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,
2 but
is under guardians
and stewards until
the day appointed
by the father.
3 So
we also, when
we were children,
were held in
bondage under the
elemental principles
of the world.
4 But
when the fullness
of the time
came, God sent
out his Son,
born to a
woman, born under
the law,
5 that
he might redeem
those who were
under the law,
that we might receive
the adoption as
children.
6 And
because you are
children, God sent
out the Spirit
of his Son
into your hearts,
crying, “Abba,
Father!”
7 So
you are no
longer a bondservant,
but a son;
and if a
son, then an
heir of God
through Christ.
8 However
at that time,
not knowing God,
you were in
bondage to those
who by nature
are not gods.
9 But
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?
10 You
observe days,
months, seasons,
and years.
11 I
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,
13 but
you know that
because of weakness
in the flesh
I preached the
Good News to
you the first
time.
14 That
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
Christ Jesus.
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.
16 So
then, have I
become your enemy
by telling you
the truth?
17 They zealously seek
you in no
good way. No, they
desire to alienate
you, that you
may seek them.
18 But
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
Christ is formed
in you—
20 but
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?
22 For
it is written
that Abraham had
two sons, one
by the servant,
and one by
the free woman.
23 However,
the son by the
servant was born
according to the
flesh, but the son
by the free
woman was born
through promise.
24 These
things contain an allegory,
for these are
two covenants. One
is from Mount
Sinai, bearing
children to
bondage, which
is Hagar.
25 For
this Hagar is
Mount Sinai
in Arabia, and answers
to the Jerusalem
that exists now,
for she is
in bondage with
her children.
26 But
the Jerusalem that
is above is free,
which is the
mother of us
all.
27 For
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.”
28 Now
we, brothers, as
Isaac was, are
children of
promise.
29 But
as then, he
who was born
according to the
flesh persecuted
him who was
born according to
the Spirit, so
also it is
now.
30 However,
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.”
31 So
then, brothers, we
are not children
of a servant,
but of the
free woman.