The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 4 -

What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything.

He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.

So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles

(a)

of the world.

But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.

And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.

I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.

You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.

And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself.

What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.

Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.

My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.

Hagar and Sarah

(Genesis 21:9–21)

Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.(b)

His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.

These things serve as illustrations, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: This is Hagar.

Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.

But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”(c)

Now you,(d) brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.

But what does the Scripture say? “Expel the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”(e)

Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Footnotes

(a)4:3 Or elemental forces; similarly in verse 9

(b)4:22 See Genesis 16:15 and Genesis 21:2–3.

(d)4:28 WH, BYZ, and TR we

(e)4:30 Genesis 21:10

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