

b 4:14 Or “an angel of God.”