Is Paul contradicting himself about the observance of special days in Romans 14:5-6 and Galatians 4:8-11?

Question

On the one hand, Paul seems to support both the observance and non-observance of special days as equally valid options in Romans 14:5-6 (NIV):

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God

But on the other hand, he seems to be totally against observing special days in Galatians 4:8-11 (NIV):

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

Is Paul contradicting himself?

Answer 1

Is Paul contradicting himself about the observance of special days in Romans 14:5-6 and Galatians 4:8-11?

In short, no. Paul is speaking to two different peoples, as the names of the books suggest the Romans and the Galatians.

In Romans, Paul opens the chapter speaking to the Romans about those new into the Christian faith. Newly converted ones would still have in mind their old ways of worship, either the Mosiac Law or pagan worship. Paul kindly reminds them to accept these new ones:

"Welcome all the Lord's followers, even those whose faith is weak. Don't criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours."–Rom. 14:1 (CEV)

This can also be seen in the issue of circumcision in Acts 15:1-5. Verse 5 even indicates:

Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses."–Act 15:5 (NIV)

Some Pharisees that had come to accept Christ were still trying to uphold the Mosaic Law. So, in essence, Paul in Romans 14 is saying not to be harsh with someone that is newly converted and realize that it will take time for them to adjust to the Law of the Christ.

As for the Galatians, Paul is talking to Christians that had accepted and were Christians for some time.

"Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God–or rather are known by God–how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?"–Gal. 4:8, 9

The Galatians were going back to their old ways after having known God and as Paul puts it "known by God". They were reverting back to nonsensical things as Peter referred to:

Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud."–2 Peter 2:22; Prov. 26:11 (NIV)

It helps us to see that the consciences of others need to be taken into consideration before we speak harshly. And that we need to stay firm in what we have learned and not fall back into our old ways.

Answer 2

Consider these three facts concerning Galatians 4:8–11:

At the time of Paul's writing, there were no special years in Judaism. The Jubilee hadn't been observed for centuries, and the Sabbatical Year was still celebrated only within Palestine:

The jubilee was proclaimed "throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof"; only when all the tribes were in possession of Palestine was the jubilee observed, but not after the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh had been exiled (ib. ii. 3); nor was it observed during the existence of the Second Temple, when the tribes of Judah and Benjamin had been assimilated (Sheb. x. 2; 'Ar. 32b). After the conquest of Samaria by Shalmaneser the jubilee was observed nominally in the expectation of the return of the tribes—according to some authorities, Jeremiah brought them back (ib. 33a)—and till the final exile by Nebuchadnezzar.
— SABBATICAL YEAR AND JUBILEE - JewishEncyclopedia.com

In Colossians 2:16, when defending Christian celebrations, Paul used specific words for the Biblical festivals and sabbaths:

of an  holyday  g1859 ἑορτῆς    ἑορτή    heortē
of the new moon g3561 νουμηνίας νεομηνία neomēnia
of the sabbath  g4521 σαββάτων  σάββατον sabbaton

But here, he uses generic words:

days   g2250 ἡμέρας    ἡμέρα    hēmera
months g3376 μῆνας     μήν      mēn
times  g2540 καιροὺς   καιρός   kairos
years  g1763 ἐνιαυτούς ἐνιαυτός eniautos

Paul was talking to mostly gentile converts, not Jews.

… are trying to compel you to be circumcised. … — Galatians 6

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. — Galatians 4:8

Yes, Paul was concerned that some of the Galatians were reverting to their old celebrations and habits, but those ways were pagan Roman celebrations of "not gods" (idols), not the Judaic holy days.

Answer 3

Paul stressed freedom and tolerance in Romans 14:

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.

However, the Galatians wanted to enslave themselves in chapter 4:

9b Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

For the Galatian church, they had to observe special days and likely to be intolerant of people who did not.

Is Paul contradicting himself about the observance of special days in Romans 14:5-6 and Galatians 4:8-11?

No. Paul was an intellectual powerhouse. It would be extraordinary if he would contradict himself. It is more profitable to look for consistent explanations for these two passages.