Galatians 4
New American Standard Bible
Sonship in Christ
4 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, 2 but he is under guardians and [c]managers until the [d]date set by the father. 3 So we too, when we were children, were held (A)in bondage under the [e](B)elementary principles of the world. 4 But when (C)the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, (D)born of a woman, born (E)under [f]the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under [g]the Law, that we might receive the adoption as (F)sons and daughters. 6 Because you are sons, (G)God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “(H)Abba! [h]Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and (I)if a son, then an heir [i]through God.
8 However at that time, (J)when you did not know God, you were (K)slaves to (L)those which by nature are not gods. 9 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.
Footnotes
- Galatians 4:1 Or minor
- Galatians 4:1 Lit lord
- Galatians 4:2 Or stewards
- Galatians 4:2 I.e., when the child is no longer a minor
- Galatians 4:3 Or rudimentary teachings
- Galatians 4:4 Or law
- Galatians 4:5 Or law
- Galatians 4:6 I.e., Paul’s translation of the Aramaic Abba
- Galatians 4:7 I.e., through the gracious act of
- Galatians 4:9 Or rudimentary teachings
- Galatians 4:11 Or for
- Galatians 4:13 Lit weakness of the flesh
- Galatians 4:13 Or former
- Galatians 4:14 Lit flesh
- Galatians 4:15 I.e., considering yourselves fortunate
- Galatians 4:16 Or dealing truthfully with you
- Galatians 4:17 Or with good intentions
- Galatians 4:18 Or with good intentions
- Galatians 4:23 Lit has been born
- Galatians 4:24 Lit Which
- Galatians 4:24 Lit into slavery
- Galatians 4:24 Lit which
- Galatians 4:26 Lit which
Galatians 4
The Voice
4 Listen. I am going to explain how this all works: When a minor inherits an estate from his parents, although he is the owner of everything, he is the same as a slave. 2 Until the day set by his father, the minor is subject to the authorities or guardians whom his father put in charge. 3 It is like that with us; there was a time when we were like children held under the elemental powers of this world. 4 When the right time arrived, God sent His Son into this world (born of a woman, subject to the law) 5 to free those who, just like Him, were subject to the law. Ultimately He wanted us all to be adopted as sons and daughters. 6 Because you are now part of God’s family, He sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts; and the Spirit calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 You no longer have to live as a slave because you are a child of God. And since you are His child, God guarantees an inheritance is waiting for you.
“Abba” is an address spoken by children to their fathers expressing intimacy and respect. It would not be out-of-the-question to think of it as “Dad,” or “Daddy.”
8 During the time before you knew God, you were slaves to powers that are not gods at all. 9 But now, when you are just beginning to know the one True God—actually, He is showing how completely He knows you—how can you turn back to weak and worthless idols made by men, icons of these spiritual powers? Haven’t you endured enough bondage to these breathless idols? 10 You are observing particular days, months, festival seasons, and years; 11 you have me worried that I may have wasted my time laboring among you.
12 Brothers and sisters, I have become one of you. Now it’s your turn—become as I am. You have never wronged me. 13 Do you remember the first time I preached the good news to you? I was sick, and 14 I know my illness was a hardship to you, but you never drew back from me or scorned me. You cared for me as if I were a heavenly messenger of God, possibly as well as if I were the Anointed Jesus Himself! Don’t you remember? 15 What has happened to your joy and blessing? I tell you, the place was so thick with love that if it were possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and handed them to me. 16 And now, do I stand as your enemy because I tried to bless you with the truth? 17 I’ll tell you what these false brothers and sisters are counting on: your attention. They are ravenous for it. They are not acting honorably or in your best interests. They want to keep you away from the good news we proclaim so they can have you all to themselves. 18 Listen, there’s nothing wrong with zeal when you’re zealous for God’s good purpose. And what’s more, you don’t have to wait for me to be with you to seek the good. 19 My dear children, I feel the pains of birth upon me again, and I will continue in labor for you until the Anointed One is formed completely in you. 20 I wish I were there. This letter is really harsh, yet I am really perplexed by you.
21 Now it’s your turn to instruct me. All of you who want to live by the rules of the law, are you really listening to and heeding what the law teaches? Listen to this: 22 it’s recorded in the Scripture that Abraham was the father of two sons. One son was born to a slave woman, Hagar, and the other son was born to a free woman, Abraham’s wife, Sarah. 23 The slave woman’s son was born through only natural means, but the free woman’s son was born through a promise from God. 24 I’m using an allegory. Here’s the picture: these two women stand for two covenants. The first represents the covenant God made on Mount Sinai—this is Hagar, who gives birth to children of slavery. 25 Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and she stands for the Jerusalem we know now. She has lived in slavery along with her children. 26 But there is a Jerusalem we know above. She is free, and she is our mother. 27 Isaiah wrote,
Be glad, you who feel sterile and never gave birth!
