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Galatians 4:8 — King James Version← Study notes

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.


Galatians 4:8Greek Interlinear

Greek · Galatians 4:812 words
GreekMeaning
ἈλλὰAlla
ButwordG235
τότεtote
at that timeadverbG5119
μὲνmen
indeedwordG3303
οὐκouk
notadverbG3756
εἰδότεςeidotes
knowingverbG6063
θεὸνtheon
GodnounG2316
ἐδουλεύσατεedouleusate
you were enslavedverbG1398
τοῖςtois
to thosearticleG3588
φύσειphysei
by naturenounG5449
μὴ
notadverbG3361
οὖσιousi
beingverbG1510
θεοῖςtheois
godsnounG2316
Greek text from the SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT). Transliteration follows SBL Academic conventions.

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…

Chrysostom · 4th century · Commentary on Galatians, Chapter 4
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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Omar HassanNote3mo ago
Seeds of faith - Galatians 4
God is faithful in every circumstance. The imagery here is agricultural - the original audience would have immediately understood the metaphor of sowing, waiting, and harvesting. The promise here is n...
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