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Sonship in Christ

Now I say, as long as the heir is a [a]child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is [b]owner of everything, but he is under guardians and stewards until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were (A)enslaved under the [c](B)elemental things of the world. But when (C)the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, (D)born of a woman, born (E)under [d]the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under [e]the Law, that we might receive the adoption as (F)sons. And because you are sons, (G)God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “(H)Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and (I)if a son, then an heir [f]through God.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:1 Or minor
  2. Galatians 4:1 Lit lord
  3. Galatians 4:3 Or rudimentary teachings, principles
  4. Galatians 4:4 Or law
  5. Galatians 4:5 Or law
  6. Galatians 4:7 Through the gracious act of

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