Insights Invited on Rudiments vs Elemental Spirits

NRSV uses the translation “elemental spirits” in Galatians 4:3 but has a footnote offering “rudiments” as an alternative. As I have been mediating on Galatians 3:23-4:7 (the lectionary Epistle for the first Sunday of Christmastide this year), it struck me that “rudiments” might fit better with the idea of the Law as disciplinarian or guardian in the rest of the passage. “Rudiments” suggests the need to learn the basics on the way to mature freedom. However, the “elemental spirits” translation points to an interpretation that this refers to diabolical evil spirits to which the Galatians (and all outside of faith) are imprisoned. The reference in 4:8 to “beings that are by nature not gods” does seem to fit this interpretation of demonic beings. But 4:9 again used “elemental spirits” with the footnote alternative “rudiments.” If “rudiments” is a better translation, it fits with the theme of maturing into faith rather than being captive of moral evil, which seems consistent with the modern work on moral development by the likes of Kohlberg and Fowler, moving from external to internal value structures.

Interestingly, in the Gospel reading for this week from John 1:1-18, v. 17 speaks of the Law coming by Moses and grace and truth by Christ. When juxtaposed with the Galatians passage, this makes for some fruitful meditation on the function of Law and grace in God’s economy.

I did some brief internet research on the background and various translations to see if a preference for the “rudiments” or “elemental spirits” was clearer. From what I found, it would seem to be able to go either way. Some suggested that the “elemental spirits” were not diabolical but human philosophy. I’d be interested in any insights from others who may have a better grip on Greek than I do. 

Scoresheet for Leaders

Lines from Psalm 10 for all in positions of leadership and power whether in politics, business, non-profits. Read the whole Psalm for full impact of the plea for God to intervene in a time of trouble and hold those who misuse their power and position for themselves at the expense of the weak.

In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor.

They sit in ambush in the villages; in hiding places they murder the innocent. Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless.

They lurk in secret like a lion in its covert; they lurk that they may seize the poor; they seize the poor and drag them off in their net. They stoop, they crouch, and the helpless fall by their might.

O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, so that those from earth may strike terror no more.

Daring Preaching

The Gospel reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for this coming Third Sunday of Advent (December 13, 2015) reports the preaching of John the Baptist, which was received by the people as Good News but angered the politicians, specifically King Herod because of all the evil things he had done.  As I meditated on these 2,000 year old words, I heard them in the context of the current escalatingly inflammatory US political season. Listen to John today!

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” … The one coming after me “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”