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Galatians 4:8-20 Freedom in Christ

8 Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

12 I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.

13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.

14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.

15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.

18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.

19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Cross References for Galatians 4:8-20

Exodus 5:2 - Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lor... Click to read the verse Exodus 5:2 Click to read the verse Exodus 5:2

1 Thessalonians 1:9 - for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God ... Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 1:9

John 1:10 - He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. Click to read the verse John 1:10 Click to read the verse John 1:10

Joshua 24:2 - Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ... Click to read the verse Joshua 24:2 Click to read the verse Joshua 24:2

Joshua 24:15 - But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you ... Click to read the verse Joshua 24:15 Click to read the verse Joshua 24:15

Genesis 35:2 - So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you h... Click to read the verse Genesis 35:2 Click to read the verse Genesis 35:2

Isaiah 37:19 - They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only w... Click to read the verse Isaiah 37:19 Click to read the verse Isaiah 37:19

Acts 19:26 - And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people ... Click to read the verse Acts 19:26 Click to read the verse Acts 19:26

Jeremiah 5:7 - “Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. ... Click to read the verse Jeremiah 5:7 Click to read the verse Jeremiah 5:7

Jeremiah 16:20 - Do men make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods!” Click to read the verse Jeremiah 16:20 Click to read the verse Jeremiah 16:20

1 John 3:1 - How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! ... Click to read the verse 1 John 3:1 Click to read the verse 1 John 3:1

Romans 1:28 - Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave the... Click to read the verse Romans 1:28 Click to read the verse Romans 1:28

2 Thessalonians 1:8 - He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Click to read the verse 2 Thessalonians 1:8 Click to read the verse 2 Thessalonians 1:8

Ephesians 2:12 - remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel a... Click to read the verse Ephesians 2:12 Click to read the verse Ephesians 2:12

1 Corinthians 8:4 - So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the w... Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 8:4 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 8:4

Romans 1:23 - and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds a... Click to read the verse Romans 1:23 Click to read the verse Romans 1:23

Psalms 135:15-18 - The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. Click to read the verse Psalms 135:15-18 Click to read the verse Psalms 135:15-18

Psalms 115:4-8 - But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. Click to read the verse Psalms 115:4-8 Click to read the verse Psalms 115:4-8

Isaiah 44:9-20 - All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would spe... Click to read the verse Isaiah 44:9-20 Click to read the verse Isaiah 44:9-20

2 Chronicles 13:9 - But didn’t you drive out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make ... Click to read the verse 2 Chronicles 13:9 Click to read the verse 2 Chronicles 13:9

1 Kings 18:29 - Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacr... Click to read the verse 1 Kings 18:29 Click to read the verse 1 Kings 18:29

1 Corinthians 10:19-20 - Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 10:19-20

Ephesians 2:11-12 - One in Christ Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncir... Click to read the verse Ephesians 2:11-12 Click to read the verse Ephesians 2:11-12

Ephesians 4:18 - They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the igno... Click to read the verse Ephesians 4:18 Click to read the verse Ephesians 4:18

1 Corinthians 8:5 - For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “... Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 8:5 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 8:5

Jeremiah 2:11 - Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchange... Click to read the verse Jeremiah 2:11 Click to read the verse Jeremiah 2:11

1 Corinthians 12:2 - You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute... Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 12:2 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 12:2

1 Peter 4:3 - For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery,... Click to read the verse 1 Peter 4:3 Click to read the verse 1 Peter 4:3

1 Corinthians 1:21 - For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased t... Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 1:21 Click to read the verse 1 Corinthians 1:21

Acts 17:23 - For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar w... Click to read the verse Acts 17:23 Click to read the verse Acts 17:23

Jeremiah 10:25 - Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call ... Click to read the verse Jeremiah 10:25 Click to read the verse Jeremiah 10:25

1 Thessalonians 4:5 - not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 4:5 Click to read the verse 1 Thessalonians 4:5

Acts 14:12 - Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. Click to read the verse Acts 14:12 Click to read the verse Acts 14:12

Acts 17:29-30 - “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold... Click to read the verse Acts 17:29-30 Click to read the verse Acts 17:29-30

Jeremiah 10:3-16 - For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsma... Click to read the verse Jeremiah 10:3-16 Click to read the verse Jeremiah 10:3-16