Galatians 4
1 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.
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.
2 But he is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by his father.
For he is under tutors and caretakers, until the time which was predetermined by the father.
3 In the same way also, when we were children, we were enslaved to the elements of the world.
So also we, when we were children, were subservient to the influences of the world.
4 But when the fullness of time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
But when the fullness of time arrived, God sent his Son, formed from a woman, formed under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
so that he might redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!”
Therefore, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out: “Abba, Father.”
7 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.
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.
8 At that time, however, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods.
But then, certainly, while ignorant of God, you served those who, by nature, are not gods.
9 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?
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?
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years!
You serve the days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid for you, lest somehow I have labored for you in vain.
I am afraid for you, lest perhaps I may have labored in vain among you.
12 I plead with you, brothers: Become as I am, because I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.
Brothers, I beg you. Be as I am. For I, too, am like you. You have not injured me at all.
13 But you know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I preached the gospel to you the first time.
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.
14 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.
You did not despise or reject me. But instead, you accepted me like an Angel of God, even like Christ Jesus.
15 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.
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.
16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 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.
They are not imitating you well. And they are willing to exclude you, so that you might imitate them.
18 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.
But be imitators of what is good, always in a good way, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, for whom I am again suffering labor pains until Christ is formed in you,
My little sons, I am giving birth to you again, until Christ is formed in you.
20 how I wish that I could be with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you!
And I would willingly be present with you, even now. But I would alter my voice: for I am ashamed of you.
21 Tell me, you who wish to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, have you not read the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.
For it is written that Abraham had two sons: one by a servant woman, and one by a free woman.
23 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.
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.
24 This can be explained allegorically, for these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.
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.
25 For Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem; she is in slavery with her children.
For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which is related to the Jerusalem of the present time, and it serves with her sons.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is the free woman; she is the mother of us all.
But that Jerusalem which is above is free; the same is our mother.
27 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.”
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.”
28 Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are children of the promise.
Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are sons of the promise.
29 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.
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.
30 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.”
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.”
31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
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.
