The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians

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- Chapter 4 -

Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the father:

So we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world.

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law:

That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.

And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.

Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

But then indeed, not knowing God, you served them, who, by nature, are not gods.

But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known by God: how turn you again to the weak and needy elements, which you desire to serve again?

You observe days, and months, and times, and years.

I am afraid of you, lest perhaps I have laboured in vain among you.

Be ye as I, because I also am as you: brethren, I beseech you: you have not injured me at all.

And you know, how through infirmity of the flesh, I preached the gospel to you heretofore: and your temptation in my flesh,

You despised not, nor rejected: but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Where is then your blessedness? For I bear you witness, that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and would have given them to me.

Am I then become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

They are zealous in your regard not well: but they would exclude you, that you might be zealous for them.

But be zealous for that which is good in a good thing always: and not only when I am present with you.

My little children, of whom I am in labour again, until Christ be formed in you.

And I would willingly be present with you now, and change my voice: because I am ashamed for you.

Hagar and Sarah

(Genesis 21:9–21)

Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, have you not read the law?

For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, and the other by a free woman.

But he who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman, was by promise.

Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from mount Sina, engendering unto bondage; which is Agar:

For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

But that Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is our mother.

For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband.

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

But as then he, that was born according to the flesh, persecuted him that was after the spirit; so also it is now.

But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.

So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.

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,

but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.

So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,

that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.

And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba,(a) Father!”

So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.

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?

You observe days, months, seasons, and years.

I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,

but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.

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.

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.

So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.

But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.

My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—

but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Hagar and Sarah

(Genesis 21:9–21)

Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman.

However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.

For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.

But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

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.” (b)

Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

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.

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.”(c)

So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.

Footnotes

(a)4:6 Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for “Father” or “Daddy” used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way.

(b)4:27 ℘ Isaiah 54:1