The Elements of the World
Bible Study Time (12-10-06)
Church links:
Bible Study Time (12-10-06)
Earlier we talked about how important it is for each believer to spend time reading and studying the Bible, and one of the things that we need to be careful about as we study the Bible is the different translations that are on the market today. Sometimes we hear people talk about the literal translations of the Bible as opposed to the paraphrased versions of the Bible. But the truth of the matter is that there is really no such thing as a literal, word-for-word translation of the Bible, at least not that we could understand as we read it.
Some translations are more accurate than others, but every translation has in it certain elements of subjective interpretation. Every culture has within its language idiomatic expressions that don’t literally mean what they say.
For example, when someone says, “thank you,” we politely counter with “you’re welcome” even though we’re not really extending any kind of a welcome. In order to give the proper meaning to expressions such as this, translators have to figure out the intended meaning behind the expression and then come up with a way of expressing the same thought.
Well, the translators of the Bible have had to deal with this very issue ever since the Jewish scholars in Egypt first translated the Old Testament from the Hebrew to the Greek. We have to be diligent in our efforts to understand the original words of the Bible as well as the intended meaning behind the words.
As I started this year’s Bible reading program, I read on the very first day Galatians, Chapter 4, and I noticed something interesting in verse 3. In the New Living Translation, it says:
Galatians 4:3-4 (NLT)
3 And that's the way it was with us before Christ came. We were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world.
I thought that sounded a little different so I went to the King James translation, which says:
Galatians 4:3 (NKJ)
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
The New King James agreed with the original King James word for word. So why do we see such a difference in the New Living Translation? Was Paul saying that we used be slaves to the spiritual powers of this world, or was he saying that we used be in bondage to the elements of this world?
Even at first glance, we get a clue as to which translation is more literal. It makes sense that the more literal a translation is, the more awkward the sentence structures will often be and the more difficult the expressions will be to interpret. The interpretation of a truly literal translation is a scholarly endeavor indeed.
For example, when the New Living Translation says, “we were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world”, that’s very clear and concise. However, it’s not as literal as the King James. On the other hand, when the King James says that “we were in bondage under the elements of the world,” that was more literal, but it was much more vague.
If this was literally what Paul said, then what did he mean? Was he talking about Aristotle’s earth, air, fire and water when he spoke of the elements? Or was he talking about the elements of our periodic chart? Does one have to be a scholar to figure this out?
Praise the Lord, by seeking the wisdom of the Lord, even non-scholars such as myself can figure this out. Most of the time the context is all we need to gain a true understanding of the passage.
In this region of Galatia, there were saved Jews and saved Gentiles. They had been saved as a result of Paul’s preaching. When Paul told them that Christ died for their sins and was raised from the dead, they believed what Paul said, and they were given the gift of salvation.
When they got saved, they witnessed many outward signs of the Holy Spirit. Paul said that they witnessed many miracles which were done by the Spirit.
However, after Paul left the area, there were some Jews who insisted that the rituals and ceremonies of the Law were necessary for salvation. They were not necessarily opposed to faith in Christ, but they rejected the idea that anyone could be saved without submitting to circumcision and the other rituals of the Law.
Paul reminded them that the Jews who had been circumcised as infants had never experienced the power of the Spirit until they put their faith in Christ, and then he reminded the Gentile believers that they had experienced the power of the Holy Spirit even though they had never been circumcised. He therefore concluded that submitting to circumcision yielded no spiritual power.
With this background, the intended meaning of Chapter 4 and verse 3 becomes clear. When Paul said that they had been in bondage under the elements of the world, he was speaking to the Jews who had labored under the Law. They had been in bondage to the elements of the world, such as the water of the various baptisms and the fires that burned in the altar, as well as the circumcision of the flesh which involves this earthly body.
Paul was comparing the earthly, physical nature of the rituals of the Law to the spiritual power that comes to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. He concluded that the rituals were impotent, but faith in Christ is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Paul said:
Galatians 4:3-6(NKJ)
3 Even so we (were children) in bondage under the elements of the world.
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
Paul was showing these believers that the Old Covenant Law had been replaced by a better covenant. Those who were under the Law knew God as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but under the New Covenant, believers could know God as Father.
Paul went on in this same chapter to remind the believers of Galatia that Abraham had two sons. Ishmael was born of Hagar, while Isaac was born of Sarah. Hagar was a bondwoman, while Sarah was Abraham’s wife and was free. He said that these two sons represented the Old and New Covenants. Verse 21 says:
Galatians 4:21-24 (NKJ)
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,
24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants . . .
