Sonship in Christ

Now I say, as long as the heir is a [a]child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is [b]owner of everything, but he is under guardians and [c]managers until the [d]date set by the father. So we too, when we were children, were held (A)in bondage under the [e](B)elementary principles of the world. But when (C)the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, (D)born of a woman, born (E)under [f]the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under [g]the Law, that we might receive the adoption as (F)sons and daughters. Because you are sons, (G)God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “(H)Abba! [h]Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and (I)if a son, then an heir [i]through God.

However at that time, (J)when you did not know God, you were (K)slaves to (L)those which by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be (M)known by God, (N)how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless [j](O)elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You (P)meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored [k]over you in vain.

12 I beg of you, (Q)brothers and sisters, (R)become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13 but you know that it was because of a [l]bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the [m]first time; 14 and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my [n]bodily condition, nor express contempt, but (S)you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is [o]that sense of blessing you had? For I testify about you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy (T)by [p]telling you the truth? 17 They eagerly seek you, not [q]in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought [r]in a commendable way, and (U)not only when I am present with you. 19 (V)My children, with whom (W)I am again in labor until (X)Christ is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for (Y)I am at a loss about you!

Slave and Free

21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not (Z)listen to the Law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, (AA)one by the slave woman and (AB)one by the free woman. 23 But (AC)the son by the slave woman [s]was born according to the flesh, and (AD)the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 [t](AE)This is speaking allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one coming from (AF)Mount Sinai giving birth to children [u]who are to be (AG)slaves; [v]she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is enslaved with her children. 26 But (AH)the Jerusalem above is free; [w]she is our mother. 27 For it is written:

(AI)Rejoice, infertile one, you who do not give birth;
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;
For the children of the desolate one are more numerous
Than those of the one who has a husband.”

28 And you, brothers and sisters, (AJ)like Isaac, are (AK)children of promise. 29 But as at that time (AL)the son who was born according to the flesh (AM)persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, (AN)so it is even now. 30 But what does the Scripture say?

(AO)Drive out the slave woman and her son,
For (AP)the son of the slave woman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”

31 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.

Follow the Spirit

(AQ)It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore (AR)keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a (AS)yoke of slavery.

Look! I, (AT)Paul, tell you that if you have yourselves (AU)circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I (AV)testify again to every man who has himself (AW)circumcised, that he is obligated to (AX)keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who [x]are seeking to be justified by the [y]Law; you have (AY)fallen from grace. For we, [z]through the Spirit, [aa]by faith, are (AZ)waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in (BA)Christ Jesus (BB)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but (BC)faith working through love.

You were (BD)running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from (BE)Him who calls you. (BF)A little [ab]leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 (BG)I have confidence [ac]in you in the Lord, that you (BH)will adopt no other view; but the one who is (BI)disturbing you will bear the punishment, whoever he is. 11 But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still (BJ)persecuted? Then (BK)the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. 12 I wish that (BL)those who are troubling you would even [ad](BM)emasculate themselves.

13 For you were called to (BN)freedom, brothers and sisters; (BO)only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but (BP)serve one another through love. 14 For (BQ)the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “(BR)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you (BS)bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

16 But I say, (BT)walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out (BU)the desire of the flesh. 17 For (BV)the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, (BW)in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. 18 But if you are (BX)led by the Spirit, (BY)you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: (BZ)sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, (CA)witchcraft, hostilities, (CB)strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, (CC)selfish ambition, dissensions, (CD)factions, 21 envy, (CE)drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not (CF)inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But (CG)the fruit of the Spirit is (CH)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, (CI)self-control; against such things (CJ)there is no law. 24 Now those who [ae]belong to (CK)Christ Jesus (CL)crucified the flesh with its passions and (CM)desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow (CN)the Spirit as well. 26 Let’s not become (CO)boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another’s Burdens

(CP)Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are (CQ)spiritual are to (CR)restore such a person (CS)in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. (CT)Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill (CU)the law of Christ. For (CV)if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must (CW)examine his own work, and then he will have reason for (CX)boasting, but [af]to himself alone, and not [ag]to another. For (CY)each one will bear his own load.

(CZ)The one who is taught (DA)the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. (DB)Do not be deceived, (DC)God is not mocked; for (DD)whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. (DE)For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap (DF)destruction from the flesh, but (DG)the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. (DH)Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we (DI)do not become weary. 10 So then, [ah](DJ)while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the (DK)household of (DL)the faith.

11 See with what large letters I have written to you (DM)with my own hand! 12 All who want (DN)to make a good showing in the flesh try to (DO)compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they (DP)will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who [ai]are circumcised do not even (DQ)keep [aj]the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may (DR)boast in your flesh. 14 But (DS)[ak]far be it from me to boast, (DT)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, (DU)through [al]which the world has been crucified to me, and (DV)I to the world. 15 For (DW)neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a (DX)new [am]creation. 16 And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the (DY)Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the [an](DZ)marks of Jesus.

18 (EA)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be (EB)with your spirit, (EC)brothers and sisters. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:1 Or minor
  2. Galatians 4:1 Lit lord
  3. Galatians 4:2 Or stewards
  4. Galatians 4:2 I.e., when the child is no longer a minor
  5. Galatians 4:3 Or rudimentary teachings
  6. Galatians 4:4 Or law
  7. Galatians 4:5 Or law
  8. Galatians 4:6 I.e., Paul’s translation of the Aramaic Abba
  9. Galatians 4:7 I.e., through the gracious act of
  10. Galatians 4:9 Or rudimentary teachings
  11. Galatians 4:11 Or for
  12. Galatians 4:13 Lit weakness of the flesh
  13. Galatians 4:13 Or former
  14. Galatians 4:14 Lit flesh
  15. Galatians 4:15 I.e., considering yourselves fortunate
  16. Galatians 4:16 Or dealing truthfully with you
  17. Galatians 4:17 Or with good intentions
  18. Galatians 4:18 Or with good intentions
  19. Galatians 4:23 Lit has been born
  20. Galatians 4:24 Lit Which
  21. Galatians 4:24 Lit into slavery
  22. Galatians 4:24 Lit which
  23. Galatians 4:26 Lit which
  24. Galatians 5:4 Or would be
  25. Galatians 5:4 Or law
  26. Galatians 5:5 Lit by
  27. Galatians 5:5 Lit out of
  28. Galatians 5:9 I.e., fermented dough
  29. Galatians 5:10 Lit toward
  30. Galatians 5:12 Or cut themselves off
  31. Galatians 5:24 Lit are of Christ Jesus
  32. Galatians 6:4 Or in regard to
  33. Galatians 6:4 Or in regard to
  34. Galatians 6:10 Or as
  35. Galatians 6:13 Two early mss have been
  36. Galatians 6:13 Or law
  37. Galatians 6:14 Lit may it never be for
  38. Galatians 6:14 Or whom
  39. Galatians 6:15 Or creature
  40. Galatians 6:17 I.e., scars and other evidence of persecution

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