Like was said You have a lot to contend with if you are going to continue teaching what you teach concerning these verses.
Here are the Questions again
What is it you think elemental practices is?
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when
we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Apparently Paul himself when he and his contemporaries were under the law, it being their Schoolmaster until Christ were in bondage to these SAME elemental practices.
Have you noticed Paul's use of the 2nd person and 1st person plural? Do you think all of a sudden he is speaking to a different group of people?
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when
we were children,
were in bondage (servitude) under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that
we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because
ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore
thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Gal 4:8 Howbeit then, when
ye knew
(SEEN) not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Gal 4:9 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?
These people that Paul is talking to, he included himself with in verses 3-5. Then in verse 6 and 7 calls them sons and relays to them that they are no longer servants to the elemental practices that they were mentioned to being in verse 3
Gal 4:3 Even so
we, when we were children,
were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore
thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Gal 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew
(SEEN) not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
So you think that the days mentioned are related to their pagan worship and not to the ones subscribed to in the Book of the Law?
How is it then that the ones being spoken to are being zealously affected but not good by Judeans or Israelites if the days mentioned are not of the Book of the Law.
Gal 4:17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
And how is it that they desire to be under the law if the days, months and years are not of the law?
Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
The context tells a different story.
The Heirs are no different than a servant, a slave in bondage; being under tutors and governors, the law. Thereby Kept under the Law, the fundamental principals, elements of the world. The LAW until the fulness of the time of the Father through His Son has come. To redeem us from the curse of the Law; death. For the wages of sin is death. And this curse is on everyone who continue not therein. Christ hath redeemed us from this curse of the law, being made a curse for us that we might receive the promise of the Spirit. For we are dead nevertheless we live, yet not us but Christ liveth in us. And the life we now live in the flesh we live by the faith of the Son of God who gave Himself for us.
For we who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ and the life we now live we live through the faith of Christ through His Spirit. So say not in our hearts who will bring Christ down to us. For the word is nigh to us. In our hearts and in our mouths. For God has said. He will put His laws into our hearts and into our minds that we may do it. This is the FAITH IN WHICH WE ARE TO PREACH. Are we so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, the word, the law in us through Christ are we now made perfect by the flesh?
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Gal 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Gal 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Gal 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Not ignoring anything...
I asked you what you thought 4:8 meant...the Jewish God or the pagan gods...it is clearly pagan gods because he says God (not gods) in the same sentence.
You are ignoring the questions, the
facts, the points made to fit your predetermine conclusion.
They were pagans worshiping other gods that converted to Judaism and then Christianity.
WE KNOW THIS Because the verses up to and including verse 8 are speaking to those who were in bondage to the elements of the world, under the Law, under it's tutorage. EVERYONE IS GROUP TOGETHER. The word "we" in verses 3 and 5 and "ye" and "thou" in verses 6 and 7 respectively dictate this and there is no way around that.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Gal 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
