The Judaisers thought they had arrived, Paul says the exact opposite. He uses the analogy of an heir to a great estate. Before the heir inherits the estate he is subject to guardians and is restricted in what he can do. Indeed in some ways he is like a slave. Only when the father says so can he have the inheritance. (In those days you did not necessarily have to wait for someone to die in order to inherit something).
Paul says that they were under slavery to "elemental spiritual forces". This can be translated "elemental spirits" or "basic principles of this world". Whatever Paul's exact meaning, he is saying that the Jews were not indeed free, but were in pretty much the same state as everyone else, subject to the same slavery.
Now this would really have offended the Jews. They thought that they were free (John 8:32,33). Just because someone claims to be free does not mean that they actually are free.
Paul says that they were under slavery to "elemental spiritual forces". This can be translated "elemental spirits" or "basic principles of this world". Whatever Paul's exact meaning, he is saying that the Jews were not indeed free, but were in pretty much the same state as everyone else, subject to the same slavery.
Now this would really have offended the Jews. They thought that they were free (John 8:32,33). Just because someone claims to be free does not mean that they actually are free.
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