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Galatians 4:1-7
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 4

God’s Free Children in Christ.[a] 1 I mean that as long as the heir is not of age,[b] he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under the supervision of guardians and administrators until the date set by his father. 3 (A)In the same way we also, when we were not of age, were enslaved to the elemental powers of the world.[c] 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,(B) 5 to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption.(C) 6 As proof that you are children,[d] God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”(D) 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.(E)

Do Not Throw This Freedom Away.[e]

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Footnotes

  1. 4:1–7 What Paul has argued in Gal 3:26–29 is now elaborated in terms of the Christian as the heir (Gal 4:1, 7; cf. Gal 3:18, 29) freed from control by others. Again, as in Gal 3:2–5, the proof that Christians are children of God is the gift of the Spirit of Christ relating them intimately to God.
  2. 4:1, 3 Not of age: an infant or minor.
  3. 4:3 The elemental powers of the world: while the term can refer to the “elements” like earth, air, fire, and water or to elementary forms of religion, the sense here is more likely that of celestial beings that were thought in pagan circles to control the world; cf. Gal 4:8; Col 2:8, 20.
  4. 4:6 Children: see note on Gal 3:26; here in contrast to the infant or young person not of age (Gal 3:1, 3). Abba: cf. Mk 14:36 and the note; Rom 8:15.
  5. 4:8–11 On the basis of the arguments advanced from Gal 3:1 through Gal 4:7, Paul now launches his appeal to the Galatians with the question, how can you turn back to the slavery of the law (Gal 4:9)? The question is posed with reference to bondage to the elemental powers (see note on Gal 4:3) because the Galatians had originally been converted to Christianity from paganism, not Judaism (Gal 4:8). The use of the direct question is like Gal 3:3–5.
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Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.