Originally posted by isshinwhat
That is very true. But while we were under the law, what were we slaves to?
The old covenant 'death'. 2 Corinthians 3:6 says the letter kills but the Spirit gives life. I think this is relevant because Gal 4:21-31 clearly spells out the 2 types of covenants: One was of slavery (i.e. Hagar) and the other is free (Sarah). Check out the passage =)
I think the real meat of Paul's statement is his concern of their submission to slavery. When they put themselves under the Law and left Christ, they became slaves to sin again because of the law. Look at the very end of Galatians 4:9:
how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits, whose slaves you want to be once more?
What brought them back into sin (choosing the Law over/in addition to Christ) isn't as important to Paul as the fact that they have again submitted to sin. They have become slaves to the elemental, fleshly spirits which he lists later in Galatians 5:19. The true cause of Paul's concern isn't technically their folowing the Law, but what that action means: that they are disobeying God and hae fallen into sin. That is why at the end he asks them in Galatians 5:7 "who hindered you from obeying the truth?" He wanted them to follow the truth and have life, not disobey and die in sin.
I think I've just confused myself, too. Is whatI'm trying to say clear at all. I know its kinda stream-of-consciousness.
With the love of Christ,
Neal
I believe 'elemental spirits' is a mistranslation in Galatians 4:9. NIV translation says, "miserable principles" and I think that's accurate (despite the fact that NIV isn't all too great of a literal translation).
The greek word for 'elements' is "stoicheion" which means: rudiments, principles, etc. They appears in the following passages:
Gal 4:3, Col 2:8, Col 2:20, Heb 5:12
So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the
basic principles of the world. (Gal 4:3, NIV)
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the
basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Col 2:8, NIV)
Since you died with Christ to the
basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: (Col 2:20, NIV)
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the
elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! (Heb 5:12, NIV)
By the way the Heb 5:12 in NIV is a bit off. KJV uses 'first principles'
In every instance that word refers to the old covenant principles and such. I don't see why it wouldn't be any different from Gal 4:9:
But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable
principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? (Gal 4:9, NIV)
Well, that's just my thoughts on that passage =)
God bless!
-Jason
