Galatians 4
1 But I say the heir, for as long a time as he is a child, differs nothing from a bondman though he is lord of all.
Let me explain what I'm saying. An heir who is under-age is no different from a slave, even though the heir may be the owner of everything.
2 Instead he is under stewards and managers until the time appointed from the father.
An heir is subject to guardians and managers until the time set by the father.
3 And so when we were children, we were in bondage under the rudiments of the world.
It's just the same for us. When we were children, we were slaves subject to the basic rules of the law.
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born from a woman, born under law,
But at the appropriate time God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the rule of law,
5 so that he might redeem those under law, so that we might receive the sonship.
so that he could rescue those who were kept under the rule of law, so that we could receive the inheritance of adopted children.
6 And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
To show you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son to convince us, causing us to call out, “Abba,” meaning “Father.”
7 So that thou are no longer a bondman but a son, and if a son, then an heir through Christ.
Since you are now no longer a slave, but a child, and if you are his child, then God has made you his heir.
8 But of course not knowing God then, ye were in bondage to those in nature who are not gods,
At the time when you didn't know God, you were enslaved by the supposed “gods” of this world.
9 but now knowing God, but rather being known by God, how is it ye turn again to the weak and destitute elements to which ye desire again to be in bondage anew?
But now you've come to know God—or better, to be known by God. So how can you go back to those useless and worthless rules? Do you want to be slaves to those rules all over again?
10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
You're observing special days and months, seasons and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest somehow I have labored toward you in vain.
I'm concerned that all I did for you has been wasted!
12 I beseech you, brothers, become like me, because I also am like ye. Ye wronged me in nothing.
I'm pleading with you, my friends: be like me, because I became like you. You've never treated me badly.
13 But ye know that through a weakness of the flesh I preached the good news to you the first time.
You remember that it was because I was sick that I shared with you the good news on my first visit.
14 And ye did not disdain, nor did ye reject my trial in my flesh, but ye received me as an agent of God, as Christ Jesus.
Even though my illness was difficult for you, you didn't despise or reject me—in fact you treated me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus himself.
15 Where then is your satisfaction? For I testify to you, that if possible, having plucked your eyes out, ye would have given them to me.
So what's happened to all your gratefulness? I tell you, back then if you could have pulled out your eyes and given them to me, you would have!
16 So then have I become your enemy telling you the truth?
So what has happened—have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They are zealous for you but not honorably. They want to exclude you, so that ye may be zealous for them.
These people are keen to gain your support, but not for any good reasons. On the contrary, they want to keep you away from us so that you will enthusiastically support them.
18 But to be zealous of is always good in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
Of course it's good to want to do good. But this should be at all times, not just when I'm there with you!
19 My little children, of whom I suffer birth pains again until Christ is formed in you.
My dear friends, I want to work with you until Christ's character is duplicated in you.
20 But I was wishing to be present with you now and to change my tone, because I am perplexed at you.
I really wish I could be with you right now so I could change my tone of voice… I'm so worried about you.
21 Tell me those desiring to be under law, do ye not hear the law?
Answer me this, you people who want to live under the law: Don't you hear what the law is saying?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one from the servant girl, and one from the freewoman.
As Scripture says, Abraham had two sons, one from the servant girl, and one from the free woman.
23 But in fact, the man from the servant girl was born according to flesh, but the man from the freewoman through promise.
However, the son from the servant girl was born following a human plan, while the son from the free woman was born as the result of the promise.
24 Which things are allegorized, for these are two covenants, indeed one from mount Sinai giving birth for bondage, which is Hagar.
This provides an analogy: these two women represent two agreements. One agreement is from Mount Sinai—Hagar—and she gives birth to slave children.
25 For Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and it corresponds to the present Jerusalem, and is in bondage with her children.
Hagar symbolizes Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the current Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem above is free, which is mother of us all.
But the heavenly Jerusalem is free. She is our mother.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren woman not giving birth. Burst forth and shout, thou not suffering birth pains, because many more are the children of the desolate than of her who has the husband.
As Scripture says, “Rejoice you who are childless and who have never given birth! Shout aloud for joy, you who have never been in labor—for the abandoned woman has more children than the woman who has a husband!”
28 Now we, brothers, who correspond to Isaac, are children of promise.
Now my friends, we are children of promise just like Isaac.
29 But just as then, the man who was born according to flesh persecuted the man according to Spirit, so also now.
However, just as the one born according to a human plan persecuted the one born through the Spirit, so it is today.
30 Nevertheless, what does the scripture say? Send away the servant girl and her son, for the son of the servant girl will, no, not inherit with the son of the freewoman.
But what does Scripture say? “Send away the servant girl and her son, for the son of the servant girl will not be an heir together with the son of the free woman.”
31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant girl, but of the freewoman.
Therefore, my friends, we're not children of a servant girl, but of the free woman.