Raise a joyful shout, childless woman, who never went into labor!
For the barren woman produces many children,
more than the one who has a husband.[a]
28 So you see now, brothers and sisters, you are children of the promise like Isaac. 29 The slave’s son, born through only what flesh could conceive, resented and persecuted the one born into the freedom of the Spirit. The slave’s son picked at Isaac, just as you are being picked at now. 30 So what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the slave and her son, for the slave’s son will never have a share of the inheritance coming to the son of the free woman.”[b] 31 So, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but sons and daughters of the free.
Footnotes
Galatians 4
New Life Version
Sons of God
4 Let me say this another way. A young child who will get all the riches of his family is not different from a servant who is owned by the family. And yet the young child owns everything. 2 While he is young, he is cared for by men his father trusts. These men tell the child what he can and cannot do. The child cannot do what he wants to do until he has become a certain age. 3 We were as children also held by the Law. We obeyed the Law in our religious worship. 4 But at the right time, God sent His Son. A woman gave birth to Him under the Law. 5 This all happened so He could buy with His blood and make free all those who were held by the Law. Then we might become the sons of God. 6 Because you are the sons of God, He has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. The Spirit cries, “Father!” 7 So now you are no longer a servant who is owned by someone. You are a son. If you are a son, then you will receive what God has promised through Christ.
8 During the time when you did not know God, you worshiped false gods. 9 But now that you know God, or should I say that you are known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak old Law? Why do you want to do those religious acts of worship that will keep you from being free? Why do you want to be held under the power of the Law again? 10 You do special things on certain days and months and years and times of the year. 11 I am afraid my work with you was wasted.
Living by the Law or Being Free
12 I ask you, Christian brothers, stay free from the Law as I am. Even if I am a Jew, I became free from the Law, just as you who are not Jews. You did no wrong to me. 13 You know I preached the Good News to you the first time because of my sickness. 14 Even though I was hard to look at because of my sickness, you did not turn away from me. You took me in as an angel from God. You took me in as you would have taken in Christ Jesus Himself. 15 What has become of the happiness you once had? You would have taken out your own eyes if you could have and given them to me. 16 Do you hate me because I have told you the truth? 17 Those false teachers are trying to turn your eyes toward them. They do not want you to follow my teaching. What they are doing is not good. 18 It is good when people help you if they do not hope to get something from it. They should help you all the time, not only when I am with you. 19 My children, I am suffering birth pain for you again. I will suffer until Christ’s life is in your life. 20 I wish I could be with you now. I wish I could speak to you in a more gentle voice, but I am troubled about you.
21 Listen! If you want to be under the Law, why do you not listen to what it says? 22 The Holy Writings say that Abraham had two sons. One was born from a woman servant (Hagar) who was owned by someone. She had to do what she was told. The other son was born from a woman (Sarah) who was free to work and live as she desired. (A) 23 The son born from the woman servant who was owned by someone was like any other birth. The son born from the free woman was different. That son had been promised by God. 24 Think of it like this: These two women show God’s two ways of working with His people. The children born from Hagar are under the Law given on Mount Sinai. They will be servants who are owned by someone and will always be told what to do! 25 Hagar is known as Mount Sinai in the country of Arabia. She is as Jerusalem is today, because she and her children are not free to do what they want to do. 26 But the Jerusalem of heaven is the free woman, and she is our mother. 27 The Holy Writings say, “Woman, be happy, you who have had no children. Cry for joy, you who have never had the pains of having a child, for you will have many children. Yes, you will have more children than the one who has a husband.” (B) 28 Christian brothers, we are like Isaac. We are the children God promised. 29 At that time the son born as other children are born made it hard for the son born by the Holy Spirit. It is the same way now. 30 But what do the Holy Writings say? They say, “Put the woman servant who is owned by someone and her son out of your home. The son of that woman servant will never get any of the riches of the family. It will all be given to the son of the free woman.” (C) 31 Christian brothers, we are not children of the woman servant who was owned by someone (Hagar). We are children of the free woman (Sarah).
Gálatas 4
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
La adopción es solo mediante Jesucristo
4 Digo, pues: mientras el heredero es menor de edad,[a] en nada es diferente del siervo[b], aunque sea el dueño de todo, 2 sino que está bajo guardianes y tutores[c] hasta la edad señalada[d] por el padre. 3 Así también nosotros, mientras éramos niños, estábamos sujetos a servidumbre(A) bajo las cosas elementales[e] del mundo(B).
4 Pero cuando vino la plenitud del tiempo(C), Dios envió a Su Hijo, nacido de mujer(D), nacido bajo la ley(E), 5 a fin de que redimiera a los que estaban bajo la ley, para que recibiéramos la adopción de hijos(F). 6 Y porque ustedes son hijos, Dios ha enviado el Espíritu de Su Hijo a nuestros corazones(G), clamando: «¡Abba! ¡Padre(H)!». 7 Por tanto, ya no eres siervo[f], sino hijo; y si hijo, también heredero por medio de Dios[g](I).
