Galatians 4
Lexham English Bible
No Longer Slaves But Sons and Heirs
4 Now I say, for as long a time as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he[a] is master of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the time set by his father. 3 So also we, when we were children, we were enslaved under the elemental spirits of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time came, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order that he might redeem those under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption. 6 And because you are sons, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba![b] (Father!),” 7 so that you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, also an heir through God.
Do Not Be Enslaved Again
8 But at that time when you[c] did not know God, you were enslaved to the things which by nature are not gods. 9 But now, because you have come to know God, or rather have come to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to be enslaved to them[d] all over again? 10 You carefully observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest perhaps I have labored for you in vain! 12 I ask you, brothers, become like me, because I also have become like you. You have done me no wrong!
Paul’s Personal Appeal
13 But you know that because of an illness of the flesh I proclaimed the gospel to you the first time. 14 And you did not despise or disdain what was a trial for you in my flesh, but you welcomed me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus. 15 So where is your blessing? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me! 16 So then, have I become your enemy by[e] being truthful to you? 17 They zealously seek you, not commendably, but they want to exclude you, in order that you may seek them zealously. 18 But it is good to be sought zealously in good at all times, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My children, for whom I am having birth pains again, until Christ is formed in you! 20 But I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone because I am perplexed about you.
Hagar and Sarah Represent Two Covenants
21 Tell me, you who are wanting to be under the law, do you not understand[f] the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the female slave and one by the free woman. 23 But the one by the female slave was born according to human descent, and the one by the free woman through the promise, 24 which things are spoken allegorically, for these women are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery, who is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is a slave with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother. 27 For it is written,
“Rejoice, O barren woman, who does not give birth to children;
burst out and shout, you who do not have birth pains,
because many are the children of the desolate woman,
even more than those of the one who has a husband.”[g]
28 But you, brothers, are children of the promise, just as Isaac. 29 But just as at that time the child born according to human descent persecuted the child born according to the Spirit, so also now. 30 But what does the scripture say? “Drive out the female slave and her son, for the son of the female slave will never inherit with the son”[h] of the free woman. 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the female slave but of the free woman.
Footnotes
- Galatians 4:1 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“is”) which is understood as concessive
- Galatians 4:6 “Abba” is Aramaic for “father”
- Galatians 4:8 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as temporal
- Galatians 4:9 Literally “to whom”
- Galatians 4:16 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“being truthful”) which is understood as means
- Galatians 4:21 Literally “hear”
- Galatians 4:27 A quotation from Isa 54:1
- Galatians 4:30 A quotation from Gen 21:10, which does not include the words “of the free woman”
Galacia 4
Ang Dating Biblia (1905)
4 Nguni't sinasabi ko na samantalang ang tagapagmana ay bata, ay walang pagkakaibang anoman sa alipin bagama't siya'y panginoon ng lahat;
2 Datapuwa't nasa ilalim ng mga tagapagampon at ng mga tagapangasiwa hanggang sa panahong itinakda ng ama.
3 Gayon din naman tayo, nang tayo'y mga bata pa, tayo'y nasasakop ng pagkaalipin sa ilalim ng mga pasimulang aral ng sanglibutan.
4 Datapuwa't nang dumating ang kapanahunan, ay sinugo ng Dios ang kaniyang Anak, na ipinanganak ng isang babae, na ipinanganak sa ilalim ng kautusan,
5 Upang matubos niya ang nangasa ilalim ng kautusan, upang matanggap natin ang pagkukupkop sa mga anak.
6 At sapagka't kayo'y mga anak, ay sinugo ng Dios ang Espiritu ng kaniyang Anak sa ating mga puso, na sumisigaw, Abba, Ama.
7 Ano pa't hindi ka na alipin, kundi anak; at kung anak, ay tagapagmana ka nga sa pamamagitan ng Dios.
8 Gayon man nang panahong yaon, sa hindi ninyo pagkakilala sa Dios, kayo'y nasa pagkaalipin ng sa katutubo ay hindi mga dios:
9 Datapuwa't ngayon yamang nakikilala na ninyo ang Dios, o ang lalong mabuting sabihin, kayo'y nangakikilala ng Dios, bakit muling nangagbabalik kayo doon sa mahihina at walang bisang mga pasimulang aral, na sa mga yao'y ninanasa ninyong magbalik sa pagkaalipin?
10 Ipinangingilin ninyo ang mga araw, at mga buwan, at mga panahon, at mga taon.
11 Ako'y natatakot tungkol sa inyo, baka sa anomang paraan ay nagpagal ako sa inyo ng walang kabuluhan.
12 Ipinamamanhik ko sa inyo, mga kapatid, na kayo'y mangagsitulad sa akin, sapagka't ako'y katulad din ninyo. Wala kayong ginawa sa aking anomang kasamaan.
