Galatians 4

Give a touch to a verse number or bar to see more. Go to Happy English Learning »

See side by side:
1 2 3 4 5 6
« Galatians 3Galatians 5 »
BBE WEB

The folly of returning to legal observances for being counted upright

But I say that as long as the son is a child, he is in no way different from a servant, though he is lord of all; But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;
But is under keepers and managers till the time fixed by the father. but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
So we, when we were young, were kept under the first rules of the world; So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
But when the time had come, God sent out his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
That he might make them free who were under the law, and that we might be given the place of sons. that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.
And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, saying, Abba, Father. And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
So that you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, then the heritage of God is yours. So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

The happy change made in the Gentile believers

But at that time, having no knowledge of God, you were servants to those who by right are no gods: However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
But now that you have come to have knowledge of God, or more truly, God has knowledge of you, how is it that you go back again to the poor and feeble first things, desiring to be servants to them again? But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?
You keep days, and months, and fixed times, and years. You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
I am in fear of you, that I may have been working for you to no purpose. I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

The apostle reasons against following false teachers

My desire for you, brothers, is that you may be as I am, because I am as you are. You have done me no wrong; I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
But you have knowledge that with a feeble body I was preaching the good news to you the first time; but you know that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
And you did not have a poor opinion of me because of the trouble in my flesh, or put shame on it; but you took me to your hearts as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
Where then is that happy condition of yours? because I give you witness, that, if possible, you would have taken out your eyes and given them to me. What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
So then am I no longer your friend, because I give you true words? So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Their interest in you is not good; but their desire is that you may be shut out, so that you may go after them. They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
But it is good to have an interest in a good cause at all times, and not only when I am present with you. But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.

He makes clear his heartfelt concern for them

My children, of whom I am again in birth-pains till Christ is formed in you, My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—
Truly my desire is to be present with you now, using a changed voice; for I am troubled about you. but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

And then explains the difference between what is to be expected from the law, and from the gospel

Say, you whose desire it is to be under the law, do you not give ear to the law? Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
Because it is in the Writings, that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant-woman, and one by the free woman. For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman.
Now the son by the servant-woman has his birth after the flesh; but the son by the free woman has his birth through the undertaking of God. However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
Which things have a secret sense; because these women are the two agreements; one from the mountain of Sinai, giving birth to servants, which is Hagar. These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
Now this Hagar is the mountain Sinai in Arabia, and is the image of the Jerusalem which now is: which is a servant with her children. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
But the Jerusalem on high is free, which is our mother. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
For it is in the Writings, You who have never given birth, be glad; give cries of joy, you who have had no birth-pains; for the children of her who has been given up by her husband are more than those of the woman who has a husband. For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break forth and shout, you that don’t travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.”
Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are the children of the undertaking of God. Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
But as in those days he who had birth after the flesh was cruel to him who had birth after the Spirit, even so it is now. But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
What then do the Writings say? Send away the servant-woman and her son; for the son of the servant-woman will not have a part in the heritage with the son of the free woman. However what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
So, brothers, we are not children of the servant-woman, but of the free woman. So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.
« Galatians 3Galatians 5 »