Gálatas 4:8

8 Preocupación de Pablo por los gálatas
Antes de conocer a Dios, ustedes, los gentiles,
eran esclavos de los llamados dioses, que ni siquiera existen.

Gálatas 4:8 Meaning and Commentary

Galatians 4:8

Howbeit then, when ye know not God
Whilst in Gentilism, and in a state of unregeneracy, they had no true knowledge of God; though they might know by the light of nature, and works of creation, that there was a God, yet they did not know who he was, but called either mortal men, or some one or other of the creatures, or stocks, and stones, and images of men's device, by this name; they knew not the God of Israel; they did not know God in Christ, and are therefore said to be without him; and a common description of them it is, that they knew not God: and whilst this was their case, what follows was true of them,

ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods;
only by name, and in the opinion of men, but have no divinity in them, are only called gods, mere nominal, fictitious deities, who have nothing of the nature and essence of God in them; for there is but one God by nature and essence, the Father, Son, and Spirit; all others have only the name and appearance, but not the truth of deity; and these the Gentiles in their times of ignorance did "service" to, which is what the Jews call (hrz hdwbe) , "strange service"; that is, idolatry, concerning which there is a whole treatise in the Talmud, and which bears that name ^F15. This service lay in paying homage to them, worshipping of them, and performing various rites and ceremonies in a way of adoration, and which they reckoned religious service; and which, comparatively speaking, whilst in this state of blindness, was excusable in them; though it is a wonderful instance of grace that such idolaters should be the sons of God.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F15 Aveda Zara.

Gálatas 4:8 In-Context

6 y debido a que somos
sus hijos, Dios envió al Espíritu de su Hijo a nuestro corazón, el cual nos impulsa a exclamar «Abba, Padre»
.

7 Ahora ya no eres un esclavo sino un hijo de Dios, y como eres su hijo, Dios te ha hecho su heredero.

8 Preocupación de Pablo por los gálatas
Antes de conocer a Dios, ustedes, los gentiles,
eran esclavos de los llamados dioses, que ni siquiera existen.

9 Así que ahora que conocen a Dios (o mejor dicho, ahora que Dios los conoce a ustedes), ¿por qué quieren retroceder y convertirse otra vez en esclavos de los débiles e inútiles principios espirituales de este mundo?

10 Pretenden ganarse el favor de Dios al cumplir con ciertos días o meses, estaciones o años.