“Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.”
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. — Paul's anthropological diagnosis: the Galatians' pre-Christian condition was enslavement to false deities ('theoi' — gods, but not truly divine), suggesting demonic powers, pagan religion, or the 'stoicheia' reframed as false divine claimants.
Church Fathers on Galatians 4:8
“Howbeit at that time not knowing God, you were bondage to them which by nature are no gods. But now that you have come to know God — or rather to be known by God — how do you turn back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments whereunto you desire to be in bondage over again.” Here turning to the Gentile believers he says that it is an idolatry, this rigid observance of days, and now incurs a severe punishment. To enforce this, and inspire them with a deeper anxiety, he…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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