Galatians 4:4-31 ▼

4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, having been born of a woman, having been born under the law,

5 that He might redeem those under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

6 And because you? are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

7 So you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, also an heir through God.

8 But then, indeed, not knowing God, you? were in slavery to those by nature not being gods.

9 But 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?

10 You? observe days and months and seasons and years!

11 I fear for you?, lest somehow I have toiled for you? in vain.

12 I implore you?, brothers, become as I am, because I also am as you?. You? wronged me in nothing.

13 Now you? know that in weakness of the flesh I preached the gospel to you? the first time.

14 And 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.

15 Where then is your? blessedness? For I testify to you? that, if possible, having gouged out your? eyes, you? would have given them to me.

16 So have I become your? enemy speaking truth to you??

17 They are zealous for you?, not nobly, but they want to exclude you? from us, so that you? may be zealous for them.

18 Now it is good to be zealous in a good thing, always and not only in my being present with you?.

19 My children, of whom I travail again until that Christ shall have been formed in you?,

20 I was wishing indeed to be present with you? now and to change my tone, because I am perplexed as to you?.

21 Tell me, those wanting to be under the law, do you? not listen to the law?

22 For it has been written that Abraham had two sons, one of the slave woman and one of the free woman.

23 But indeed, the one of the slave woman has been born according to flesh, but the one of the free woman through the promise,

24 which things are allegorized, for these are two covenants: one indeed from Mount Sinai begetting unto slavery, which is Hagar.

25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

26 But the Jerusalem above is free, who is our mother.

27 For 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.”

28 Now you?, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

29 But 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.

30 But 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.”

31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.