Galatians 4
1 Now, I [will further] discuss [children and heirs]: [An heir is a person who will later] control all that his father has. But as long as that heir is a child, others [control] him, with the result that he is just like a slave [MET].
Ich sage aber, solange der Erbe ein Kind ist, so ist unter ihm und einem Knechte kein Unterschied, ob er wohl ein HERR ist aller Güter,
2 Until the [day that] his father [previously] determined, [other] persons supervise him and manage his father’s property.
sondern er ist unter den Vormündern und Pflegern bis auf die bestimmte Zeit vom Vater.
3 Likewise, when we [(inc)] (OR, we [(exc) Jews]) were [like] young children [MET], we were controlled by the spiritual powers of this world. They controlled us like [masters control their slaves] [MET].
Also auch wir, da wir Kinder waren, waren wir gefangen unter den äußerlichen Satzungen.
4 But exactly at the time [MTY] [that God had previously determined], he sent [Jesus], who is (his Son/the man who is also God), into the world. Jesus was born to a [human] mother. He had to obey the laws [that God gave to Moses].
Da aber die Zeit erfüllet ward, sandte Gott seinen Sohn, geboren von einem Weibe und unter das Gesetz getan,
5 God sent Jesus in order that he might redeem us who had to obey [God’s] laws. God wanted us all to receive from [God] the status of being his children [MET].
auf daß er die, so unter dem Gesetz waren, erlösete, daß wir die Kindschaft empfingen.
6 Furthermore, we know that we are God’s children because God sent the Spirit, who is intimately related to Jesus, to live in our (inner beings/hearts). [The Spirit enables us to] pray fervently, “Daddy, Father!” [This shows that we are God’s children].
Weil ihr denn Kinder seid, hat Gott gesandt den Geist seines Sohnes in eure Herzen, der schreiet: Abba, lieber Vater!
7 So, [because of what God has done], no longer is [each of] you [like] a slave. Instead, [each of you is] a child [of God]. Furthermore, since [each of you is God’s] child, God has also made you his heir, [one who will receive all that he has promised].
Also ist nun hier kein Knecht mehr, sondern eitel Kinder. Sind's aber Kinder, so sind's auch Erben Gottes durch Christum.
8 When you did not have a relationship with God [MET], you served gods that really did not exist [MET]. You were their slaves.
Aber zu der Zeit, da ihr Gott nicht erkanntet, dientet ihr denen, die von Natur nicht Götter sind.
9 But now you have come to know God. Perhaps [it would be better to say that] now God knows you. [So now you are acting foolishly]! (You are again believing [that by obeying] rules and rites [you will benefit spiritually]! [RHQ] [Those rules are] ineffective and inadequate! You are wanting to [obey them] again [MET] like slaves obey their masters. [RHQ]
Nun ihr aber Gott erkannt habt, ja vielmehr von Gott erkannt seid, wie wendet ihr euch denn um wieder zu den schwachen und dürftigen Satzungen, welchen ihr von neuem an dienen wollt?
10 You [non-Jews] are carefully practicing [Jewish rules and rituals about what you should do] (on [Sabbaths/on Jewish days of rest]) and [on the first day of each] month and on [special] seasons and years.
Ihr haltet Tage und Monden und Feste und Jahrzeiten.
11 I (worry/am concerned) about your [mistaken ideas. I do not want] to have [so] strenuously served you in vain.
Ich fürchte für euch, daß ich nicht vielleicht umsonst habe an euch gearbeitet.
12 My fellow believers, I strongly urge you that you do as I do. [Stop thinking that you have to obey (Jewish rules and rituals/ceremonial laws]). [When I was with you], I [did not obey all the Jewish rules and rituals], just like you [did not obey them]. [At that time] you treated me entirely as you should have [LIT].
Seid doch wie ich, denn ich bin wie ihr. Liebe Brüder, ich bitte euch, ihr habt mir kein Leid getan.
13 You know that the first time I preached to you, [I went to your area to regain my health, because I was physically weak].
Denn ihr wisset, daß ich euch in Schwachheit nach dem Fleisch das Evangelium geprediget habe zum erstenmal.
14 [Although] you might have [despised me because] I was physically weak, you did not despise me or act contemptuously/disrespectfully toward me. Instead, you welcomed me like [you would welcome] an angel from God. [You welcomed me] like [you would welcome] Christ Jesus!
Und meine Anfechtungen, die ich leide nach dem Fleisch, habt ihr nicht verachtet noch verschmähet, sondern als einen Engel Gottes nahmet ihr mich auf, ja als Christum Jesum.
15 (I am disappointed that you have forgotten [that then] you [declared that you were] pleased with [me]./Have you forgotten [that then] you [declared that you were] pleased with [me]?) [RHQ] I can testify that you [would have done anything to help me]. You would have gouged out your eyes [and] given them to me, [if that would have helped me]!
Wie waret ihr dazumal so selig! Ich bin euer Zeuge, daß, wenn es möglich gewesen wäre, ihr hättet eure Augen ausgerissen und mir gegeben.
16 So I am very disappointed that you [now] act as though [RHQ] I have become hostile to you [because I have kept] speaking the true [message about Christ] to you.
Bin ich denn also euer Feind worden, daß ich euch die Wahrheit vorhalte?
17 Those [who are insisting on obeying Jewish rules] are eagerly [showing interest in] you, but [what they are doing is] not good. They even want you not to associate with [me and other true] believers, because they want you to eagerly show [interest in] them, [not in us].
Sie eifern um euch nicht fein, sondern sie wollen euch von mir abfällig machen, daß ihr um sie sollt eifern.
