Galatians 4:3

4:3 So also we, when we were minors, ¹  were enslaved under the basic forces ²  of the world.

Galatians 4:9-12

4:9 But 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 worthless ³  basic forces? ⁴  Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? ⁵  4:10 You are observing religious ⁶  days and months and seasons and years. 4:11 I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain. 4:12 I beg you, brothers and sisters, ⁷  become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

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¹ tn See the note on the word “minor” in 4:1.

² tn Or “basic principles,” “elemental things,” or “elemental spirits.” Some interpreters take this as a reference to supernatural powers who controlled nature and/or human fate.

³ tn Or “useless.” See L&N 65.16.

⁴ tn See the note on the phrase “basic forces” in 4:3.

⁵ tn 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.

⁶ tn 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. NIV, NRSV “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.

⁷ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11.