Question about Galatians 4?

Question

Gal 4: 9-10
"Now that you know God, why are you turning again to these feeble principles, to enlsave yourself to them once more?
You are keeping dedicated days months, seasons and years."

What is Paul saying here? What dedicated days is he referring to?

Gal 4:8 (the preceding verse)
"Previously, before you knew God, you were the slaves of those who are by nature not gods?"

Who are those by nature not gods?

Gal 4:8-10
"Previously, before you knew God, you were the slaves of those who are by nature not gods.
Now that you know God, why are you turning back to these feeble principles [the principles of those by nature not gods] to enslave yourself to them [those by nature not gods] once more.
You are keeping [the] dedicated days months seasons and years [of those by nature not gods]."

What exactly is Paul rebuking in this scripture?

Answer 1

Maybe they were observing the feast days of some of the false gods. At my school they actually did the whold nativity thing up on the stage and made everyone attend. I don't exchange gifts or celebrate Christmas.

Isa 29:23 When they see among them their children,
the work of my hands,
they will keep my name holy;
they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob,
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding;
those who complain will accept instruction." ~(from New International Version)

Answer 2

Keep in mind that this is a congregation of Gentiles that have became believers. Verse 8 tells us that before they knew God they worshiped false gods. in Verse 9 they are turning back to what they once knew.

Answer 3

>>THIS COULD have reference to any type of celebration not sanctioned by God!
>>IN PRINCIPLE this could apply easily to the many false religious celebrations that go in our world today!

Here is a commentary:

*** it-2 p. 474 Nature ***

Also, in his argument to the Galatians to prevent their enslavement to Judaistic teachings, Paul said: “When you did not know God, then it was that you slaved for those who by nature are not gods.” These false gods they had worshiped were by their very origin and production not truly gods; it was impossible for them to come into such a status. Not merely did they have no authority to be gods, but they did not have such qualities in their intrinsic nature or makeup.—GALATIANS 4:8

>>>ON THE MATTER OF BEGGARLY GALATIANS 4:9---
*** it-1 pp. 279-280 Beggar, Begging ***
>>The two Greek verbs used to refer to mendicancy are related to ai·te′o, meaning “ask.”—Mt 7:7.
>>The Greek word pto·khos′, used by Luke (16:20, 22) in recording Jesus’ reference to Lazarus as a beggar, describes one who crouches and cringes, and it refers to the very poor, the destitute, the beggars. This same term is used at Matthew 5:3 with regard to those “conscious of their spiritual need [“those who are beggars for the spirit,” ftn]” (“poor in spirit,” KJ). Concerning the use of pto·khos′ in this text, M. R. Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament (1957, Vol. I, p. 36) says that “it is very graphic and appropriate here, as denoting the utter spiritual destitution, the consciousness of which precedes the entrance into the kingdom of God, and which cannot be relieved by one’s own efforts, but only by the free mercy of God.”
>>This same term is also used by Paul at GALATIANS 4:9 in expressing his concern over those who were “turning back again to the weak and beggarly [pto·kha′] elementary things” formerly practiced. Such things were “beggarly” in comparison with the spiritual riches obtainable through Christ Jesus.
>>Although Jesus and his apostles showed kindness to beggars, they did not encourage begging; though they gratefully accepted hospitality, they did not beg. Jesus told those who followed him merely to obtain bread that their concern should be, not for “the food that perishes, but for the food that remains for life everlasting.” (Joh 6:26, 27) Peter told a lame beggar at the temple: “Silver and gold I do not possess, but what I do have is what I give you,” using his spiritual gifts to heal the man. (Ac 3:6) Though at times hungry, homeless, and lacking clothing, the apostles toiled, ‘working with their own hands, night and day, so as not to be a burden on others.’ (1Co 4:11, 12; 1Th 2:9) The standard among Christians was: “If anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat.”—2Th 3:10-12.

