Wana Wa Mungu

Nataka muelewe kwamba mrithi akiwa bado ni mtoto mdogo hana tofauti na mtumwa, ingawa mali yote ni yake. Kwa sababu anakuwa yuko chini ya uangalizi wa walezi na wadhamini mpaka ufike wakati uliowekwa na baba yake. Hali kadhalika na sisi, tulipokuwa bado watoto wadogo, tulikuwa tunatawaliwa na kanuni za mazingira. Lakini wakati ulipotimia, Mungu alimtuma Mwana we, ambaye alizaliwa na mwanamke chini ya sheria, ili kusudi awakomboe wale waliokuwa chini ya sheria, tupate kibali cha kuwa wana wa Mungu. Na kwa kuwa ninyi sasa ni wana wa Mungu, Mungu amemtuma Roho wa Mwanae akae ndani ya mioyo yenu, akiita, “Abba! Baba.” Kwa hiyo, wewe sio mtumwa tena, bali ni mwana wa Mungu, na ikiwa wewe ni mwana wa Mungu, basi wewe pia ni mrithi.

Paulo Alivyowajali Wagalatia

Zamani, wakati hamkumjua Mungu, mlikuwa mkitumikia ‘miu ngu’ ambayo kwa asili si miungu. Lakini sasa kwa kuwa mmemfa hamu Mungu, au tuseme, sasa Mungu anawafahamu ninyi, mnawezaje kurudia tena upungufu na umaskini wa nguvu za pepo muwe watumwa wake? 10 Bado mnaadhimisha siku maalumu, miezi, nyakati na miaka! 11 Nina hofu juu yenu; inaelekea kazi niliyofanya kwa ajili yenu imepotea bure.

12 Ndugu zangu, nawasihi muwe kama mimi, kwa sababu na mimi nimekuwa kama ninyi. Hamkunitendea ubaya wo wote. 13 Ninyi mnafahamu kwamba ugonjwa wangu ndio ulionipatia nafasi ya kuwa hubiria Habari Njema kwa mara ya kwanza. 14 Lakini ninyi hamku nidharau wala kunikataa ingawa udhaifu wa mwili wangu ulikuwa mzigo kwenu. Bali mlinipokea vizuri kama malaika wa Mungu, na kama Kristo Yesu. 15 Ile furaha mliyokuwa nayo iko wapi sasa? Naweza kushuhudia kwamba wakati ule mlikuwa tayari hata kung’oa macho yenu mnipe. 16 Je, sasa nimekuwa adui yenu kwa sababu nawaambieni ukweli?

17 Hao watu wanaoshughulika ili muwe upande wao nia yao si nzuri. Wanataka kuwatenganisha na sisi ili muwajali wao zaidi. 18 Ni vema watu wanapowahangaikia kwa bidii kama shabaha ya kufanya hivyo ni nzuri, na kama wanafanya hivyo wakati wote, isiwe tu wakati nikiwa nanyi. 19 Watoto wangu wadogo, najisikia kwa mara nyingine kama mama mwenye uchungu wa kuzaa, nikitamani kwamba Kristo aumbike ndani yenu. 20 Natamani ningekuwa pamoja nanyi sasa, pengine ningebadilisha msemo wangu. Kwa maana nata tanishwa na hali yenu.

21 Niambieni, ninyi mnaotaka kutawaliwa na sheria, je, hamu elewi sheria inavyosema? 22 Kwa maana imeandikwa katika Maandi ko kwamba Abrahamu alikuwa na watoto wawili: mtoto mmoja alizal iwa na mwanamke mtumwa, na wa pili alizaliwa na mwanamke huru. 23 Lakini, mtoto wa mwanamke mtumwa alizaliwa kwa mapenzi ya mwili na yule wa mwanamke huru alizaliwa kutokana na ahadi ya Mungu. 24 Mambo haya yanaweza kueleweka kama mfano. Kwa maana hao mama wawili ni mfano wa maagano mawili: agano la kwanza, ni lile lililofanyika katika mlima wa Sinai, wakazaliwa watoto wa utumwa; huyo ni Hajiri. 25 Hajiri sasa anawakilisha mlima Sinai ulioko Arabuni, na ni mfano wa Yerusalemu ya sasa ambayo iko utumwani pamoja na watoto wake. 26 Lakini Yerusalemu ya mbinguni ni huru, nayo ndio mama yetu. 27 Kwa maana imeandikwa: “Furahi wewe uliyetasa usiyeweza kuzaa; piga kelele, ulie kwa furaha wewe usiyepatwa na maumivu ya uzazi; kwa maana watoto wa yule ali yeachwa ni wengi kuliko watoto wa yule aliye na mume.”

28 Sasa ndugu zangu, sisi kama Isaki, tu watoto wa ahadi. 29 Lakini, kama vile siku zile yule aliyezaliwa kwa mwili alivy omtesa yule aliyezaliwa kwa Roho, ndivyo ilivyo hata sasa. 30 Lakini Maandiko yanasemaje? “Mfukuze mwanamke mtumwa pamoja na mwanae; kwa sababu mtoto wa mtumwa hawezi kurithi pamoja na mtoto wa mwanamke huru.” 31 Kwa hiyo ndugu zangu, sisi si watoto wa mtumwa bali wa mwanamke huru. Uhuru Ndani Ya Kristo

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

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

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.