So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.
Summary: This passage is a bit obscure in its meaning. This leaves us with a mystery on our hands. What did Paul mean?
You have, no doubt, already noticed that some passages give us more trouble than others. Paul is a deep thinker, and his logic is not always easy to follow.
All of chapter three, in his letter to the Galatians, is devoted to the premise that God’s promise comes to all of us through Abraham by faith. That might sound simple, but we know from experience that there is a lot to sort through.
Now, in chapter four, Paul is carrying his metaphorical thoughts to a new level. We are analyzing the concept of inheritance. Paul has established that there are rules associated with inheriting, especially when the person inheriting is not yet of age. In verse two, he introduces the concept of “guardians and trustees.” In verse one, he compares being underage to being a slave.
In this passage, he combines both concepts. To be underage is to be in slavery, and the trustees and guardians over the heir are the “elemental spiritual forces of the world.”
Got that?
I don’t.
I have no idea what the “elemental spiritual forces of the world” are. (If this phrase makes sense to you, please feel free to explain it to me in the comments.)
When I come across a passage that I don’t understand, I generally go to the original text. In this case, the Greek word “stoicheîon” suggests that Paul was trying to point us to the underlying sense of order that is found in life here on earth.
My next step was to look at other translations.
After reviewing other English translations, I found one that made more sense to me. The Amplified Bible (AMP) offers this translation:
“So also we [whether Jews or Gentiles], when we were children (spiritually immature), were kept like slaves under the elementary [man-made religious or philosophical] teachings of the world.”
Okay. If I am to be completely open about my reaction to this wording, I confess that while it makes “more” sense to me, that doesn’t mean it makes sense.
What does make sense to me is the idea that ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, mankind has been under a curse (Genesis 3:14-19). Since that time, people have been in rebellion against God and have worked to invent stories that offer alternatives to worshiping God.
When we live under the belief that a man-made god has power over us, we are a “slave” to that belief. Could that be what Paul is referring to? It makes sense that we are a slave to ignorance if we don’t know the truth, and when the light of the truth comes, we are free.
Application: Hold on to the truth — tightly!
Food for Thought: Why would God abandon us to false beliefs?
I think one form of punishment or consequence of unbelief is God giving us what we want. We see that pattern in Romans 1: 18 – 32. God gives us over to our hearts desires. It is not so much God abandoning us as it is us abandoning God.
Romans 1: 18 – 28 (Notice the phrase God gave them over to appears three times. And in context is due to our intentional abandonment of God): The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
As a PS: For similar language of the elemental spiritual forces of the world – see Colossians 2: 6 – 8. It appears to be a worldly mindset opposed to a godly mindset in this passage.
Thank you, Rich.
Both of your comments tie together, don’t they?
In the first, we are “given over” to the desires of the flesh. In the second, we are under a worldly concept of right and wrong.
(“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” – Colossians 2:8)
In both cases, I would only add that as long as we breathe, we still have the hope of awakening to God’s offer of adoption through faith in Jesus Christ.
From time to time I encounter (at work) an agency that just wants to be spoon-fed a course of action in regards to a regulation. They don’t want to take the time to understand it. They are happy with just being told what to do.
I’m not allowed to do that. I can explain the regulation, explain how it affects their operations, but in the end, they must decide their course of action independent of what I think is best for them. It has to be their decision, they have to choose.
Your question reminds me a lot of that situation. God wants our faith, He wants us to choose Him independent of all things. If we look at it two-dimensionally, God appears to be one choice among many. It might appear that He is allowing mankind to “flounder” in false beliefs. I don’t think that is the case at all. He lives, in creation, He lives in His Word, He lives, through Christ, in the lives of His followers. He presents Himself, it is all there for us to choose.
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Chris,
As I read through your response I was reminded of Romans 1:20 —
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
The evidence is there. It is up to us to decide what to do with it.
Why would God abandon us to false beliefs?
According to Scripture, God will never abandon a believer, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5
When Jesus sets us free, the Holy Spirit lives in us, the devil can tempt, but can no longer control us directly like he once could when we were an unbeliever. 1 John 4:4, James 4:7, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 5:1, Colossians 1:13-14. 2:9-10, John 4:4.
When WE WERE UNDERAGE, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. Galatians 4:3
Galatians 4:1-7, Then I say, that the heir AS LONG AS HE IS A CHILD, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be Lord of all,
2 But is under tutors and governors,until the time appointed of the Father.
3 Even so we, WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, were in bondage under the rudiments of the world.
4 But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, and made under the Law,
5 That he might redeem them which were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of the sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, which cried, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore, thou art no more a servant, but a son: now if thou be a son, thou art also the heir of God through Christ.
I have a simple mind and view “underage” and “in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world”, as referring to our state of being prior to receiving salvation through Jesus Christ. We are now imperfect beings, viewed as perfect in Christ, in the process of being transformed by the Holy Spirit to the degree we give ourselves to maturing in Christ, applying the revealed truths of God to our lives.
The Bible tells us that the devil is the father of lies John 8:44, and one reason we may feel abandoned by God is because we are believing the lie from Satan, “God has abandoned you.” Satan has no power to control us, but if we believe his lies we are going to fall for his attacks.
Define “elemental spiritual forces of the world” Galatians 4:3
Colossians 2:20, Paul begins this verse with a conditional statement, “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world.” There are two possible meanings for this phrase.
1.) Paul may have had in mind the underlying assumptions used by the false teachers mentioned throughout this chapter. The idea of “elemental spirits” was also mentioned in Colossians 2:8, There, he was speaking of the fundamental theories of a non-Christian, fallen world.
2.) Is that “elemental spirits” refer to demonic spirits. Paul clearly spoke about spiritual warfare Ephesians 6:12, and may have had this in mind to wrap up the final verses of the chapter.
Wow! Fantastic response.
Thanks Ron!
I like your “simple view. ” 🙂
Your comments about Satan remind me of that old saying,
“If you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.”
🙂
Thank You CH, Mrs. Englund’s little boy hit us with two questions today. It appears to me we are all on target, I just got a little wordy.
MELB (Mrs. Englund’s Little Boy) is not too proud to admit when he is in over his head.
🙂
Good ole saying!
Ron