Peace in Christ.
When we did not know God, we did “service”….be slaves to….those things which are by nature no “gods”.
The “gods” that are being talked about here in Galatians 4:8-9 are the “weak and beggarly elements” (Greek – stoicheion)….the weak and beggarly principles contained in orderly-in-arrangement man’s codified handwritings of ordinances. They are no gods.
The outside nations are keeping and serving their governing, orderly documents such as “constitutions.” They bow down to them rather than serve God and His commandments. They use them to self-govern and self-judge themselves rather than have God as their King and Living Judge.
Elements = rudiments = “stoicheion” - Neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of G4748; something orderly in arrangement, that is, (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental, initial) constituent (literally), proposition (figuratively): - element, principle, rudiment.
Gal 4:8-9 KJV
(8) Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
(9) But 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?
Now that we are known of God (we are now dead with Christ from those “rudiments”…those elements of the world …of “Egypt”…. that we were once enslaved to), how come we now turn again to and be subject to the church handwriting of ordinances of men….the “other gods” that we are not to serve.
We are now (in Christ) dead from one set of handwritings (the world's) and now we are going to become willing slaves to a "church" handwriting of ordinances?
Col 2:20-23 KJV
(20) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
(21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
(22) Which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
(23) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
We are dead with Christ from the orderly principles of the world ("Egypt") contained in their handwritings. We are no longer enslaved by them.
The LORD our God (our Judge) has brought us out of the land of Egypt …out of the house of bondage (being enslaved to those world handwritings which are no “gods.)”
Exo 20:1-3 KJV
(1) And God spake all these words, saying,
(2) I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
We are not to have “other gods” before Him…that is, along side Him. We are not to place a handwriting of ordinances in our places of the worship of Him….along side of Him who is our Living Judge....the LORD our God.
(3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
In vain (of no purpose) do they worship Him as they are teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (which are contained in their orderly handwritings of ordinances.)
Mat 15:8-9 KJV
(8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
(9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
When we did not know God, we did “service”….be slaves to….those things which are by nature no “gods”.
The “gods” that are being talked about here in Galatians 4:8-9 are the “weak and beggarly elements” (Greek – stoicheion)….the weak and beggarly principles contained in orderly-in-arrangement man’s codified handwritings of ordinances. They are no gods.
The outside nations are keeping and serving their governing, orderly documents such as “constitutions.” They bow down to them rather than serve God and His commandments. They use them to self-govern and self-judge themselves rather than have God as their King and Living Judge.
Elements = rudiments = “stoicheion” - Neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of G4748; something orderly in arrangement, that is, (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental, initial) constituent (literally), proposition (figuratively): - element, principle, rudiment.
Gal 4:8-9 KJV
(8) Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
(9) But 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?
Now that we are known of God (we are now dead with Christ from those “rudiments”…those elements of the world …of “Egypt”…. that we were once enslaved to), how come we now turn again to and be subject to the church handwriting of ordinances of men….the “other gods” that we are not to serve.
We are now (in Christ) dead from one set of handwritings (the world's) and now we are going to become willing slaves to a "church" handwriting of ordinances?
Col 2:20-23 KJV
(20) Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
(21) (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
(22) Which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
(23) Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
We are dead with Christ from the orderly principles of the world ("Egypt") contained in their handwritings. We are no longer enslaved by them.
The LORD our God (our Judge) has brought us out of the land of Egypt …out of the house of bondage (being enslaved to those world handwritings which are no “gods.)”
Exo 20:1-3 KJV
(1) And God spake all these words, saying,
(2) I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
We are not to have “other gods” before Him…that is, along side Him. We are not to place a handwriting of ordinances in our places of the worship of Him….along side of Him who is our Living Judge....the LORD our God.
(3) Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
In vain (of no purpose) do they worship Him as they are teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (which are contained in their orderly handwritings of ordinances.)
Mat 15:8-9 KJV
(8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
(9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
