Sons and Heirs Through Christ

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, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, (A)were in bondage under the elements of the world. 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, (F)to redeem those who were under the law, (G)that we might receive the adoption as sons.

And because you are sons, God has sent forth (H)the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, [b]“Abba, Father!” 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

But then, indeed, (J)when you did not know God, (K)you served those which by nature are not gods. 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.

Christian Liberty

(AL)Stand[h] fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a (AM)yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that (AN)if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised (AO)that he is [i]a debtor to keep the whole law. (AP)You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; (AQ)you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly (AR)wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For (AS)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but (AT)faith working through love.

Love Fulfills the Law

You (AU)ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. (AV)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, (AW)why do I still suffer persecution? Then (AX)the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 (AY)I could wish that those (AZ)who trouble you would even [j]cut themselves off!

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only (BA)do not use liberty as an (BB)opportunity for the flesh, but (BC)through love serve one another. 14 For (BD)all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: (BE)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Walking in the Spirit

16 I say then: (BF)Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For (BG)the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, (BH)so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But (BI)if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now (BJ)the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [k]adultery, [l]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [m]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that (BK)those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But (BL)the fruit of the Spirit is (BM)love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, (BN)goodness, (BO)faithfulness, 23 [n]gentleness, self-control. (BP)Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s (BQ)have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 (BR)If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 (BS)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear and Share Burdens

Brethren, if a man is [o]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of (BT)gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (BU)Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill (BV)the law of Christ. For (BW)if anyone thinks himself to be something, when (BX)he is nothing, he deceives himself. But (BY)let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and (BZ)not in another. For (CA)each one shall bear his own load.

Be Generous and Do Good

(CB)Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for (CC)whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap (CD)everlasting life. And (CE)let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap (CF)if we do not lose heart. 10 (CG)Therefore, as we have opportunity, (CH)let us do good to all, (CI)especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Glory Only in the Cross

11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, (CJ)only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the (CK)cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by [p]whom the world has been crucified to me, and (CL)I to the world. 15 For (CM)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Blessing and a Plea

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:4 Or made
  2. Galatians 4:6 Lit., in Aram., Father
  3. Galatians 4:7 NU through God
  4. Galatians 4:7 NU omits through Christ
  5. Galatians 4:14 Or messenger
  6. Galatians 4:15 NU Where
  7. Galatians 4:24 NU, M omit the
  8. Galatians 5:1 NU For freedom Christ has made us free; stand fast therefore, and
  9. Galatians 5:3 obligated
  10. Galatians 5:12 mutilate themselves
  11. Galatians 5:19 NU omits adultery
  12. Galatians 5:19 sexual immorality
  13. Galatians 5:21 NU omits murders
  14. Galatians 5:23 meekness
  15. Galatians 6:1 caught
  16. Galatians 6:14 Or which, the cross

What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery(A) under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world.(B) But when the set time had fully come,(C) God sent his Son,(D) born of a woman,(E) born under the law,(F) to redeem(G) those under the law, that we might receive adoption(H) to sonship.[b](I) Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son(J) into our hearts,(K) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.”(L) So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.(M)

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

Formerly, when you did not know God,(N) you were slaves(O) to those who by nature are not gods.(P) But now that you know God—or rather are known by God(Q)—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[d]? Do you wish to be enslaved(R) by them all over again?(S) 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!(T) 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.(U)

12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters,(V) become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness(W) that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.(X) 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?(Y)

17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.(Z) 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.(AA) 19 My dear children,(AB) for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,(AC) 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Hagar and Sarah

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law,(AD) are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman(AE) and the other by the free woman.(AF) 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,(AG) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.(AH)

24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above(AI) is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written:

“Be glad, barren woman,
    you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud,
    you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
    than of her who has a husband.”[e](AJ)

28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.(AK) 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh(AL) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.(AM) It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”[f](AN) 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,(AO) but of the free woman.(AP)

Freedom in Christ

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.(AQ) Stand firm,(AR) then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.(AS)

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,(AT) Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.(AU) You who are trying to be justified by the law(AV) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.(AW) For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.(AX) For in Christ Jesus(AY) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.(AZ) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.(BA)

You were running a good race.(BB) Who cut in on you(BC) to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.(BD) “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”(BE) 10 I am confident(BF) in the Lord that you will take no other view.(BG) The one who is throwing you into confusion,(BH) whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?(BI) In that case the offense(BJ) of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators,(BK) I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Life by the Spirit

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.(BL) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[g];(BM) rather, serve one another(BN) humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[h](BO) 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit,(BP) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.(BQ) 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.(BR) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[i] you want.(BS) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit,(BT) you are not under the law.(BU)

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,(BV) impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.(BW) I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.(BX)

22 But the fruit(BY) of the Spirit is love,(BZ) joy, peace,(CA) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.(CB) Against such things there is no law.(CC) 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh(CD) with its passions and desires.(CE) 25 Since we live by the Spirit,(CF) let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,(CG) provoking and envying each other.

Doing Good to All

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit(CH) should restore(CI) that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.(CJ) If anyone thinks they are something(CK) when they are not, they deceive themselves.(CL) Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,(CM) without comparing themselves to someone else,(CN) for each one should carry their own load.(CO) Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.(CP)

Do not be deceived:(CQ) God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.(CR) Whoever sows to please their flesh,(CS) from the flesh will reap destruction;(CT) whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.(CU) Let us not become weary in doing good,(CV) for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.(CW) 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good(CX) to all people, especially to those who belong to the family(CY) of believers.

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!(CZ)

12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh(DA) are trying to compel you to be circumcised.(DB) The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted(DC) for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law,(DD) yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.(DE) 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,(DF) through which[j] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.(DG) 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;(DH) what counts is the new creation.(DI) 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to[k] the Israel of God.

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks(DJ) of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ(DK) be with your spirit,(DL) brothers and sisters. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:3 Or under the basic principles
  2. Galatians 4:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.
  3. Galatians 4:6 Aramaic for Father
  4. Galatians 4:9 Or principles
  5. Galatians 4:27 Isaiah 54:1
  6. Galatians 4:30 Gen. 21:10
  7. Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.
  8. Galatians 5:14 Lev. 19:18
  9. Galatians 5:17 Or you do not do what
  10. Galatians 6:14 Or whom
  11. Galatians 6:16 Or rule and to