St. Paul on turning back (Gal 4:8-10)
| The Latin: Sed tunc quidem ignorantes Deum, iis, qui natura non sunt dii, serviebatis. Nunc autem cum cognoveritis Deum, immo cogniti sitis a Deo: quomodo convertimini iterum ad infirma et egena elementa, quibus denuo servire vultis? Dies observatis, et menses, et tempora, et annos. |
The English: But then indeed, not knowing God, you served them, who, by nature, are not gods. But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known by God: how turn you again to the weak and needy elements, which you desire to serve again? You observe days, and months, and times, and years. |
| The Greek: αλλα τοτε μεν ουκ ειδοτες θεον εδουλευσατε τοις μη φυσει ουσιν θεοις. νυν δε γνοντες θεον μαλλον δε γνωσθεντες υπο θεου πως επιστρεφετε παλιν επι τα ασθενη και πτωχα στοιχεια οις παλιν ανωθεν δουλευειν θελετε; ημερας παρατηρεισθε και μηνας και καιρους και ενιαυτους. |
NJBC 47:26 (1968): The pagans were enslaved to idols, as the Jews were to the Law. Being ‘known by God’ is the complement of the Corinthians knowledge of God, an OT idea (Jer 1:5, Ps 139). The days, months and years would be material practices Paul doesn’t think need be observed by a Christian. End NJBC. This does not refer to sin; we’ll get back there shortly. |
