Galatians 4:4-7
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,(A) 5 to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption.(B) 6 As proof that you are children,[a] God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”(C) 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.(D)
Do Not Throw This Freedom Away.[b]
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- 4:6 Children: see note on Gal 3:26; here in contrast to the infant or young person not of age (Gal 3:1, 3). Abba: cf. Mk 14:36 and the note; Rom 8:15.
- 4:8–11 On the basis of the arguments advanced from Gal 3:1 through Gal 4:7, Paul now launches his appeal to the Galatians with the question, how can you turn back to the slavery of the law (Gal 4:9)? The question is posed with reference to bondage to the elemental powers (see note on Gal 4:3) because the Galatians had originally been converted to Christianity from paganism, not Judaism (Gal 4:8). The use of the direct question is like Gal 3:3–5.
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