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 Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor,t is no different from a slave, though he is the ownert of everything.2 But he is under guardianst and managers until the date set by hist father.3 So also we, when we were minors,t were enslaved under the basic forcest of the world.4 But when the appropriate timet had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.t6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who callst “Abba!t Father!”

7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you aret a son, then you are also an heir through God.s

Heirs of Promise Are Not to Return to Law

8 Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all.t9 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 worthlesst basic forces?t Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?t10 You are observing religioust days and months and seasons and years.11 I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain.

12 I beg you, brothers and sisters,t become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

Personal Appeal of Paul

13 But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you,14 and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me.t Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God,t as though I were Christ Jesus himself!t15 Where then is your sense of happinesst now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me!

16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?t
17 They court you eagerly,t but for no good purpose;t they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.t18 However, it is goodt to be sought eagerlyt for a good purposet at all times, and not only when I am present with you.19 My children – I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you!ts

20 I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice,t because I am perplexed about you.

An Appeal from Allegory

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law?t22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by thet slave woman and the other by the free woman.23 But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent,t while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise.24 These things may be treated as an allegory,t for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar.25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.26 But the Jerusalem above is free,s and she is our mother.

27 For it is written:
“Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children;t
break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains,
because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous
than those of the woman who has a husband,"ts
28 But you,s brothers and sisters,t are children of the promise like Isaac.29 But just as at that time the one born by natural descentt persecuted the one born according to the Spirit,t so it is now.30 But what does the scripture say? “Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son"s of the free woman.

31 Therefore, brothers and sisters,t we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.