The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians

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- Chapter 4 -

But I say that, during the time an heir is a child, he is no different from a servant, even though he is the owner of everything.

For he is under tutors and caretakers, until the time which was predetermined by the father.

So also we, when we were children, were subservient to the influences of the world.(a)

But when the fullness of time arrived, God sent his Son, formed from a woman, formed under the law,(b)

so that he might redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Therefore, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out: “Abba, Father.”

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

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

But then, certainly, while ignorant of God, you served those who, by nature, are not gods.

But now, since you have known God, or rather, since you have been known by God: how can you turn away again, to weak and destitute influences, which you desire to serve anew?

You serve the days, and months, and times, and years.(c)

I am afraid for you, lest perhaps I may have labored in vain among you.

Brothers, I beg you. Be as I am. For I, too, am like you. You have not injured me at all.

But you know that, in the weakness of the flesh, I have preached the Gospel to you for a long time, and that your trials are in my flesh.

You did not despise or reject me. But instead, you accepted me like an Angel of God, even like Christ Jesus.

Therefore, where is your happiness? For I offer to you testimony that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes and would have given them to me.

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

They are not imitating you well. And they are willing to exclude you, so that you might imitate them.

But be imitators of what is good, always in a good way, and not only when I am present with you.

My little sons, I am giving birth to you again, until Christ is formed in you.

And I would willingly be present with you, even now. But I would alter my voice: for I am ashamed of you.

Hagar and Sarah

(Genesis 21:9–21)

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

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

And he who was of the servant was born according to the flesh. But he who was of the free woman was born by the promise.

These things are said through an allegory. For these represent the two testaments. Certainly the one, on Mount Sinai, gives birth unto servitude, which is Hagar.

For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which is related to the Jerusalem of the present time, and it serves with her sons.

But that Jerusalem which is above is free; the same is our mother.

For it was written: “Rejoice, O barren one, though you do not conceive. Burst forth and cry out, though you do not give birth. For many are the children of the desolate, even more than of her who has a husband.”

Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are sons of the promise.

But just as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

And what does Scripture say? “Cast out the woman servant and her son. For the son of a servant women shall not be an heir with the son of a free woman.”

And so, brothers, we are not the sons of the servant woman, but rather of the free woman. And this is the freedom with which Christ has set us free.

Footnotes

(a)4:3 Under the elements, etc:That is, under the first rudiments of religion, in which the carnal Jews were trained up; or under those corporeal creatures, used in their manifold rites, sacrifices, and sacraments.(Challoner)

(b)4:4 Jesus fulfilled the Promise in two ways: through Mary, since his human nature is from her and she was a descendant of David, and through Joseph, who has Mary’s husband under the law, and he too was a descendant of David.(Conte)

(c)4:10 You observe days, etc:He speaks not of the observation of the Lord’s day, or other Christian festivals; but either of the superstitious observation of days lucky and unlucky; or else of the Jewish festivals, to the observance of which, certain Jewish teachers sought to induce the Galatians.(Challoner)

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