Sons and Heirs

1Now I say, for as long a time as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a slave, though being lord of all. 2But he is under guardians and managers until the appointed time of the father.

3So also we, when we were children, were enslaved under the elements† of the world. 4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, having been born of a woman, having been born under the law, 5that He might redeem those under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6And because you⁺ are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our† hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, also an heir through God.†

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

8But then, indeed, not knowing God, you⁺ were in slavery to those by nature not being gods. 9But now, having known God, but rather having been known by God, how do you⁺ turn again to the weak and poor elements,† to which you⁺ want to be in slavery again anew? 10You⁺ observe days and months and seasons and years! 11I fear for you⁺, lest somehow I have toiled for you⁺ in vain. 12I implore you⁺, brothers, become as I am, because I also am as you⁺. You⁺ wronged me in nothing.

13Now you⁺ know that in weakness of the flesh I preached the gospel to you⁺ the first time. 14And the test of you⁺† in my flesh, you⁺ did not despise nor reject; but you⁺ received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15Where then is your⁺ blessedness? For I testify to you⁺ that, if possible, having gouged out your⁺ eyes, you⁺ would have given them to me. 16So have I become your⁺ enemy speaking truth to you⁺?

17They are zealous for you⁺, not nobly, but they want to exclude you⁺ from us, so that you⁺ may be zealous for them. 18Now it is good to be zealous in a good thing, always and not only in my being present with you⁺.

19My children,† of whom I travail again until that Christ shall have been formed in you⁺, 20I was wishing indeed to be present with you⁺ now and to change my tone, because I am perplexed as to you⁺.

Hagar and Sarah
(Genesis 21:9–21)

21Tell me, those wanting to be under the law, do you⁺ not listen to the law? 22For it has been written that Abraham had two sons, one of the slave woman and one of the free woman.† 23But indeed, the one of the slave woman has been born according to flesh, but the one of the free woman through the promise, 24which things are allegorized, for these are two† covenants: one indeed from Mount Sinai begetting unto slavery, which is Hagar. 25Now† Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for† she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above is free, who is our mother.† 27For it has been written:

“Rejoice O barren woman,

the one not bearing;

break forth and cry out,

the one not travailing;

because many more are the children of the desolate woman

than of her having the husband.Ӡ

28Now you⁺,† brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29But just as then the one having been born according to flesh was persecuting the one born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.

30But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will never inherit with the son of the free woman.”† 31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Footnotes:

3 Or basic principles
6 BYZ and TR your
7 BYZ and TR an heir of God through Christ
9 Or principles
14 BYZ and TR to me
19 BYZ and TR My little children
22 See Genesis 16:15 and Genesis 21:2–3.
24 TR the two
25 BYZ and TR For
25 BYZ and TR and
26 BYZ and TR and she is the mother of us all
27 Isaiah 54:1
28 WH, BYZ, and TR we
30 Genesis 21:10