Focused Scripture study 10 of 20

Galatians 4:9-10: Days, Months, Times, and Years

Read Galatians 4:8-11 and identify the former pagan bondage behind Paul's warning about returning to weak and beggarly elements.

Read the complete chapter

Source Scripture

Read the passage first. Study notes begin after the Scripture.

Galatians 4:8-11

8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Question in context

Paul addresses people who formerly served beings that were not mighty ones by nature. His fear concerns a return to their former bondage, so the weak and beggarly elements cannot simply be assumed to mean commandments they did not keep in that former pagan state.

What the passage itself says

  1. Verse 8 identifies the former condition as service to beings that were not mighty ones by nature.
  2. Verse 9 asks how they turn again to the former bondage, making their prior practice essential context for the days and times that follow.
  3. The paragraph cannot be read responsibly by removing verse 10 from the pagan-before-and-return-again framework of verses 8-9.

Immediate and confirming witnesses

Read these passages with the source Scripture to follow the immediate and confirming context.

  • Immediate explanation: Galatians 4:8,11
    Paul identifies the former condition as bondage to beings that were not gods and fears a return to that slavery.
  • Lexical usage: Colossians 2:8,20
    Paul uses worldly-elements language for philosophy, human tradition, and man-made religious rules.
  • Prophetic purpose: Jeremiah 10:2
    The prophet warns YAHUAH's people not to learn the way of the nations.
  • Apostolic confirmation: 1 Corinthians 10:20-21
    Paul identifies pagan worship as fellowship with devils and forbids believers from returning to it.

Related Words in Context

Continue with these related Scripture studies.

Continue the study path