GAL 4:8-20

Paulʼs Concern for the Galatians

8But at that time, not knowing God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. [4:9] Now however, having known God — or rather, having been known by God — how do you turn again to the weak and destitute principles, to which again, anew, you desire to be enslaved? [4:10] Days you observe, and months, and seasons, and years. [4:11] I fear for you, lest perhaps I have toiled for you in vain. [4:12] "Become as I am, because I also have become as you are," brothers, I implore you. You wronged me in nothing. [4:13] You know now that it was in weakness of the flesh that I proclaimed the gospel to you at the first, [4:14] and your test in my flesh you did not despise nor reject with contempt, but as an angel of God you received me, as Christ Jesus. [4:15] Where then is the blessedness of you? For I bear witness to you that, if possible, having gouged out your eyes you would have given them to me. [4:16] So then, I have become your enemy by speaking truth to you? [4:17] They are zealous after you not rightly, but they desire to exclude you so that you may be zealous after them. [4:18] Now it is good to be zealous in a right thing at all times, and not only in my being present with you, [4:19] children of mine, of whom again I travail until Christ may have been formed in you. [4:20] I was wishing indeed to be present with you presently and to change the tone of mine, because I am perplexed as to you.

In the world it was spoken into

In Galatia, Paul addresses Gentile converts who, after embracing the God of Israel, are now considering a return to their former religious practices, which Paul describes as 'weak and destitute principles' . These likely refer to the elemental spirits or cosmic forces associated with pagan worship, which were deeply embedded in Greco-Roman religious life. The Galatians’ observance of 'days, months, seasons, and years' suggests a shift toward Jewish calendrical practices, possibly under the influence of Judaizers advocating Torah observance. Paul’s fear that his labor among them might be 'in vain' reflects the high stakes of maintaining a distinct Christian identity in a culturally pluralistic environment. His appeal to their past relationship—'become as I am, for I also have become as you are'—highlights his own renunciation of Jewish privilege to identify with Gentile believers. The mention of their initial reception of him 'in weakness of the flesh' underscores the vulnerability of Paul’s missionary work and the Galatians’ initial hospitality, now threatened by their potential rejection of his gospel.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

GAL 4:8

KJV: Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
BSB: Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
Koinōnos: But at that time, not knowing God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

GAL 4:9

KJV: 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?
BSB: But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
Koinōnos: Now however, having known God — or rather, having been known by God — how do you turn again to the weak and destitute principles, to which again, anew, you desire to be enslaved?

GAL 4:10

KJV: Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
BSB: You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
Koinōnos: Days you observe, and months, and seasons, and years.

GAL 4:11

KJV: I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
BSB: I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.
Koinōnos: I fear for you, lest perhaps I have toiled for you in vain.

GAL 4:12

KJV: Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
BSB: I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.
Koinōnos: Become as I am, because I also have become as you are," brothers, I implore you. You wronged me in nothing.

GAL 4:13

KJV: Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
BSB: You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
Koinōnos: You know now that it was in weakness of the flesh that I proclaimed the gospel to you at the first,

GAL 4:14

KJV: And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
BSB: And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.
Koinōnos: and your test in my flesh you did not despise nor reject with contempt, but as an angel of God you received me, as Christ Jesus.

GAL 4:15

KJV: Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
BSB: What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
Koinōnos: Where then is the blessedness of you? For I bear witness to you that, if possible, having gouged out your eyes you would have given them to me.

GAL 4:16

KJV: Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
BSB: Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Koinōnos: So then, I have become your enemy by speaking truth to you?

GAL 4:17

KJV: They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
BSB: Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.
Koinōnos: They are zealous after you not rightly, but they desire to exclude you so that you may be zealous after them.

GAL 4:18

KJV: But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
BSB: Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.
Koinōnos: Now it is good to be zealous in a right thing at all times, and not only in my being present with you,

GAL 4:19

KJV: My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
BSB: My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
Koinōnos: children of mine, of whom again I travail until Christ may have been formed in you.

GAL 4:20

KJV: I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
BSB: how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
Koinōnos: I was wishing indeed to be present with you presently and to change the tone of mine, because I am perplexed as to you.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

GAL 4:9

destitute:The word translated 'destitute' here refers to someone utterly impoverished and dependent, often a beggar, rather than simply someone who is poor but still able to work.
principles:The term translated 'principles' originally referred to the basic elements or ABCs of something, like the fundamental components of the universe or the first letters of an alphabet, implying rudimentary or foundational teachings.

GAL 4:14

test:The word translated 'test' carries the dual sense of both a trial that proves one's character and a temptation that could lead to failure, often with the implication of an external pressure or enticement.
nor:The word translated 'nor' is much stronger in the original, literally meaning 'to spit out' or 'to reject with contempt,' indicating a forceful and disgusted repudiation.