^4:8Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all.¹³^4:9But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless¹⁴ basic forces?¹⁵ Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?¹⁶^4:10You are observing religious¹⁷ days and months and seasons and years. ^4:11I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain. ^4:12I beg you, brothers and sisters,¹⁸ become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

Personal Appeal of Paul

^4:13But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you, ^4:14and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me.¹⁹ Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God,²⁰ as though I were Christ Jesus himself!²¹^4:15Where then is your sense of happiness²² now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me! ^4:16So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?²³

^4:17They court you eagerly,²⁴ but for no good purpose;²⁵ they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.²⁶^4:18However, it is good²⁷ to be sought eagerly²⁸ for a good purpose²⁹ at all times, and not only when I am present with you. ^4:19My children—I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you!³⁰^4:20I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice,³¹ because I am perplexed about you.

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

13 Grk “those that by nature …” with the word “beings” implied. φύσις 2 sees this as referring to pagan worship: “Polytheists worship … beings that are by nature no gods at all Gal 4:8.”
14 Or “useless.” See L&N 65.16.
15 See the note on the phrase “basic forces” in .
16 Grk “basic forces, to which you want to be enslaved …” Verse 9 is a single sentence in the Greek text, but has been divided into two in the translation because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence.
17 The adjective “religious” has been supplied in the translation to make clear that the problem concerns observing certain days, etc. in a religious sense (cf. , “special days”). In light of the polemic in this letter against the Judaizers (those who tried to force observance of the Mosaic law on Gentile converts to Christianity) this may well be a reference to the observance of Jewish Sabbaths, feasts, and other religious days.
18 Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in .
19 Grk “your trial in my flesh you did not despise or reject.”
20 Or “the angel of God.” Linguistically, “angel of God” is the same in both testaments (and thus, he is either “an angel of God” or “the angel of God” in both testaments). For arguments and implications, see ; M. J. Davidson, “Angels,” , ; W. G. MacDonald argues for “an angel” in both testaments: “Christology and ‘The Angel of the Lord’,” Current Issues in Biblical and Patristic Interpretation, 324–35.
21 Grk “as an angel of God … as Christ Jesus.” This could be understood to mean either “you welcomed me like an angel of God would,” or “you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God.” In context only the second is accurate, so the translation has been phrased to indicate this.
22 Or “blessedness.”
23 Or “have I become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?” The participle ἀληθεύων (alētheuōn) can be translated as a causal adverbial participle or as a participle of means (as in the translation).
24 Or “They are zealous for you.”
25 Or “but not commendably” ( καλῶς 2).
26 Or “so that you would be zealous.”
27 Or “commendable.”
28 Or “to be zealous.”
29 Grk “But it is always good to be zealous in good.”
30 Grk “My children, for whom I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you.” The relative clauses in English do not pick up the emotional force of Paul’s language here (note “tone of voice” in v. 20, indicating that he is passionately concerned for them); hence, the translation has been altered slightly to capture the connotative power of Paul’s plea. That is, until Christ’s nature or character is formed in them (see L&N 58.4).
31 Grk “voice” or “tone.” The contemporary English expression “tone of voice” is a good approximation to the meaning here.