Galatians 4
1 But I say that, during the time an heir is a child, he is no different from a servant, even though he is the owner of everything.
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 For he is under tutors and caretakers, until the time which was predetermined 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 also we, when we were children, were subservient to the influences 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 time arrived, God sent his Son, formed from a woman, formed under the law,
but, when the full time came, God sent his Son – born a woman’s child, born subject to Law –
5 so that he might redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption of sons.
to ransom those who were subject to Law, so that we might take our position as sons.
6 Therefore, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out: “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 And so now he is not a servant, but a son. But if he is a son, then he is also an heir, through God.
You, therefore, are no longer a slave, but a son; and, if a son, then an heir also, by God’s appointment.
8 But then, certainly, while ignorant of God, you served 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, since you have known God, or rather, since you have been known by God: how can you turn away again, to weak and destitute influences, which you desire to serve anew?
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 serve the days, and months, and times, and years.
You are scrupulous in keeping days and months and seasons and years!
11 I am afraid for you, lest perhaps I may have labored in vain among you.
You make me fear that the labor which I have spent on you may have been wasted.
12 Brothers, I beg you. Be as I am. For I, too, am like you. You have not injured me at all.
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, in the weakness of the flesh, I have preached the Gospel to you for a long time, and that your trials are in my flesh.
You remember that it was owing to bodily infirmity that on the first occasion I told you the good news.
14 You did not despise or reject me. But instead, you accepted me like an Angel of God, even like 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 Therefore, where is your happiness? For I offer to you testimony that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes and would have 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 are not imitating you well. And they are willing to exclude you, so that you might imitate them.
Certain people are seeking your favor, but with no honorable object. No, indeed, they want to isolate you, so that you will have to seek their favor.
18 But be imitators of what is good, always in a good way, and not only when I am present with you.
It is always honorable to have your favor sought in an honorable cause, and not only when I am with you, my dear children –
19 My little sons, I am giving birth to you again, 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 And I would willingly be present with you, even now. But I would alter my voice: for I am ashamed of 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 who desire to be under the law, have you not read 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 a servant woman, and one by a 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 And he who was of the servant was born according to the flesh. But he who was of the free woman was born by the 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 fulfillment of a promise.
24 These things are said through an allegory. For these represent the two testaments. Certainly the one, on Mount Sinai, gives birth unto servitude, 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 Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which is related to the Jerusalem of the present time, and it serves with her sons.
Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, and represents the Jerusalem of today, for she and her children are in slavery.
26 But that Jerusalem which is above is free; the same is our mother.
But the Jerusalem above is free, and she it is who is our mother.
27 For it was written: “Rejoice, O barren one, though you do not conceive. Burst forth and cry out, though you do not give birth. For many are the children of the desolate, even more than of 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 labor, for many are the children of her who is desolate – yes, more than of her who has a husband.’
28 Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are sons of the promise.
As for ourselves, friends, we, like Isaac, are children born in fulfillment of a promise.
29 But just 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 And what does Scripture say? “Cast out the woman servant and her son. For the son of a servant women shall not be an heir with the son of a 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 And so, brothers, we are not the sons of the servant woman, but rather of the free woman. And this is the freedom with which Christ has set us free.
And so, friends, we are not children of a slave, but of her who is free.
