< Previous | Contents | Next >

Galatians 4

Galatians 4:1. And I say, so long time as the heir is a babe, he differeth nothing from a servant-- being lord of all,

Galatians 4:2 but is under tutors and stewards till the time appointed of the father,

Galatians 4:3 so also we, when we were babes, under the elements of the world were in servitude,

Galatians 4:4 and when the fulness of time did come, God sent forth His Son, come of a woman, come under law,

Galatians 4:5 that those under law he may redeem, that the adoption of sons we may receive;

Galatians 4:6 and because ye are sons, God did send forth the spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, `Abba, Father!'

Galatians 4:7 so that thou art no more a servant, but a son, and if a son, also an heir of God through Christ.

Galatians 4:8. But then, indeed, not having known God, ye were in servitude to those not by nature gods,

Galatians 4:9 and now, having known God--and rather being known by God--how turn ye again unto the weak and poor elements to which anew ye desire to be in servitude?

Galatians 4:10 days ye observe, and months, and times, and years!

Galatians 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest in vain I did labour toward you.

Galatians 4:12. Become as I [am] --because I also [am] as ye brethren, I beseech you; to me ye did no hurt,

Galatians 4:13 and ye have known that through infirmity of the flesh I did proclaim good news to you at the first,

Galatians 4:14 and my trial that [is] in my flesh ye did not despise nor reject, but as a messenger of God ye did receive me--as Christ Jesus;

Galatians 4:15 what then was your happiness? for I testify to you, that if possible, your eyes having plucked out, ye would have given to me;

Galatians 4:16 so that your enemy have I become, being true to you?

Galatians 4:17. they are zealous for you--[yet] not well, but they wish to shut us out, that for them ye may be zealous;

Galatians 4:18 and [it is] good to be zealously regarded, in what is good, at all times, and not only in my being present with you;

Galatians 4:19. my little children, of whom again I travail in birth, till Christ may be formed in you,

Galatians 4:20 and I was wishing to be present with you now, and to change my voice, because I am in doubt about you.

Galatians 4:21. Tell me, ye who are willing to be under law, the law do ye not hear?

Galatians 4:22 for it hath been written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the maid-servant, and one by the free-woman,

Galatians 4:23 but he who [is] of the maid-servant, according to flesh hath been, and he who [is] of the free-woman, through the promise;

Galatians 4:24 which things are allegorized, for these are the two covenants: one, indeed, from mount Sinai, to servitude bringing forth, which is Hagar;

Galatians 4:25 for this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and doth correspond to the Jerusalem that now [is], and is in servitude with her children,

Galatians 4:26 and the Jerusalem above is the free-woman, which is mother of us all,

Galatians 4:27 for it hath been written, `Rejoice, O barren, who art not bearing; break forth and cry, thou who art not travailing, because many [are] the children of the desolate--more than of her having the husband.'

Galatians 4:28 And we, brethren, as Isaac, are children of promise,

Galatians 4:29 but as then he who was born according to the flesh did persecute him according to the spirit, so also now;

Galatians 4:30 but what saith the Writing? `Cast forth the maid-servant and her son, for the son of the maid-servant may not be heir with the son of the free-woman;'

Galatians 4:31 then, brethren, we are not a maid-servant's children, but the free-woman's.