Galatians 4
1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all,
My point is this – as long as the heir is under age, there is no difference between him and a slave, though he is master of the whole estate.
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
He is subject to the control of guardians and stewards, during the period for which his father has power to appoint them.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
And so is it with us; when we were under age, as it were, we were slaves to the puerile teaching of this world;
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
but, when the full time came, God sent his Son – born a woman’s child, born subject to Law –
5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.
to ransom those who were subject to Law, so that we might take our position as sons.
6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
And it is because you are sons that God sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, with the cry – “Abba, our Father.”
7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
You, therefore, are no longer a slave, but a son; and, if a son, then an heir also, by God’s appointment.
8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
Yet formerly, in your ignorance of God, you became slaves to “gods” which were no gods.
9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?
But now that you have found God – or, rather, have been found by him – how is it that you are turning back to that poor and feeble puerile teaching, to which yet once again you are wanting to become slaves?
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
You are scrupulous in keeping days and months and seasons and years!
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labour for you.
You make me fear that the labour which I have spent on you may have been wasted.
12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
I entreat you, friends, to become like me, as I became like you. You have never done me any wrong.
13 but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
You remember that it was owing to bodily infirmity that on the first occasion I told you the good news.
14 That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
And as for what must have tried you in my condition, it did not inspire you with scorn or disgust, but you welcomed me as if I had been an angel of God – or Christ Jesus himself!
15 What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
What has become then, of your blessings? For I can bear witness that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me!
16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Am I to think, then, that I have become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
Certain people are seeking your favour, but with no honourable object. No, indeed, they want to isolate you, so that you will have to seek their favour.
18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
It is always honourable to have your favour sought in an honourable cause, and not only when I am with you, my dear children –
19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—
you for whom I am again enduring a mother’s pains, until a likeness to Christ will have been formed in you.
20 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
But I could wish to be with you now and speak in a different tone, for I am perplexed about you.
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
Tell me, you who want to be still subject to Law – Why don’t you listen to the Law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.
Scripture says that Abraham had two sons, one the child of the slave-woman and the other the child of the free woman.
23 However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
But the child of the slave-woman was born in the course of nature, while the child of the free woman was born in fulfilment of a promise.
24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
This story may be taken as an allegory. The women stand for two covenants. One covenant, given from Mount Sinai, produces a race of slaves and is represented by Hagar.
25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, and represents the Jerusalem of today, for she and her children are in slavery.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
But the Jerusalem above is free, and she it is who is our mother.
27 For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you who don’t travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.”
For scripture says – “Rejoice, you barren one, who have never given birth, break into shouts, you who are never in labour, for many are the children of her who is desolate – yes, more than of her who has a husband.”
28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
As for ourselves, friends, we, like Isaac, are children born in fulfilment of a promise.
29 But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
Yet at that time the child born in the course of nature persecuted the child born by the power of the Spirit; and it is the same now.
30 However, what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
But what does the passage of scripture say? “Send away the slave-woman and her son; for the slave’s son will not be coheir with the son of the free woman.”
31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.
And so, friends, we are not children of a slave, but of her who is free.
