Galatians 4

1Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 2They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. 3And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles#4:3 Or powers; also in 4:9. of this world.

4But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.#4:5 Greek sons; also in 4:6. 6And because we#4:6a Greek you. are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”#4:6b Abba is an Aramaic term for “father.” 7Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child.#4:7 Greek son; also in 4:7b. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

8Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. 9So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? 10You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. 11I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing. 12Dear brothers and sisters,#4:12 Greek brothers; also in 4:28, 31. I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws.

You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you. 13Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. 14But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. 15Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. 16Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?

17Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them. 18If someone is eager to do good things for you, that’s all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I’m with you.

19Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. 20I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you.

Abraham’s Two Children

21Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? 22The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife.#4:22 See Gen 16:15; 21:2-3. 23The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.

24These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. 25And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia,#4:25 Greek And Hagar, which is Mount Sinai in Arabia, is now like Jerusalem; other manuscripts read And Mount Sinai in Arabia is now like Jerusalem. because she and her children live in slavery to the law. 26But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother. 27As Isaiah said,

“Rejoice, O childless woman,

you who have never given birth!

Break into a joyful shout,

you who have never been in labor!

For the desolate woman now has more children

than the woman who lives with her husband!”#4:27 Isa 54:1.

28And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. 29But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit.

30But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”#4:30 Gen 21:10. 31So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.

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Galatians 4

Sons and Heirs

1I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,#4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 7 though he is the owner of everything, 2but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3In the same way we also, when we were children, #See ch. 2:4were enslaved to the elementary principles#4:3 Or elemental spirits; also verse 9 of the world. 4But #[1 Tim. 2:6]; See Mark 1:15when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, #Phil. 2:7; See John 1:14born #[1 Tim. 2:15]; See Gen. 3:15of woman, born #[Luke 2:21, 22, 27]under the law, 5#See ch. 3:13to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive #ch. 3:26; See Rom. 8:15adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent #[Rom. 5:5; 2 Cor. 3:17]; See Acts 16:7the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then #See ch. 3:29an heir through God.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

8Formerly, when you #1 Cor. 1:21; 1 Thess. 4:5; 2 Thess. 1:8; 1 John 4:8did not know God, you #[Eph. 2:11, 12; 1 Thess. 1:9] were enslaved to those that by nature #2 Chr. 13:9; Isa. 37:19; Jer. 2:11; 5:7; 16:20; [1 Cor. 8:4]are not gods. 9But now that you have come to know God, or rather #See 1 Cor. 8:3to be known by God, #[ch. 3:3] how can you turn back again to #Rom. 8:3; Heb. 7:18the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10#Rom. 14:5; Col. 2:16You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11I am afraid #ch. 2:2; 5:2, 4; 1 Thess. 3:5I may have labored over you in vain.

12Brothers,#4:12 Or Brothers and sisters; also verses 28, 31 #[2 Cor. 6:13] I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. #[2 Cor. 2:5]You did me no wrong. 13You know it was #See 1 Cor. 2:3because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you #[ch. 1:6]at first, 14and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me #1 Sam. 29:9; [Mal. 2:7 (Gk.); 2 Cor. 5:20] as an angel of God, #See Matt. 10:40as Christ Jesus. 15What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16Have I then become your enemy by #See ch. 2:5telling you the truth?#4:16 Or by dealing truthfully with you 17They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and #[ver. 13]not only when I am present with you, 19#[1 Cor. 4:15; Philem. 10] my little children, #[James 1:18] for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ #Rom. 8:10is formed in you! 20I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, #Gen. 16:5one by a slave woman and #Gen. 21:2one by a free woman. 23But #ver. 29; [Rom. 9:7] the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while #ver. 28; Gen. 17:16-19; 18:10, 14; 21:1, 2; Heb. 11:11the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two #See Rom. 9:4covenants. #Deut. 33:2One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;#4:25 Some manuscripts For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26But #[Heb. 12:22; Rev. 3:12; 21:2, 10]the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written,

# Cited from Isa. 54:1 “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.”

28Now you,#4:28 Some manuscripts we brothers, #See ver. 23like Isaac, #Rom. 9:8; See ch. 3:29are children of promise. 29But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh #Gen. 21:9persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, #See ch. 5:11so also it is now. 30But what does the Scripture say? #Cited from Gen. 21:10; [John 8:35]“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.” 31So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but #[1 Pet. 3:6]of the free woman.

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