Galatians 4
4
1Now I say that as long as the heir#Nm 26:52–62 is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner#Col 3:22 of everything. 2Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements#4:3 Or spirits, or principles of the world.#Rm 7:6; 2Pt 2:20 4When the time came to completion, God sent his Son,#Jn 5:19; Heb 1:2 born of a woman,#Gn 3:15; Lk 2:7; Php 2:7 born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.#Dt 14:1; Mt 5:9 6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son#Ac 16:7; Rm 5:5,20; 8:9,16; 2Co 3:17 into our#4:6 Other mss read your hearts, crying, “Abba,#4:6 Aramaic for father Father!” #Mk 14:36; Rm 8:15 7So you are no longer a slave#Mt 10:24; Rv 1:1 but a son,#Dt 14:1; Mt 5:9 and if a son, then God has made you an heir.#Nm 26:52–62; Rm 4:14; 8:17
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
8But in the past, since you didn’t know God,#Jn 7:28; Php 3:8 you were enslaved to things#4:8 Or beings that by nature are not gods. 9But now, since you know God,#Pr 2:6; Php 3:8 or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless#Mk 14:17; Rm 15:26 elements?#Col 2:8 Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? 10You are observing special days, months, seasons, and years.#Rm 14:5; Col 2:16 11I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.
12I beg you, brothers and sisters: Become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have not wronged me; 13you know#4:12–13 Or 12 Become like I am, because I — inasmuch as you are brothers and sisters — am not requesting anything of you. You wronged me. 13 You know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a weakness of the flesh. 14You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you.#4:14 Other mss read me On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself.
15Where, then, is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16So then, have I become your enemy because I told you the truth?#Eph 4:15 17They court you eagerly, but not for good. They want to exclude you from me, so that you would pursue them. 18But it is always good to be pursued#4:18 Lit zealously courted in a good manner — and not just when I am with you. 19My children,#1Th 2:11 I am again suffering labor pains#1Co 4:15; Jms 1:18 for you until Christ is formed in you. 20I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.
Sarah and Hagar: Two Covenants
21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? 22For it is written that Abraham#Gn 16:15; Jn 8:37; Heb 2:16 had two sons, one by a slave#Rm 8:15,21; Heb 2:15 and the other by a free woman. 23But the one by the slave was born as a result of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born through promise. 24These things are being taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai#Ex 16:1 and bears children into slavery — this is Hagar.#Gn 16:1 25Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia#Is 21:13; Jr 25:24; Ezk 27:21; Gl 1:17 and corresponds to the present Jerusalem,#Mt 23:37; Ac 8:1 for she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above#Heb 12:22; Rv 3:12; 21:2,10 is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written,#Ac 15:15
Rejoice, childless woman, #
Gn 11:30; Lk 1:7
unable to give birth.
Burst into song and shout,
you who are not in labor,
for the children of the desolate woman will be many,
more numerous than those
of the woman who has a husband. # 4:27 Is 54:1 #
Is 54:1
28Now you too, brothers and sisters, like Isaac,#Ps 105:9; Jms 2:21 are children of promise.#Gn 12:7; Rm 9:8; Gl 3:29 29But just as then the child born as a result of the flesh persecuted the one born as a result of the Spirit,#Ps 51:11; Jn 1:33; Ac 2:4; Rm 8:9; Gl 5:25; Ti 3:5; Rv 3:22 so also now.#Gn 21:9 30But what does the Scripture say? “Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.”#4:30Gn 21:10#Gn 21:10 31Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave but of the free woman.#1Pt 3:6
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Galatians 4
4
1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all, 2but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. 3So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world. 4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, 5that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba,#4:6 Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for “Father” or “Daddy” used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way. Father!” 7So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Messiah.
8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods. 9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again? 10You observe days, months, seasons, and years. 11I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong, 13but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time. 14That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Messiah Yeshua.
15 What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them. 18But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Messiah is formed in you— 20but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman. 23However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. 24These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. 25For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27For it is written,
“Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear.
Break out and shout, you who don’t travail.
For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.” #Isaiah 54:1
28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30However, what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”#Genesis 21:10 31So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.
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