Were the pagan gods the Galatians served real gods?
No. They were not real gods at all. When everything is boiled down, they were nothing but idols made of wood or stone. The Galatians had been steeped in pagan darkness and did service to these non-gods before they knew God.
Les teaches that the Galatians had been steeped in pagan darkness and worshipped pagan gods. But when you boil everything down, those gods by nature were not gods at all; they were nothing but a piece of wood or stone. This fits the larger point that Paul’s converts came out of paganism, and even as new believers they did not go back into it, even when they faced persecution.
Galatians 4:8
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.