Galatians 4:21-5:12

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Sarah and Hagar: Two Covenants

²¹Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? ²²For it is written that Abraham^(A) had two sons, one by a slave^(B) and the other by a free woman. ²³But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. ²⁴These things are illustrations,^[a] for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai^(C) and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar.^(D) ²⁵Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia^(E) and corresponds to the present Jerusalem,^(F) for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶But the Jerusalem above^(G) is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷For it is written:^(H)

Rejoice, childless woman,^(I)
who does not give birth.
Burst into song and shout,
you who are not in labor,
for the children of the desolate are many,
more numerous than those
of the woman who has a husband.^(J)^[b]

²⁸Now you, brothers, like Isaac,^(K) are children of promise.^(L) ²⁹But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit,^(M) so also now.^(N) ³⁰But what does the Scripture say?

Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.^(O)^[c]

³¹Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.^(P)

Freedom of the Christian

5 Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm^(Q) then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.^(R) ²Take note! I, Paul, tell you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. ³Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to keep the entire law. ⁴You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace.^(S) ⁵For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait^(T) for the hope^(U) of righteousness. ⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith^(V) working through love.^(W)

⁷You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth?^(X) ⁸This persuasion did not come from the One who called you.^(Y) ⁹A little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough. ¹⁰I have confidence in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.^(Z) ¹¹Now brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross^(AA) has been abolished. ¹²I wish those who are disturbing you might also get themselves castrated!