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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, but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children. And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba,[a] Father!” 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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Footnotes

  1. 4:6 Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for “Father” or “Daddy” used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way.

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