Sons and Heirs

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,[a] though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, (A)were enslaved to the elementary principles[b] of the world. But (B)when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, (C)born (D)of woman, born (E)under the law, (F)to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive (G)adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent (H)the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then (I)an heir through God.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 7
  2. Galatians 4:3 Or elemental spirits; also verse 9

Dedication to Theophilus

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that (A)have been accomplished among us, (B)just as those who (C)from the beginning were (D)eyewitnesses and (E)ministers of (F)the word (G)have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write (H)an orderly account for you, (I)most excellent (J)Theophilus, that you may have (K)certainty concerning the things (L)you have been taught.

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