Now I say that as long as the heir(A) is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner(B) of everything. Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements[a] of the world.(C) When the time came to completion, God sent his Son,(D) born of a woman,(E) born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.(F) And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son(G) into our[b] hearts, crying, “Abba,[c] Father!” (H) So you are no longer a slave(I) but a son,(J) and if a son, then God has made you an heir.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. 4:3 Or spirits, or principles
  2. 4:6 Other mss read your
  3. 4:6 Aramaic for father

My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than those who are enslaved, though they are the owners of all the property, but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental principles[a] of the world.(A) But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,(B) in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.(C) And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our[b] hearts, crying, “Abba![c] Father!”(D) So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir through God.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. 4.3 Or spirits
  2. 4.6 Other ancient authorities read your
  3. 4.6 Aramaic for Father
  4. 4.7 Other ancient authorities read an heir of God through Christ