Galatians 4

1My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than those who are enslaved, though they are the owners of all the property, 2but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3#Col 2.8, 20; Heb 5.12So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental principles#4.3 Or spirits of the world. 4#Mt 5.17; Eph 1.10But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5#Jn 1.12; Eph 1.5, 7in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6#Rom 5.5; 8.15And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our#4.6 Other ancient authorities read your hearts, crying, “Abba!#4.6 Aramaic for Father Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir through God.#4.7 Other ancient authorities read an heir of God through Christ

Paul Reproves the Galatians

8 # Rom 1.23; 1 Cor 12.2; Eph 2.12; 1 Thess 4.5 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods. 9#1 Cor 8.3; Col 2.20Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental principles?#4.9 Or spirits How can you want to be enslaved to them again? 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years. 11I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted.

12Brothers and sisters, I beg you: become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. 13You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you; 14though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15What has become of the goodwill you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17They make much of you but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you may make much of them. 18It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times and not only when I am present with you. 19#1 Cor 4.15; Eph 4.13; 1 Jn 2.1My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah

21Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law? 22#Gen 16.15; 21.2, 9For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by an enslaved woman and the other by a free woman. 23#Gen 18.10; Rom 9.7; Heb 11.11One, the child of the enslaved woman, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise. 24Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery. 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia#4.25 Other ancient authorities read For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26#Isa 2.2; Heb 12.22; Rev 3.12But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother. 27#Isa 54.1For it is written,

“Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children,

burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs,

for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous

than the children of the one who is married.”

28Now you,#4.28 Other ancient authorities read we my brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, like Isaac. 29#Gen 21.9But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30#Gen 21.10–12But what does the scripture say? “Drive out the enslaved woman and her child, for the child of the enslaved woman will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman.” 31So then, brothers and sisters, we are children, not of an enslaved woman but of the free woman.

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