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.

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.