⁸But then, indeed, not having known God, ye were in servitude to those not by nature gods, ⁹and now, having known God—and rather being known by God—how turn ye again unto the weak and poor elements to which anew ye desire to be in servitude? ¹⁰days ye observe, and months, and times, and years! ¹¹I am afraid of you, lest in vain I did labour toward you.

¹²Become as I am—because I also am as ye brethren, I beseech you; to me ye did no hurt, ¹³and ye have known that through infirmity of the flesh I did proclaim good news to you at the first, ¹⁴and my trial that is in my flesh ye did not despise nor reject, but as a messenger of God ye did receive me—as Christ Jesus; ¹⁵what then was your happiness? for I testify to you, that if possible, your eyes having plucked out, ye would have given to me; ¹⁶so that your enemy have I become, being true to you?

¹⁷They are zealous for you—yet not well, but they wish to shut us out, that for them ye may be zealous; ¹⁸and it is good to be zealously regarded, in what is good, at all times, and not only in my being present with you.

¹⁹My little children, of whom again I travail in birth, till Christ may be formed in you, ²⁰and I was wishing to be present with you now, and to change my voice, because I am in doubt about you.

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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…?

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