Galatians 4

Sonship in Christ

1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a
Or minor
child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is
Lit lord
owner of everything,
2but he is under guardians and
Or stewards
managers until the
I.e., when the child is no longer a minor
date set by the father.
3So we too, when we were children, were held ein bondage under the
Or rudimentary teachings
,
gelementary principles of the world.
4But when hthe fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, iborn of a woman, born junder
Or law
the Law,
5so that He might redeem those who were under
Or law
the Law, that we might receive the adoption as msons and daughters.
6Because you are sons, nGod has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “ oAbba!
I.e., Paul’s translation of the Aramaic Abba
Father!”
7Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and qif a son, then an heir
I.e., through the gracious act of
through God.

8 However at that time, swhen you did not know God, you were tslaves to uthose which by nature are not gods. 9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be vknown by God, whow is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless
Or rudimentary teachings
,
yelementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again?
10You zmeticulously observe days and months and seasons and years. 11I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored
Or for
over you in vain.

12 I beg of you, abbrothers and sisters, acbecome as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13but you know that it was because of a
Lit weakness of the flesh
bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the
Or former
first time;
14and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my
Lit flesh
bodily condition, nor express contempt, but agyou received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
15Where then is
I.e., considering yourselves fortunate
that sense of blessing you had? For I testify about you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
16So have I become your enemy aiby
Or dealing truthfully with you
telling you the truth?
17They eagerly seek you, not
Or with good intentions
in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them.
18But it is good always to be eagerly sought
Or with good intentions
in a commendable way, and amnot only when I am present with you.
19 anMy children, with whom aoI am again in labor until apChrist is formed in you-- 20but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for aqI am at a loss about you!

Slave and Free

21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not arlisten to the Law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, asone by the slave woman and atone by the free woman. 23But authe son by the slave woman
Lit has been born
was born according to the flesh, and awthe son by the free woman through the promise.
24
Lit Which
,
ayThis is speaking allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one coming from azMount Sinai giving birth to children
Lit into slavery
who are to be bbslaves;
Lit which
she is Hagar.
25Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is enslaved with her children. 26But bdthe Jerusalem above is free;
Lit which
she is our mother.
27For it is written:

bfRejoice, infertile one, you who do not give birth;
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;
For the children of the desolate one are more numerous
Than those of the one who has a husband.”

28 And you, brothers and sisters, bglike Isaac, are bhchildren of promise. 29But as at that time bithe son who was born according to the flesh bjpersecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, bkso it is even now. 30But what does the Scripture say?

blDrive out the slave woman and her son,
For bmthe son of the slave woman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”

31 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.

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