Galatians 3:19-4:20

New King James Version

Purpose of the Law

¹⁹ What purpose then does the law serve? ^(A)It was added because of transgressions, till the ^(B)Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ^(C)appointed through angels by the hand ^(D)of a mediator. ²⁰ Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, ^(E)but God is one.

²¹ Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. ²² But the Scripture has confined ^(F)all under sin, ^(G)that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. ²³ But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, ^[a]kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore ^(H)the law was our ^[b]tutor to bring us to Christ, ^(I)that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Sons and Heirs

²⁶ For you ^(J)are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For ^(K)as many of you as were baptized into Christ ^(L)have put on Christ. ^28 (M)There is neither Jew nor Greek, ^(N)there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all ^(O)one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And ^(P)if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s ^(Q)seed, and ^(R)heirs according to the promise.

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, ^(S)were in bondage under the elements of the world. ⁴ But ^(T)when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, ^(U)born^{[c] (V)}of a woman, ^(W)born under the law, ^5 (X)to redeem those who were under the law, ^(Y)that we might receive the adoption as sons.

⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent forth ^(Z)the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ^[d]“Abba, Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, ^(AA)and if a son, then an heir ^[e]of God ^[f]through Christ.

Fears for the Church

⁸ But then, indeed, ^(AB)when you did not know God, ^(AC)you served those which by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now ^(AD)after you have known God, or rather are known by God, ^(AE)how is it that you turn again to ^(AF)the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? ^10 (AG)You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I am afraid for you, ^(AH)lest I have labored for you in vain.

¹² Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. ^(AI)You have not injured me at all. ¹³ You know that ^(AJ)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 ^(AK)as an ^[g]angel of God, ^(AL)even as Christ Jesus. ^15 [h]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 ^(AM)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 (AN)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.