Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

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So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery(A) under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:3 Or under the basic principles

But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

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But now that you know God—or rather are known by God(A)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[a]? Do you wish to be enslaved(B) by them all over again?(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:9 Or principles

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

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See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,(A) which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world(B) rather than on Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. Colossians 2:8 Or the basic principles; also in verse 20

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

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20 Since you died with Christ(A) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,(B) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:(C)

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12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

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12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths(A) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!(B)

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10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

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10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.(A) The heavens will disappear with a roar;(B) the elements will be destroyed by fire,(C) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a](D)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 3:10 Some manuscripts be burned up

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

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12 as you look forward(A) to the day of God and speed its coming.[a](B) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 3:12 Or as you wait eagerly for the day of God to come