Galatians 4:30-31 (NKJ)
30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Paul could see that the rituals and ceremonies of the Law, which were based in the elements of this world, had no power to change the lives of people. He could see that those rituals and ceremonies were nothing but a source of bondage to those who trust in them.
Paul was afraid that these rituals and ceremonies might actually prevent believers from experiencing the full power and freedom of the Holy Spirit. He plainly told them that they could not have both. He said, “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”
Paul felt so strongly about this that he said in Chapter 1:
Galatians 1:8-9 (NKJ)
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Paul knew that if anyone required earthly rituals in addition to faith in Christ for salvation, it could result in eternal separation from God for those who were deceived. Therefore, Paul said that if anyone preaches such a thing, let him be accursed.
Even today there are many people who want to hang on to and cling to religious rituals and ceremonies. Do you suppose that this might have something to do with the translations which blatantly change the teachings of the Apostle Paul and leave out the fact that Paul said that the elements of this world result in spiritual bondage?
As we have seen, the Apostle Paul was warning believers against the rituals and ceremonies, and now we have “translations” which say that Paul was really just warning against the spiritual powers of this world.
That is a legitimate warning, but it’s not what Paul was talking about here. Paul was warning believers about the bondage that so often accompanies rituals and ceremonies. The devil never ceases in his attempts to subvert the truth of God’s word.
All through the centuries, the Christian religion has continued to hold fast to the elements of this world, and spiritual bondage has been the result. In general, the Christian religion says, “You have to do these ceremonies, or you can’t go to heaven when you die.” Then it says, “Only our ministers can perform these ceremonies and you have to meet certain requirements before you can receive these ceremonies.”
“Well, what are those requirements?” you may ask, and the Christian religion says, “We’ll decide that on a case by case basis whether you’re worthy of the rituals and of a place in heaven.”
The interesting thing is that even after the rituals are administered, there is no guarantee of a place in heaven. One has to return again and again to receive the rituals, and anyone who fails to submit to the elements of this world, finds himself in danger of hell fire. This is the bondage of which Paul was speaking, the bondage that relates to the elements of the world.
Oh, don’t you love the truth of God’s word. Jesus said:
John 4:23 (NKJ)
23 " . . . the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
Simple faith in Christ results in the gift of salvation which is open to all who will receive it. Jesus said:
Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Thank you for listening to Bible Study Time this morning. I’ll look forward to being with you again next week at this same time.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
Some translations are more accurate than others, but every translation has in it certain elements of subjective interpretation. Every culture has within its language idiomatic expressions that don’t literally mean what they say.
For example, when someone says, “thank you,” we politely counter with “you’re welcome” even though we’re not really extending any kind of a welcome. In order to give the proper meaning to expressions such as this, translators have to figure out the intended meaning behind the expression and then come up with a way of expressing the same thought.
Well, the translators of the Bible have had to deal with this very issue ever since the Jewish scholars in Egypt first translated the Old Testament from the Hebrew to the Greek. We have to be diligent in our efforts to understand the original words of the Bible as well as the intended meaning behind the words.
As I started this year’s Bible reading program, I read on the very first day Galatians, Chapter 4, and I noticed something interesting in verse 3. In the New Living Translation, it says:
Galatians 4:3-4 (NLT)
3 And that's the way it was with us before Christ came. We were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world.
I thought that sounded a little different so I went to the King James translation, which says:
Galatians 4:3 (NKJ)
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
The New King James agreed with the original King James word for word. So why do we see such a difference in the New Living Translation? Was Paul saying that we used be slaves to the spiritual powers of this world, or was he saying that we used be in bondage to the elements of this world?
Even at first glance, we get a clue as to which translation is more literal. It makes sense that the more literal a translation is, the more awkward the sentence structures will often be and the more difficult the expressions will be to interpret. The interpretation of a truly literal translation is a scholarly endeavor indeed.
For example, when the New Living Translation says, “we were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world”, that’s very clear and concise. However, it’s not as literal as the King James. On the other hand, when the King James says that “we were in bondage under the elements of the world,” that was more literal, but it was much more vague.
If this was literally what Paul said, then what did he mean? Was he talking about Aristotle’s earth, air, fire and water when he spoke of the elements? Or was he talking about the elements of our periodic chart? Does one have to be a scholar to figure this out?
Praise the Lord, by seeking the wisdom of the Lord, even non-scholars such as myself can figure this out. Most of the time the context is all we need to gain a true understanding of the passage.