GALATIANS 4:10

*** it-2 p. 885 Seasons ***

>>A season is a period during which a specific type of agricultural work is normal or a certain kind of weather prevails; a suitable or appointed time for something.
>>As the earth revolves around the sun, the tilt of the earth’s axis at an angle to the plane of the ecliptic produces a cycle of weather seasons. As markers of the passing of time, the heavenly bodies serve as indicators of seasons. (Ge 1:14) Genesis 8:22 says that the earth’s seasons will “never cease.” For a correlation of the months of the Jewish and Gregorian calendars and the festival, weather, and agricultural seasons, see CALENDAR.
>>Closely connected with the agricultural seasons were the annual “festival seasons” when the festivals established by the Mosaic Law were celebrated. (1Ch 23:31; 2Ch 31:3) Hence, when Paul counseled some Jewish Christians who were “scrupulously observing days and months and seasons,” he meant the festival seasons that were a part of the Law, not simply weather or agricultural seasons.—GALATIANS 4:10
>>“Season” can therefore refer to a fixed or an appointed time or a period possessed of certain characteristics. (Ac 3:19, ftn; Ro 8:18; Ga 6:9) In time what constituted healthful teaching and proper conduct were made very clear to Christians. Accordingly, it was the “season” to be awake. (Ro 13:11-14) The “times or seasons,” or periods when Jehovah’s will in certain matters would take place, were of real interest to his worshipers (Ac 1:7), who understood them as they were progressively revealed.—1Th 5:1.
>>In regard to the dwelling of nations on the earth, God “decreed the appointed times” (Ac 17:26; “fixed the epochs of their history,” NE) in that he determined when certain changes should occur, such as when the divinely appointed time came to uproot the Canaanite inhabitants of the Promised Land.—Ge 15:13-21; Jer 25:8-11; Da 2:21; 7:12; see APPOINTED TIMES OF THE NATIONS.

Answer 4

Jesus is the Author of Galatians, and speaking through Paul, Jesus is rebuking those who believe the false teachings of legalism.

Instead of allowing grace through faith to work in them, they were following legalistic false teachers, false teacher that said you must be circumcised to be saved, or must be water baptised to be saved (water baptism is only for the already saved), or must worship on one specific day to be saved. These are all false gospels, and all false gospels lead to eternal hell (Galatians 1:6-9).

Answer 5

**Closely connected with the agricultural seasons were the annual “festival seasons” when the festivals established by the Mosaic Law were celebrated. (1Ch 23:31; 2Ch 31:3) Hence, when Paul counseled some Jewish Christians who were “scrupulously observing days and months and seasons,” he meant the festival seasons that were a part of the Law, not simply weather or agricultural seasons.—Ga 4:10.

**Also, in his argument to the Galatians to prevent their enslavement to Judaistic teachings, Paul said: “When you did not know God, then it was that you slaved for those who by nature are not gods.” These false gods they had worshiped were by their very origin and production not truly gods; it was impossible for them to come into such a status. Not merely did they have no authority to be gods, but they did not have such qualities in their intrinsic nature or makeup.—Ga 4:8.

**Also, in his argument to the Galatians to prevent their enslavement to Judaistic teachings, Paul said: “When you did not know God, then it was that you slaved for those who by nature are not gods.” These false gods they had worshiped were by their very origin and production not truly gods; it was impossible for them to come into such a status. Not merely did they have no authority to be gods, but they did not have such qualities in their intrinsic nature or makeup.—Ga 4:8.

Answer 6

Paul is talking about making yourself look good in the eyes of people. Pimpin in the current vernacular.

Observing the Holy days, Holy Months and the Jewish Calendar to look good before other people.

Matthew 6: 5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

People who do things so other people think they are Holy place their faith in how people see them.

Answer 7

Who knows what Paul was talking about most of the time?

The only thing sure is he was not teaching the message of Jesus, so I'm not sure that it matters what he was saying.

Love and blessings Don