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God Sent His Son To Redeem Us So We All Could Be Adopted As Sons And Heirs

Now I say— for as much time as the heir is a child[a], he is no different from a slave. Being the [future] owner of all, nevertheless[b] he is under guardians and stewards[c] until the pre-appointed day of the father. In this manner also we, when we were children, were[d] enslaved under the elemental[e] things of the world. But when the fullness of time came, God sent-forth His Son— having come[f] from a woman, having come under the Law in order that He might redeem the ones under the Law, in order that we [all] might receive the adoption. And because[g] you are sons, God sent-forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying-out, “Abba! Father!” So then you are no longer a slave, but a son— and if a son, also an heir through God!

Why Turn Back To Being Slaves Again? I Fear For You

But at that time not knowing God, you were-slaves to the ones by nature not being gods. But now having known God, yet rather having been known by God, how is it you are turning-back again to the weak and poor elemental things to which again you are wanting to be-slaves anew? 10 You are observing days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am fearing for you, that I somehow have labored in-vain for you.

I Beg You, Become As I Am. Have I Become Your Enemy By Speaking The Truth To You?

12 I beg you, brothers, become as I, because I also became as you. You did me no wrong. 13 And you know that I first[h] announced-the-good-news to you because of a weakness[i] of the flesh. 14 And you did not treat-with-contempt nor loathe your trial in-connection-with my flesh, but you welcomed me as an angel[j] of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 Where then is your blessedness[k]? For I testify concerning you that, if possible, you would have given your eyes to me, having torn them out! 16 So then, have I become your enemy while speaking-the-truth to you? 17 They are zealously-seeking you— not commendably, but they want to shut you out[l] in-order-that you might be zealously-seeking them.

I Am Again Suffering Birth Pains For You Until Christ Is Formed In You

18 Now it is good to be zealously-sought in[m] a commendable thing at-all-times, and not only during my being present with you— 19 my[n] children, as to whom again I am suffering-birth-pains until which time Christ is formed in you. 20 But I was [just now] wishing[o] to be present with you now and to change my tone, because I am perplexed with you.

Listen To The Law. We Are Children of The Free Promise, Not of The Slave Covenant

21 Tell me, the ones wanting to be under the Law, do you not hear the Law? 22 For it has been written that Abraham had two sons— one by the slave-woman and one by the free woman. 23 But the one by the slave-woman has been born according to the flesh, and the one by the free woman through the promise— 24 which things are being allegorized[p], for these women are two covenants. One[q] is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery, which is Hagar 25 (now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia). And she[r] corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she[s] is a slave[t] with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free— which is our mother[u]. 27 For it has been written, “Celebrate, barren one, the one not giving-birth. Break-forth and shout, the one not suffering-birth-pains. Because many more are the children of the desolate[v] than of the one having the husband!”[Isa 54:1] 28 And you, brothers, are children of the promise in accordance with Isaac. 29 But just as at-that-time the one having been born according to the flesh was persecuting the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Send-out the slave-woman and her son. For the son of the slave-woman shall by no means inherit with the son of the free woman” [Gen 21:10]. 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of a slave-woman, but of the free woman.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:1 That is, a minor.
  2. Galatians 4:2 slave... nevertheless he is. Or, slave, [though] being the [future] owner of all. But he is.
  3. Galatians 4:2 Or, household managers.
  4. Galatians 4:3 Or, had been.
  5. Galatians 4:3 That is, the elementary knowledge of God available in the world before Christ came. Or, the elemental spiritual beings or angels associated with religions. Same in v 9.
  6. Galatians 4:4 Or, ‘having come-into-being’ as a human, and in this sense, ‘having been born’.
  7. Galatians 4:6 Or, And that; meaning, ‘And as proof that’.
  8. Galatians 4:13 Or, formerly.
  9. Galatians 4:13 Or, sickness.
  10. Galatians 4:14 Or, messenger.
  11. Galatians 4:15 That is, your feeling of blessing in my work among you. You had it then!
  12. Galatians 4:17 Or, exclude you.
  13. Galatians 4:18 That is, in connection with.
  14. Galatians 4:19 Some start a new sentence here, omitting the ‘But’ at v 20.
  15. Galatians 4:20 Or, I would wish, if it were possible.
  16. Galatians 4:24 That is, which things contain an allegory; or, which things I am going to allegorize.
  17. Galatians 4:24 That is, one woman representing one covenant.
  18. Galatians 4:25 That is, Hagar.
  19. Galatians 4:25 That is, the present Jerusalem.
  20. Galatians 4:25 Or, serves as slave.
  21. Galatians 4:26 But... mother. Paul does not fully detail this side of the comparison, but jumps to his two main points from it.
  22. Galatians 4:27 That is, unable to bear children, referring to Sarah.

What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery(A) under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world.(B) But when the set time had fully come,(C) God sent his Son,(D) born of a woman,(E) born under the law,(F) to redeem(G) those under the law, that we might receive adoption(H) to sonship.[b](I) Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son(J) into our hearts,(K) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.”(L) So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.(M)

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

Formerly, when you did not know God,(N) you were slaves(O) to those who by nature are not gods.(P) But now that you know God—or rather are known by God(Q)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[d]? Do you wish to be enslaved(R) by them all over again?(S) 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!(T) 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.(U)

12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters,(V) become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness(W) that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.(X) 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?(Y)

17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.(Z) 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.(AA) 19 My dear children,(AB) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,(AC) 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Hagar and Sarah

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law,(AD) are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman(AE) and the other by the free woman.(AF) 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,(AG) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.(AH)

24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above(AI) is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written:

“Be glad, barren woman,
    you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud,
    you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
    than of her who has a husband.”[e](AJ)

28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.(AK) 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh(AL) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.(AM) It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”[f](AN) 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,(AO) but of the free woman.(AP)

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:3 Or under the basic principles
  2. Galatians 4:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
  3. Galatians 4:6 Aramaic for Father
  4. Galatians 4:9 Or principles
  5. Galatians 4:27 Isaiah 54:1
  6. Galatians 4:30 Gen. 21:10