8However, back when you did not know God, you were servants (slaves) to those things that not only are not gods – but don’t even exist! 9But now that you know God, or more importantly, are known by God, how could you turn back to and subject yourselves to serving those pathetic and useless elements? 10You observe special days, months, seasons, and years. 11I fear for you, that perhaps I have wasted my efforts upon you.

12I plead with you, brothers and sisters, to live as I do, free from those things; for I have become like you Gentiles are – free from those laws. You have done me no wrong. 13You surely remember that I was ill when I first preached the gospel to you. 14And even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise nor reject me; but welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus, Himself. 15So where, then, is that blessing of me now? For back then, if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and given them to me. 16Have I now become your enemy, by telling you the truth? 17Those false teachers zealously seek to win your favor, but not for your good; yea, they would like to exclude me from you, so that you might only follow them. 18It is good to be zealous, if it is for a good purpose - and not just when I am with you. 19My dear children, for whom I am still in the pains of childbirth until Christ is fully developed (formed) in you, 20I wish I could be with you now, and change my tone; for I am perplexed and in doubt about you.

21Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, do you know what the law actually says? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons: one by a slave woman; the other by a free woman. 23But the son who was born of the slave woman was born according to the flesh; but the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of God’s divine promise; 24These things serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants: the first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai, where people received the law that enslaved them. 25For this Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to present day Jerusalem which is in slavery with her children. 26But the other woman, Sarah, represents heavenly Jerusalem. She is free, and the mother of us all. 27For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren that has born no children; shout for joy, you that has never travailed in childbirth; for the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband”(Is.54:1). 28And now we, brothers and sisters, are the children of promise, just like Isaac. 29But back then, the son that was born according to the flesh persecuted the son that was born by the power of the Spirit. It is still the same even now. 30But what does the Scripture say? “Get rid of (expel) the slave woman and her son; for the son of the slave woman shall not be heir (share in the inheritance) with the son of the free woman” (Gen.21:10). 31So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.