Galatians 4
4
Sons and Heirs
1 Now I say, for as long* as the heir is a child, he differs in nothing from a slave, although he is master* of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the time fixed by his father. 3 So also we, when we were children, were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.* 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 that He might redeem those under the Law, so that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God* sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, calling aloud, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore, you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
8 But, at that time, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to the things which by nature are not gods. 9 But now, having known God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and worthless basic principles,* to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest somehow I have laboured for you in vain.
12 I implore you, brothers, become as I am, because I also have become* as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 But you know that it was because of a bodily ailment,* I preached the gospel to you the first time. 14 And you did not despise nor reject* that which was a trial for you in my physical condition,* but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 Where then is your state of blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me! 16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They zealously seek you, not for good, but they want to exclude you, so that you may seek them zealously. 18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My children, for whom I am again experiencing the pains of childbirth, until Christ is formed in you! 20 But I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under law, do you not listen to the Law? 22 For it stands written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman. 23 But the one by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,* and the one by the free woman through promise.* 24 These* things are to be understood in allegorical terms, for these women are two covenants: one from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery, which is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above, which is our mother, is free. 27 For it is written:
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
burst out and shout,
you who do not experience the pains of childbirth,
because many are the children of the desolate one,
more than those of the one who has a husband.”*
28 Now you, brothers, are children of promise, like Isaac. 29 But just as, at that time, the one born according to the flesh was persecuting the one born* according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will never inherit with the son of the free woman.”* 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.
Notes
1 Greek for as long a time
1 Or owner
3 Or elemental spiritual forces of the world
6 Two ancient Greek manuscripts omit God
9 Or elemental spiritual forces
12 The present perfect construction have become is contextually supplied for the purpose of clarification
13 Greek the weakness of the flesh
14 One ancient Greek manuscript omits the expression nor reject, which is part of the correlative conjunction construction
14 Greek in my flesh
23 Or according to human descent, so also v. 29
23 Some ancient manuscripts read through the promise, likely form a symmetric balance with according to the flesh within the same verse
24 Greek which
27 Greek more than of the one who has the husband
27 Quoted from Is. 54:1
29 The verb born is contextually supplied for the purpose of clarification
30 Quoted from Gen. 21:10
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Galatians 4
4
Sons and Heirs
1 Now I say, for as long* as the heir is a child, he differs in nothing from a slave, although he is master* of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the time fixed by his father. 3 So also we, when we were children, were enslaved under the basic principles of the world.* 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 that He might redeem those under the Law, so that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God* sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, calling aloud, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore, you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
8 But, at that time, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to the things which by nature are not gods. 9 But now, having known God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and worthless basic principles,* to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest somehow I have laboured for you in vain.
12 I implore you, brothers, become as I am, because I also have become* as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 But you know that it was because of a bodily ailment,* I preached the gospel to you the first time. 14 And you did not despise nor reject* that which was a trial for you in my physical condition,* but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 Where then is your state of blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me! 16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They zealously seek you, not for good, but they want to exclude you, so that you may seek them zealously. 18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My children, for whom I am again experiencing the pains of childbirth, until Christ is formed in you! 20 But I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under law, do you not listen to the Law? 22 For it stands written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman. 23 But the one by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,* and the one by the free woman through promise.* 24 These* things are to be understood in allegorical terms, for these women are two covenants: one from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery, which is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above, which is our mother, is free. 27 For it is written:
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
burst out and shout,
you who do not experience the pains of childbirth,
because many are the children of the desolate one,
more than those of the one who has a husband.”*
28 Now you, brothers, are children of promise, like Isaac. 29 But just as, at that time, the one born according to the flesh was persecuting the one born* according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will never inherit with the son of the free woman.”* 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.
Notes
1 Greek for as long a time
1 Or owner
3 Or elemental spiritual forces of the world
6 Two ancient Greek manuscripts omit God
9 Or elemental spiritual forces
12 The present perfect construction have become is contextually supplied for the purpose of clarification
13 Greek the weakness of the flesh
14 One ancient Greek manuscript omits the expression nor reject, which is part of the correlative conjunction construction
14 Greek in my flesh
23 Or according to human descent, so also v. 29
23 Some ancient manuscripts read through the promise, likely form a symmetric balance with according to the flesh within the same verse
24 Greek which
27 Greek more than of the one who has the husband
27 Quoted from Is. 54:1
29 The verb born is contextually supplied for the purpose of clarification
30 Quoted from Gen. 21:10
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