In this region of Galatia, there were saved Jews and saved Gentiles. They had been saved as a result of Paul’s preaching. When Paul told them that Christ died for their sins and was raised from the dead, they believed what Paul said, and they were given the gift of salvation.
When they got saved, they witnessed many outward signs of the Holy Spirit. Paul said that they witnessed many miracles which were done by the Spirit.
However, after Paul left the area, there were some Jews who insisted that the rituals and ceremonies of the Law were necessary for salvation. They were not necessarily opposed to faith in Christ, but they rejected the idea that anyone could be saved without submitting to circumcision and the other rituals of the Law.
Paul reminded them that the Jews who had been circumcised as infants had never experienced the power of the Spirit until they put their faith in Christ, and then he reminded the Gentile believers that they had experienced the power of the Holy Spirit even though they had never been circumcised. He therefore concluded that submitting to circumcision yielded no spiritual power.
With this background, the intended meaning of Chapter 4 and verse 3 becomes clear. When Paul said that they had been in bondage under the elements of the world, he was speaking to the Jews who had labored under the Law. They had been in bondage to the elements of the world, such as the water of the various baptisms and the fires that burned in the altar, as well as the circumcision of the flesh which involves this earthly body.
Paul was comparing the earthly, physical nature of the rituals of the Law to the spiritual power that comes to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. He concluded that the rituals were impotent, but faith in Christ is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Paul said:
Galatians 4:3-6(NKJ)
3 Even so we (were children) in bondage under the elements of the world.
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
Paul was showing these believers that the Old Covenant Law had been replaced by a better covenant. Those who were under the Law knew God as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but under the New Covenant, believers could know God as Father.
Paul went on in this same chapter to remind the believers of Galatia that Abraham had two sons. Ishmael was born of Hagar, while Isaac was born of Sarah. Hagar was a bondwoman, while Sarah was Abraham’s wife and was free. He said that these two sons represented the Old and New Covenants. Verse 21 says:
Galatians 4:21-24 (NKJ)
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,
24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants . . .
Galatians 4:30-31 (NKJ)
30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Paul could see that the rituals and ceremonies of the Law, which were based in the elements of this world, had no power to change the lives of people. He could see that those rituals and ceremonies were nothing but a source of bondage to those who trust in them.
Paul was afraid that these rituals and ceremonies might actually prevent believers from experiencing the full power and freedom of the Holy Spirit. He plainly told them that they could not have both. He said, “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”
Paul felt so strongly about this that he said in Chapter 1:
Galatians 1:8-9 (NKJ)
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Paul knew that if anyone required earthly rituals in addition to faith in Christ for salvation, it could result in eternal separation from God for those who were deceived. Therefore, Paul said that if anyone preaches such a thing, let him be accursed.
Even today there are many people who want to hang on to and cling to religious rituals and ceremonies. Do you suppose that this might have something to do with the translations which blatantly change the teachings of the Apostle Paul and leave out the fact that Paul said that the elements of this world result in spiritual bondage?
As we have seen, the Apostle Paul was warning believers against the rituals and ceremonies, and now we have “translations” which say that Paul was really just warning against the spiritual powers of this world.
That is a legitimate warning, but it’s not what Paul was talking about here. Paul was warning believers about the bondage that so often accompanies rituals and ceremonies. The devil never ceases in his attempts to subvert the truth of God’s word.
All through the centuries, the Christian religion has continued to hold fast to the elements of this world, and spiritual bondage has been the result. In general, the Christian religion says, “You have to do these ceremonies, or you can’t go to heaven when you die.” Then it says, “Only our ministers can perform these ceremonies and you have to meet certain requirements before you can receive these ceremonies.”
“Well, what are those requirements?” you may ask, and the Christian religion says, “We’ll decide that on a case by case basis whether you’re worthy of the rituals and of a place in heaven.”
The interesting thing is that even after the rituals are administered, there is no guarantee of a place in heaven. One has to return again and again to receive the rituals, and anyone who fails to submit to the elements of this world, finds himself in danger of hell fire. This is the bondage of which Paul was speaking, the bondage that relates to the elements of the world.
Oh, don’t you love the truth of God’s word. Jesus said:
John 4:23 (NKJ)
23 " . . . the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
Simple faith in Christ results in the gift of salvation which is open to all who will receive it. Jesus said:
Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Thank you for listening to Bible Study Time this morning. I’ll look forward to being with you again next week at this same time.
Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com
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