13 Datapuwa't nalalaman ninyo na dahil sa sakit ng laman, ay ipinangaral ko sa inyo ang evangelio nang pasimula:
14 At yaong sa inyo'y isang tukso sa aking laman ay hindi ninyo inalipusta, ni itinakuwil man; kundi ako'y tinanggap ninyong tulad sa isang anghel ng Dios, tulad kay Cristo Jesus.
15 Saan nga naroon yaong inyong kapalaran? sapagka't pinatototohanan ko sa inyo, na, kung mangyayari, ay inyong dinukit sana ang inyong mga mata at ibinigay sa akin.
16 Kaya nga ako baga'y naging kaaway ninyo, sa pagsasabi ko sa inyo ng katotohanan?
17 May nangagmamalasakit sa inyo sa hindi mabuting akala; subali't, ang ibig nila ay ihiwalay kayo, upang ipagmalasakit ninyo sila.
18 Datapuwa't mabuti ang ipagmalasakit sa mabuting bagay sa lahat ng panahon, at hindi lamang samantalang ako'y kaharap ninyo.
19 Maliliit kong mga anak, na muli kong ipinagdaramdam sa panganganak hanggang si Cristo ay mabadha sa inyo.
20 Datapuwa't, ibig kong makaharap ninyo ako ngayon, at baguhin ang aking tinig; sapagka't ako'y nagaalinlangan tungkol sa inyo.
21 Sabihin ninyo sa akin, kayong nagsisipagnasang mapasa ilalim ng kautusan, hindi baga ninyo naririnig ang kautusan?
22 Sapagka't nasusulat, na si Abraham ay nagkaroon ng dalawang anak, ang isa'y sa aliping babae, at ang isa'y sa babaing malaya.
23 Gayon man ang anak sa alipin ay ipinanganak ayon sa laman; nguni't ang anak sa babaing malaya ay sa pamamagitan ng pangako.
24 Ang mga bagay na ito'y may lamang talinghaga: sapagka't ang mga babaing ito'y dalawang tipan; ang isa'y mula sa bundok ng Sinai, na nanganganak ng mga anak sa pagkaalipin, na ito'y si Agar.
25 Ang Agar ngang ito ay bundok ng Sinai sa Arabia, at ito'y katulad ng Jerusalem ngayon: sapagka't ito'y nasa pagkaalipin kasama ng kaniyang mga anak.
26 Nguni't ang Jerusalem na nasa itaas ay malaya, na siyang ina natin.
27 Sapagka't nasusulat, Magsaya ka, Oh baog na hindi nanganganak; Magbiglang umawit at humiyaw ka, ikaw na hindi nagdaramdam sa panganganak: Sapagka't higit pa ang mga anak ng pinabayaan kay sa mga anak ng may asawa.
28 At tayo, mga kapatid, tulad ni Isaac, ay mga anak sa pangako.
29 Datapuwa't kung papaanong yaong ipinanganak ayon sa laman ay nagusig sa ipinanganak ayon sa espiritu, ay gayon din naman ngayon.
30 Gayon man ano ang sinasabi ng kasulatan? Palayasin ang aliping babae at ang kaniyang anak: sapagka't hindi magmamana ang anak ng babaing alipin na kasama ng anak ng babaing malaya.
31 Kaya nga, mga kapatid, hindi tayo mga anak ng babaing alipin, kundi ng babaing malaya.
Galatians 4
New King James Version
Sons and Heirs Through Christ
4 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, (A)were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But (B)when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, (C)born[a] (D)of a woman, (E)born under the law, 5 (F)to redeem those who were under the law, (G)that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth (H)the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, [b]“Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, (I)and if a son, then an heir [c]of God [d]through Christ.
Fears for the Church
8 But then, indeed, (J)when you did not know God, (K)you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now (L)after you have known God, or rather are known by God, (M)how is it that you turn again to (N)the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 (O)You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, (P)lest I have labored for you in vain.
12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. (Q)You have not injured me at all. 13 You know that (R)because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. 14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me (S)as an [e]angel of God, (T)even as Christ Jesus. 15 [f]What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
17 They (U)zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19 (V)My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
Two Covenants(W)
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: (X)the one by a bondwoman, (Y)the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman (Z)was born according to the flesh, (AA)and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are [g]the two covenants: the one from Mount (AB)Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the (AC)Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written:
(AD)“Rejoice, O barren,
You who do not bear!
Break forth and shout,
You who are not in labor!
For the desolate has many more children
Than she who has a husband.”
28 Now (AE)we, brethren, as Isaac was, are (AF)children of promise. 29 But, as (AG)he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, (AH)even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does (AI)the Scripture say? (AJ)“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for (AK)the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Footnotes
- Galatians 4:4 Or made
- Galatians 4:6 Lit., in Aram., Father
- Galatians 4:7 NU through God
- Galatians 4:7 NU omits through Christ
- Galatians 4:14 Or messenger
- Galatians 4:15 NU Where
- Galatians 4:24 NU, M omit the
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
