Galatians 4
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 1:15 when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, #Phil. 2:7; See John 1:14 born #[1 Tim. 2:15]; See Gen. 3:15 of woman, born #[Luke 2:21, 22, 27]under the law, 5#See ch. 3:13 to 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 4:8 did 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. 8:3 to 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. 2:3 because 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. 16:5 one 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. 9:4 covenants. #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. 23 like 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. 21:9 persecuted 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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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Galatians 4
4
1Children who are under age are no better off than slaves, even though everything their parents own will some day be theirs. 2This is because children are placed in the care of guardians and teachers until the time their parents have set. 3That is how it was with us. We were like children ruled by the powers of this world.
4But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law, 5so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God's children.#Ro 8.15-17. 6Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father. 7You are no longer slaves. You are God's children, and you will be given what he has promised.
Paul's concern for the Galatians
8Before you knew God, you were slaves of gods that are not real. 9But now you know God, or better still, God knows you. How can you turn back and become the slaves of those weak and pitiful powers?#4.9 powers: Spirits were thought to control human lives and were believed to be connected with the movements of the stars. 10You even celebrate certain days, months, seasons, and years. 11I am afraid I have wasted my time working with you.
12My friends, I beg you to be like me, just as I once tried to be like you. Did you ill-treat me 13when I first preached to you? No you didn't, even though you knew I had come there because I was sick. 14My illness must have caused you some trouble, but you didn't hate me or turn me away because of it. You welcomed me as though I were one of God's angels or even Christ Jesus himself. 15Where is that good feeling now? I am sure that if it had been possible, you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me. 16Am I now your enemy, just because I told you the truth?
17Those people may be paying you a lot of attention, but it isn't for your good. They only want to keep you away from me, so you will pay them a lot of attention. 18It is always good to give your attention to something worthwhile, even when I am not with you. 19My children, I am in terrible pain until Christ may be seen living in you. 20I wish I were with you now. Then I would not have to talk this way. You really have me puzzled.
Hagar and Sarah
21Some of you would like to be under the rule of the Law of Moses. But do you know what the Law says? 22In the Scriptures we learn that Abraham had two sons. The mother of one of them was a slave, while the mother of the other one had always been free.#Gn 16.15; Gn 21.2. 23The son of the slave woman was born in the usual way. But the son of the free woman was born because of God's promise.
24All this has another meaning as well. Each of the two women stands for one of the agreements God made with his people. Hagar, the slave woman, stands for the agreement that was made at Mount Sinai. Everyone born into her family is a slave. 25Hagar also stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia#4.25 Hagar also stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia: Some manuscripts have “Sinai is a mountain in Arabia”. This sentence would then be translated: “Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, and Hagar stands for the present city of Jerusalem.” and for the present city of Jerusalem. She#4.25 She: “Hagar” or “Jerusalem”. and her children are slaves.
26But our mother is the city of Jerusalem in heaven above, and she isn't a slave. 27The Scriptures say about her,#Is 54.1.
“You have never had children,
but now you can be glad.
You have never given birth,
but now you can shout.
Once you had no children,
but now you will have
more children than a woman
who has been married
for a long time.”
28My friends, you were born because of this promise, just as Isaac was. 29But the child who was born in the natural way made trouble for the child who was born because of the Spirit. The same thing is happening today.#Gn 21.9. 30The Scriptures say, “Get rid of the slave woman and her son! He won't be given anything. The son of the free woman will receive everything.”#Gn 21.10. 31My friends, we are children of the free woman and not of the slave.
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