Galatians 4
1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, 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 is under tutors and governors until the time appointed 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 serving under the elements 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 his Son, made of a woman, made under the 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 them who were under the law: 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 And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your 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 Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an 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, you served them, 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, after that you have known God, or rather are known by God: how turn you again to the weak and needy elements, which you desire to serve again?
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 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 perhaps I have laboured in vain among you.
You make me fear that the labour which I have spent on you may have been wasted.
12 Be ye as I, because I also am as you: brethren, I beseech 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 And you know, how through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you heretofore: and your temptation 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 despised not, nor rejected: but received me as an angel of God, even 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 Where is then your blessedness? For I bear you witness, 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 Am I then become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Am I to think, then, that I have become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them.
Certain people are seeking your favour, but with no honourable object. No, indeed, they want to isolate you, so that you will have to seek their favour.
18 But be zealous for that which is good in a good thing always: and not only when I am present with you.
It is always honourable to have your favour sought in an honourable cause, and not only when I am with you, my dear children –
19 My little children, of whom I am in labour again, until Christ be 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 now, and change my voice: because I am ashamed for 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 that 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: the one by a bondwoman, and the other 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 But he who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman, was by 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 fulfilment of a promise.
24 Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from mount Sina, engendering unto bondage; which is Agar:
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 Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and 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 that Jerusalem, which is 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 forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.
For scripture says – “Rejoice, you barren one, who have never given birth, break into shouts, you who are never in labour, for many are the children of her who is desolate – yes, more than of her who has a husband.”
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
As for ourselves, friends, we, like Isaac, are children born in fulfilment of a promise.
29 But as then he, that was born according to the flesh, persecuted him that was after 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 But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir 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 the children of the bondwoman, but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.
And so, friends, we are not children of a slave, but of her who is free.
