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Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles[a] of this world.

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.[b] And because we[c] are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”[d] Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child.[e] And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:3 Or powers; also in 4:9.
  2. 4:5 Greek sons; also in 4:6.
  3. 4:6a Greek you.
  4. 4:6b Abba is an Aramaic term for “father.”
  5. 4:7 Greek son; also in 4:7b.

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