Galatians 4

1 What I am saying is that as long as heirs are underage they are no different from slaves, although they own the whole estate.2 They are subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by their fathers.3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba , Father.”

7 So you are no longer slaves, but God’s children; and since you are his children, he has made you also heirs.
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces ? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

23 His son by the slave woman was born as the result of human effort, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
24 I am taking these things figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.

27 For it is written:
“Be glad, barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.29 At that time the son born by human effort persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”

31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, 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.