Galatians

The epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians, chapter 4, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 4 New English Translation

   1 Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. 2 But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 So also we, when we were minors, were enslaved under the basic forces of the world. 4 But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. 6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls "Abba! Father!" 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.

Heirs of Promise Are Not to Return to Law

   8 Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all. 9 But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? 10 You are observing religious days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain. 12 I beg you, brothers and sisters, become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!

Personal Appeal of Paul

   13 But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you, 14 and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, as though I were Christ Jesus himself! 15 Where then is your sense of happiness now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me! 16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
   17 They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly. 18 However, it is good to be sought eagerly for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My children - I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice, because I am perplexed about you.

An Appeal from Allegory

   21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent, while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise. 24 These things may be treated as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains, because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband."
   28 But you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac. 29 But just as at that time the one born by natural descent persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is now. 30 But what does the scripture say? "Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son" of the free woman. 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.

King James Version

   1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
   2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
   3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
   4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
   5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
   6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
   7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
   8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
   9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
   10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
   11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
   12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
   13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
   14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
   15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
   16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
   17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
   18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
   19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
   20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
   21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
   22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
   23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
   24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
   25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
   26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
   27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
   28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
   29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
   30 Nevertheless 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 freewoman.
   31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.