1I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,[1] though he is the owner of everything,2but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.3In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles[2] of the world. (Ga 2:4)4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, (Ge 3:15; Mr 1:15; Lu 2:21; Lu 2:27; Joh 1:14; Php 2:7; 1Ti 2:6; 1Ti 2:15)5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Ro 8:15; Ga 3:13; Ga 3:26)6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Ac 16:7; Ro 5:5; 2Co 3:17)7So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Ga 3:29)
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. (2Ch 13:9; Isa 37:19; Jer 2:11; Jer 5:7; Jer 16:20; 1Co 1:21; 1Co 8:4; Eph 2:11; 1Th 1:9; 1Th 4:5; 2Th 1:8; 1Jo 4:8)9But 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 elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? (Ro 8:3; 1Co 8:3; Ga 3:3; Heb 7:18)10You observe days and months and seasons and years! (Ro 14:5; Col 2:16)11I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain. (Ga 2:2; Ga 5:2; Ga 5:4; 1Th 3:5)12Brothers,[3] I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. (2Co 2:5; 2Co 6:13)13You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, (1Co 2:3; Ga 1:6)14and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. (1Sa 29:9; Mal 2:7; Mt 10:40; 2Co 5:20)15What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.16Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?[4] (Ga 2:5)17They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.18It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, (Ga 4:13)19my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! (Ro 8:10; 1Co 4:15; Phm 1:10; Jas 1:18)20I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Example of Hagar and Sarah
21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. (Ge 16:5; Ge 21:2)23But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. (Ge 17:16; Ge 18:10; Ge 18:14; Ge 21:1; Ro 9:7; Ga 4:28; Ga 4:29; Heb 11:11)24Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. (De 33:2; Ro 9:4)25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;[5] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. (Heb 12:22; Re 3:12; Re 21:2; Re 21:10)27For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” (Isa 54:1)28Now you,[6] brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. (Ro 9:8; Ga 3:29; Ga 4:23)29But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. (Ge 21:9; Ga 5:11)30But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” (Ge 21:10; Joh 8:35)31So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. (1Pe 3:6)
Galatians 4
King James Version
1Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.9But 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?10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.12Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.13Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.14And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.15Where 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.16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?17They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.18But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.19My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,20I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.21Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?22For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.23But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.27For 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.28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.30Nevertheless 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.31So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.