Galatians 4
1 Now I say, As long as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a bondman, though he be lord of all;
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 but he is under guardians and stewards until the period fixed 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 we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the principles 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 fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, come of woman, come under law,
but, when the full time came, God sent his Son – born a woman’s child, born subject to Law –
5 that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive sonship.
to ransom those who were subject to Law, so that we might take our position as sons.
6 But because ye are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 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 So thou art no longer bondman, but son; but if son, heir also 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 indeed, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to 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, knowing God, but rather being known by God, how do ye turn again to the weak and beggarly principles to which ye desire to be again anew in bondage?
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 Ye observe days and months and times and years.
You are scrupulous in keeping days and months and seasons and years!
11 I am afraid of you, lest indeed I have laboured in vain as to you.
You make me fear that the labor which I have spent on you may have been wasted.
12 Be as I [am], for I also [am] as ye, brethren, I beseech you: ye have not at all wronged me.
I entreat you, friends, to become like me, as I became like you. You have never done me any wrong.
13 But ye know that in weakness of the flesh I announced the glad tidings to you at the first;
You remember that it was owing to bodily infirmity that on the first occasion I told you the good news.
14 and my temptation, which [was] in my flesh, ye did not slight nor reject with contempt; but ye received me as an angel of God, as 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 What then [was] your blessedness? for I bear you witness that, if possible, plucking out your own eyes ye 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 I have become your enemy in speaking the truth to you?
Am I to think, then, that I have become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They are not rightly zealous after you, but desire to shut you out [from us], that ye may be zealous after 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 [it is] right to be zealous at all times in what is right, 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 children, of whom I again travail in birth until Christ shall have been 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 should wish to be present with you now, and change my voice, for I am perplexed as to 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, ye who are desirous of being under law, do ye not listen to 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 of the maid servant, and one of the 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 But he [that was] of the maid servant was born according to flesh, and he [that was] of the free woman through 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 Which things have an allegorical sense; for these are two covenants: one from mount Sinai, gendering to bondage, 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 Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which [is] now, for she is in bondage with her children;
Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, and represents the Jerusalem of today, for she and her children are in slavery.
26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother.
But the Jerusalem above is free, and she it is who is our mother.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break out and cry, thou that travailest not; because the children of the desolate are more numerous than [those] of her that 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 But ye, brethren, after the pattern of Isaac, are children of promise.
As for ourselves, friends, we, like Isaac, are children born in fulfillment of a promise.
29 But as then he that was born according to flesh persecuted him [that was born] according to 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 But what says the scripture? Cast out the maid servant and her son; for the son of the maid servant shall not inherit with the son of the 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 So then, brethren, we are not maid servant's children, but [children] of the free woman.
And so, friends, we are not children of a slave, but of her who is free.
