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Galatians 4

Sons and Heirs

1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,t though he is the owner of everything,2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principlest of the world.4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?10 You observe days and months and seasons and years!11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

12 Brothers,t I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first,14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.15 What then has become of the blessing you felt? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?t17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you,19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman.23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;t she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

27 For it is written,
"Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband."

28 Now you,t brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.29 But just as at that time 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."31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Galatians 4

1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:4 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,5 that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.6 And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.7 So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.8 Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:9 but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?10 Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.11 I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.12 I beseech you, brethren, become as I am, for I also am become as ye are. Ye did me no wrong:13 but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time:14 and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.15 Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.16 So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?17 They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.18 But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you.19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you--20 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you.21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.23 Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise.24 Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.25 Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband.

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also it is now.30 Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.31 Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.