Galatians 4
1 Now I say that so long as an heir is a child, he in no respect differs from a slave, although 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 but he is under the control of guardians and trustees until the time his father has appointed.
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 spiritually we were children, were subject to the world's rudimentary notions, and were enslaved.
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 time was fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born subject to Law,
but, when the full time came, God sent his Son — born a woman’s child, born subject to Law —
5 in order to purchase the freedom of all who were subject to Law, so that we might receive recognition as 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 has sent out the Spirit of His Son to enter your hearts and cry "Abba! our 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 you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir also through God's own act.
You, therefore, are no longer a slave, but a son; and, if a son, then an heir also, by God’s appointment.
8 But at one time, you Gentiles, having no knowledge of God, were slaves to gods which in reality do not exist.
Yet formerly, in your ignorance of God, you became slaves to ‘gods’ which were no gods.
9 Now, however, having come to know God--or rather to be known by Him--how is it you are again turning back to weak and worthless rudimentary notions to which you are once more willing to be enslaved?
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 scrupulously observe days and months, special seasons, and years.
You are scrupulous in keeping Days and Months and Seasons and Years!
11 I am alarmed about you, and am afraid that I have perhaps bestowed labour upon you to no purpose.
You make me fear that the labour which I have spent on you may have been wasted.
12 Brethren, become as I am, I beseech you; for I have also become like you. In no respect did you behave badly to me.
I entreat you, Brothers, to become like me, as I became like you. You have never done me any wrong.
13 And you know that in those early days it was on account of bodily infirmity that I proclaimed the Good News to you,
You remember that it was owing to bodily infirmity that on the first occasion I told you the Good News.
14 and yet the bodily infirmity which was such a trial to you, you did not regard with contempt or loathing, but you received me as if I had been an angel of God or Christ Jesus Himself!
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 I ask you, then, what has become of your self-congratulations? For I bear you witness that had it been possible you would have torn out your own eyes and 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 Can it be that I have become your enemy through speaking the truth to you?
Am I to think, then, that I have become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 These men pay court to you, but not with honourable motives. They want to exclude you, so that you may pay court to 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 It is always an honourable thing to be courted in an honourable cause; always, and not only when I am with you, my children--
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 you for whom I am again, as it were, undergoing the pains of childbirth, until Christ is fully formed within you.
You for whom I am again enduring a mother’s pains, till a likeness to Christ shall have been formed in you.
20 Would that I were with you and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about 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 want to continue to be subject to Law--will you not listen to the Law?
Tell me, you who want to be still subject to Law — Why do not you listen to the Law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave-girl and one by 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 we see that the child of the slave-girl was born in the common course of nature; but the child of the free woman in fulfilment of 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 fulfilment of a promise.
24 All this is allegorical; for the women represent two Covenants. One has its origin on Mount Sinai, and bears children destined for slavery.
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 This is Hagar; for the name Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, which is in bondage together with her children.
(The word Hagar meaning in Arabia Mount Sinai) and it ranks with the Jerusalem of to-day, for she and her children are in slavery.
26 But the Jerusalem which is above is free, and she 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 woman that bearest not, break forth into a joyful cry, thou that dost not travail with child. For the desolate woman has many children--more indeed than she who has the husband."
For Scripture says — ‘Rejoice, thou barren one, who dost never bear, Break into shouts, thou who art never in labour, For many are the children of her who is desolate — aye, more than of her who has a husband.’
28 But you, brethren, like Isaac, are children born in fulfilment of a promise.
As for ourselves, brothers, we, like Isaac, are children born in fulfilment of a promise.
29 Yet just as, at that time, the child born in the common course of nature persecuted the one whose birth was due to the power of the Spirit, so 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? "Send away the slave-girl and her son, for never shall the slave-girl's son share the inheritance 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 shall not be co-heir with the son of the free woman.’
31 Therefore, brethren, since we are not the children of a slave-girl, but of the free woman--
And so, Brothers, we are not children of a slave, but of her who is free.