18 But [just like] it always feels good to have others show that they appreciate you, [I would like you] always [to appreciate me], and not only when I am with you.
Eifern ist gut, wenn's immerdar geschiehet um das Gute und nicht allein, wenn ich gegenwärtig bei euch bin.
19 You [who are like] my children, [once] again I am very worried/concerned about you [MET], [and I will continue to] be worried/concerned until Christ’s [nature becomes developed] in you [completely and wholeheartedly] [MET] [as a child] becomes developed [in his mother’s womb].
Meine lieben Kinder, welche ich abermal mit Ängsten gebäre, bis daß Christus in euch eine Gestalt gewinne.
20 But I do wish that I could be with you now and that I might talk [more gently with you], because I do not know [what to do about] you [while we are apart].
Ich wollte aber, daß ich jetzt bei euch wäre, und meine Stimme wandeln könnte, denn ich bin irre an euch.
21 Some of you desire [to obey all the laws] that God gave Moses. [I say that] you [should] consider [RHQ] [the implications of what Moses wrote in] the Scriptures.
Saget mir, die ihr unter dem Gesetz sein wollt: Habt ihr das Gesetz nicht gehöret?
22 [He] wrote that Abraham became the father of two sons. His female slave, [Hagar], bore one son, and his [wife Sarah], who was not a slave, bore the other.
Denn es stehet geschrieben, daß Abraham zween Söhne hatte, einen von der Magd, den andern von der Freien.
23 Also, [the sons differed. Ishmael], the [son born by] the female slave, was conceived naturally. But [Isaac], the [son born by] his wife who was not a slave, was conceived [miraculously] as a result of what [God] had promised [Abraham].
Aber der von der Magd war, ist nach dem Fleisch geboren; der aber von der Freien, ist durch die Verheißung geboren.
24 [I am telling you this] as an illustration. These [two women] symbolize two agreements. [God made] the first [agreement, which involved obeying the laws that God gave to Moses] at Sinai Mountain. [Because that agreement forces those who accept it to keep obeying all its rules] [MET], [it is like a slave mother who] gives birth to slaves. [So] Hagar, [the female slave, symbolizes] that [agreement].
Die Worte bedeuten etwas. Denn das sind die zwei Testamente, eines von dem Berge Sinai, das zur Knechtschaft gebieret, welches ist die Hagar.
25 Also, the [word] ‘Hagar’ is [associated with] Sinai Mountain, [which is] in Arabia [land. Hagar, the female slave, also] represents Jerusalem as it is today. Jerusalem is [like] [MET] a slave [mother, and those who live there] [PRS] [are like] her slave children [MET] [because they all must obey the laws that God gave to Moses].
Denn Hagar heißet in Arabien der Berg Sinai und langet bis gen Jerusalem, das zu dieser Zeit ist, und ist dienstbar mit seinen Kindern.
26 But there will be a [new] Jerusalem in heaven [MTY], and we [who will go there] are free [from having to obey Jewish laws]. We [who belong to that city consider it to be] our mother [MET] [city because we are God’s true children].
Aber das Jerusalem, das droben ist, das ist die Freie, die ist unser aller Mutter.
27 [Our new city will have more people than those who live in Jerusalem now. It will be just like] Isaiah foretold about [the people whom he expected would come back to Jerusalem from exile. He expected that they would be more numerous than those who] were taken into exile. He wrote: [You who live in Jerusalem, you will] rejoice! Now you have no children, like a barren [woman] who does not give birth to [children! But some day you will] shout [joyfully], (without restraint/as loudly as you can), [even though now you are few in number, like a woman who] cannot give birth [to children, and you] feel deserted. [You will be very happy] because [you will have many children who will come to you. Those children will be] more than [the children] any woman with a husband [could have borne].
Denn es stehet geschrieben: Sei fröhlich, du Unfruchtbare, die du nicht gebierest, und brich hervor und rufe, die du nicht schwanger bist! Denn die Einsame hat viel mehr Kinder, denn die den Mann hat.
28 Now, [my] fellow believers, you have become children [of God as a result of believing God’s] promise to us, as Isaac [was born as a result of Abraham believing what God promised to him] [MET].
Wir aber, liebe Brüder, sind Isaak nach der Verheißung Kinder.
29 [Also, long ago Abraham’s son] Ishmael, the one who was conceived naturally, caused trouble for [Abraham’s son] Isaac, who [was conceived] supernaturally [MET]. Similarly, now [those who think that we must obey the laws that God gave Moses in order that God will save us are causing trouble for those who are trusting Abraham’s descendant, Christ].
Aber gleichwie zu der Zeit, der nach dem Fleisch geboren war, verfolgete den, der nach dem Geist geboren war, also gehet es jetzt auch.
30 But these are [RHQ] the words in the Scriptures [PRS]: “The son of the [woman] who was not a slave will inherit [what his father has]. The female slave’s son will certainly not inherit those things. So send away from [this place] the female slave and her son [MET]!” [That means that you should certainly expel from your groups those who insist that we obey all the laws God gave Moses] [MET].
Aber was spricht die Schrift? Stoß die Magd hinaus mit ihrem Sohn! Denn der Magd Sohn soll nicht erben mit dem Sohn der Freien.
31 [My] fellow believers, [Hagar symbolizes the laws that God gave to Moses. But we are not those who must obey all the laws that God gave to Moses] [MET]. [So] we are not [the] female slave [Hagar’s spiritual] descendants [MET]. But [Sarah’s descendants are those who were born as a result of believing what God promised to Abraham. So we are] the [spiritual] descendants of [Sarah, the woman] who was not a slave [MET].
So sind wir nun, liebe Brüder, nicht der Magd Kinder, sondern der Freien.
