Galatians 4:8

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

At that time, when you did not know God [as your Father], you were in bondage to those who were, by nature, not really gods at all.

Cross References

John 1:10

[Actually] He was in the world [already], for the world came into being through Him, but the world did not acknowledge Him.

Acts 14:12

So, they called Barnabas, “Zeus,” and Paul “Hermes,” because Paul was the principal speaker.

Acts 17:23

For as I traveled along [your streets] and observed what you are worshiping, I saw an altar with the inscription: [DEDICATED] TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So, what you are worshiping ignorantly is what I am telling you about.

Romans 1:23

and exchanged the honor belonging to the immortal God for the statues of mortal men, and birds, and animals and reptiles.

Romans 1:28

And since these people refused to acknowledge God, He has allowed [or, abandoned] them to have degraded minds and to practice those things which they should not do.

1 Corinthians 1:21

For since, according to God’s [true] wisdom, the world did not know about Him through its wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe [in Christ] through the “foolishness” of the message preached.

1 Corinthians 12:2

You people know that when you were [still unconverted] Gentiles, you were led astray to [worship] lifeless idols, however you were led [i.e., wherever you turned, you were being led into idolatrous practices]

1 Corinthians 8:4

Now concerning [the matter of] eating foods [once] offered as sacrifices to idols, we know that an idol is [really] nothing in the world [at all], and that there is only one God.

Galatians 4:3

So also, when we [Jews] were like children, we were under bondage to the basic worldly rules [of the Law of Moses].

Ephesians 4:18

Their understanding [of spiritual things] is darkened and excluded from the [spiritual] life that God gives, because of the ignorance in their minds and the stubbornness in their hearts.

1 Thessalonians 1:9

For those people themselves report on what kind of a reception we had from you, and how you people turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God.

1 Thessalonians 4:5

not in passionate lust, as the [unconverted] Gentiles, who do not know God, do.

2 Thessalonians 1:8

He will inflict punishment on those people who do not know God [as Savior], and on those who do not obey the Gospel message of our Lord Jesus.

1 Peter 4:3

For the time you have [already] spent in the past [i.e., as Gentile unbelievers] was long enough to have practiced unrestrained, indecent conduct, improper sexual cravings, riotous living, wild parties, drunken orgies and disgusting idol worship.

1 John 3:1

Look at how much love the Father has shown to us [Christians], that we should be called His children! But, that is what we [really] are! The reason the people of the world do not know who we are is because they do not know who God [really] is.