Galatians 4
1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.
Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the master of all.
2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.
But he is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by his father.
3 So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.
In the same way also, when we were children, we were enslaved to the elements of the world.
4 But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
But when the fullness of time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.
to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!”
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
So yoʋ are no longer a slave, but a son. And if yoʋ are a son, yoʋ are also an heir of God through Christ.
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
At that time, however, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods.
9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you are turning back again to the weak and worthless elements? Do you wish to be enslaved to them once more?
10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
You observe days, months, seasons, and years!
11 I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.
I am afraid for you, lest somehow I have labored for you in vain.
12 I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.
I plead with you, brothers: Become as I am, because I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.
13 You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
But you know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I preached the gospel to you the first time.
14 And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.
And you did not despise or reject me even though my physical condition was a trial for me. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
15 What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
What then has become of that sense of blessing you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.
Those false teachers are not zealous for you in a good way, but rather they wish to shut you out so that you will be zealous for them.
18 Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.
Now it is good to be zealous for a good purpose, and to be so at all times and not just when I am with you.
19 My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
My little children, for whom I am again suffering labor pains until Christ is formed in you,
20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
how I wish that I could be with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you!
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?
Tell me, you who wish to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.
23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.
But the son of the slave woman was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through the promise.
24 These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.
This can be explained allegorically, for these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.
25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
For Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem; she is in slavery with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
But the Jerusalem that is above is the free woman; she is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren woman, who has never given birth; break forth and shout, yoʋ who have never been in labor! For many are the children of the desolate woman, more than those of the woman who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise.
29 At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.
But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
30 But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”
But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
So, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
