Galatians 4:1-7
World English Bible
4 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. 3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, 5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba,[a] Father!” 7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
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- 4:6 Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for “Father” or “Daddy” used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way.
Galatians 4:1-7
International Standard Version
4 Now what I am saying is this: As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything. 2 Instead, he is placed under the care of[a] guardians and servant managers until the time set by the father. 3 It was the same way with us. While we were children, we were slaves to the basic principles of the world.[b] 4 But when the appropriate time had come, God sent his Son, born by a woman, born under the Law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the Law, and thus to adopt them as his children. 6 Now because you are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our[c] hearts to cry out, “Abba![d] Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if you are a child, then you are also an heir because of what God did.
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- Galatians 4:2 The Gk. lacks the care of
- Galatians 4:3 Or the elemental spirits of the universe
- Galatians 4:6 Other mss. read your
- Galatians 4:6 Abba is Aram. for Father.
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