23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, (A)imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, (B)the law was our (C)guardian until Christ came, (D)in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus (E)you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as (F)were baptized (G)into Christ have (H)put on Christ. 28 (I)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[a] nor free, (J)there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And (K)if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, (L)heirs according to promise.

Sons and Heirs

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,[b] though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, (M)were enslaved to the elementary principles[c] of the world. But (N)when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, (O)born (P)of woman, born (Q)under the law, (R)to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive (S)adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent (T)the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then (U)an heir through God.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:28 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
  2. Galatians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 7
  3. Galatians 4:3 Or elemental spirits; also verse 9

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