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,
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 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
An heir is subject to guardians and managers until the time set by the father.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles 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 out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
But at the appropriate time God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the rule of law,
5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.
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 you are children, God sent out 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 you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God 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 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature 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 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 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 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
You're observing special days and months, seasons and years.
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
I'm concerned that all I did for you has 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'm pleading with you, my friends: be like me, because I became like you. You've never treated me badly.
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 because I was sick that I shared with you the good news on my first visit.
14 That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you did not despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even 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 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.
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 by telling you the truth?
So what has happened—have I 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.
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 it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, 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 am again in travail 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 could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about 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, you that desire to be under the law, do not you listen to 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 by the servant, and one by the free woman.
As Scripture says, Abraham had two sons, one from the servant girl, and one from 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.
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 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to 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 this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she 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 that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
But the heavenly Jerusalem is free. She is our mother.
27 For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who do not bear. Break out and shout, you who do not travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a 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, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
Now my friends, we are children of promise just like Isaac.
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.
However, just as the one born according to a human plan persecuted the one born through the Spirit, so it is today.
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 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, but of the free woman.
Therefore, my friends, we're not children of a servant girl, but of the free woman.