No se vuelvan a la esclavitud
8 Pero en aquel tiempo, cuando ustedes no conocían a Dios(J), eran siervos(K) de los que por naturaleza no son dioses(L). 9 Pero ahora que conocen[h] a Dios, o más bien, que son[i] conocidos por Dios(M), ¿cómo es que se vuelven otra vez a las cosas débiles, inútiles y elementales[j](N), a las cuales desean volver a estar esclavizados de nuevo? 10 Ustedes observan los días(O), los meses, las estaciones y los años. 11 Temo que quizá he trabajado en vano por ustedes.
12 Les ruego, hermanos(P), háganse como yo, pues yo también me he hecho como ustedes(Q). Ningún agravio me han hecho. 13 Pero saben que fue por causa de una enfermedad física[k] que les prediqué el evangelio la primera vez[l]. 14 Y lo que para ustedes fue una prueba[m] en mi condición física[n], que no despreciaron ni rechazaron[o], sino que me recibieron como un ángel de Dios, como a Cristo Jesús(R) mismo(S).
15 ¿Dónde está, pues, aquel sentido de bendición que tuvieron[p]? Pues testigo soy en favor de ustedes[q] de que de ser posible, se hubieran sacado los ojos y me los hubieran dado. 16 ¿Me he vuelto, por tanto, enemigo de ustedes al decirles la verdad[r](T)? 17 Algunos les tienen celo, no con buena intención, sino que quieren excluirlos a fin de que ustedes muestren celo por ellos. 18 Es bueno mostrar celo con buena intención siempre, y no solo cuando yo estoy presente con ustedes(U). 19 Hijos míos(V), por quienes de nuevo sufro dolores de parto(W) hasta que Cristo sea formado en ustedes(X), 20 quisiera estar presente con ustedes ahora y cambiar mi tono, pues estoy perplejo(Y) en cuanto a ustedes.
Alegoría de la libertad en Cristo
21 Díganme, los que desean estar bajo la ley, ¿no oyen a la ley(Z)? 22 Porque está escrito que Abraham tuvo dos hijos, uno de la sierva(AA) y otro de la libre(AB). 23 Pero el hijo de la sierva nació según la carne(AC), y el hijo de la libre por medio de la promesa(AD).
24 Esto contiene una alegoría[s](AE), pues estas mujeres son dos pactos. Uno procede del monte Sinaí(AF) que engendra hijos para ser esclavos[t](AG); este[u] es Agar. 25 Ahora bien, Agar es el monte Sinaí en Arabia, y corresponde a la Jerusalén actual, porque ella está en esclavitud con sus hijos. 26 Pero la Jerusalén de arriba(AH) es libre; esta[v] es nuestra madre. 27 Porque escrito está:
«Regocíjate, oh estéril, la que no concibes;
Prorrumpe y clama, tú que no tienes dolores de parto,
Porque más son los hijos de la desolada,
Que de la que tiene marido(AI)».
28 Y ustedes, hermanos, como Isaac, son hijos de la promesa(AJ).
29 Pero así como entonces el que nació según la carne(AK) persiguió(AL) al que nació según el Espíritu, así también sucede ahora(AM). 30 Pero, ¿qué dice la Escritura?
«Echa fuera a la sierva y a su hijo,
Pues el hijo de la sierva no será heredero con el hijo de la libre(AN)».
31 Así que, hermanos, no somos hijos de la sierva, sino de la libre[w].
Footnotes
- Gálatas 4:1 O niño.
- Gálatas 4:1 O esclavo.
- Gálatas 4:2 O mayordomos, o administradores.
- Gálatas 4:2 Lit. el tiempo señalado.
- Gálatas 4:3 O enseñanzas, o principios rudimentarios.
- Gálatas 4:7 O esclavo.
- Gálatas 4:7 I.e. mediante la acción de la gracia de Dios.
- Gálatas 4:9 O que han llegado a conocer.
- Gálatas 4:9 O que han llegado a ser.
- Gálatas 4:9 O enseñanzas, o principios rudimentarios.
- Gálatas 4:13 Lit. debilidad de la carne.
- Gálatas 4:13 O la vez anterior.
- Gálatas 4:14 O tentación.
- Gálatas 4:14 Lit. mi carne.
- Gálatas 4:14 Lit. escupieron.
- Gálatas 4:15 Lit. la felicitación de ustedes mismos.
- Gálatas 4:15 O Pues les doy testimonio.
- Gálatas 4:16 O por tratar con verdad con ustedes.
- Gálatas 4:24 Lit. Las cuales son expresiones alegóricas.
- Gálatas 4:24 Lit. para servidumbre.
- Gálatas 4:24 Lit. el cual.
- Gálatas 4:26 Lit. la cual.
- Gálatas 4:31 Véase la nota en 5:1.
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