4:1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.
4:2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
4:3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.
4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,
4:5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba , Father.”
4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
4:9 But now that you know God–or rather are known by God–how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
4:10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
4:11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
4:12 I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.
4:13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
4:14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.
4:15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
4:16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
4:17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.
4:18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.
4:19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
4:20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
4:21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?
4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
4:23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.
4:24 These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar.
4:25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
4:27 For it is written: “Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
4:28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
4:29 At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.
4:30 But what does the Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”
4:31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
4:1 But I say, As long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave, though he is lord of all;
4:2 But he is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
4:3 So also we, when we were children, were kept in slavery under the elements of the world;
4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under law,
4:5 That He might redeem those under law that we might receive the sonship.
4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father!
4:7 So then you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, an heir also through God.
4:8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were slaves to the gods which by nature are not gods;
4:9 But now, having come to know God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and poor elements, to which you desire to be enslaved yet again?
4:10 You observe days and months and seasons and years;
4:11 I fear for you, lest I have labored upon you in vain.
4:12 Become as I am, because I also am as you are, brothers, I beseech you; you have not wronged me at all.
4:13 And you know that because of weakness of my flesh I announced the gospel to you the first time.
4:14 And that which was a trial to you in my flesh you did not despise nor loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, indeed as Christ Jesus.
4:15 Where then is your felicitation? For I testify concerning you that if possible you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
4:16 So then have I become your enemy by presenting the truth to you?
4:17 They are zealous of you, but not rightly; but they desire to shut you out that you may be zealous of them.
4:18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
4:19 My children, with whom I travail again in birth until Christ is formed in you,
4:20 Indeed, I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone because I am perplexed about you.
4:21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one of the maidservant and one of the free woman.
4:23 However the one of the maidservant was born according to the flesh, but the one of the free woman was born through promise.
4:24 These things are spoken allegorically, for these women are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, bringing forth children unto slavery, which is Hagar.
4:25 Now this Hagar is Sinai the mountain in Arabia and corresponds to the Jerusalem which now is, for she is in slavery with her children.
4:26 But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother;
4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not travailing, because many are the children of her who is desolate rather than of her who has her husband.
4:28 But you, brothers, in the way Isaac was, are children of promise.
4:29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
4:30 But what does the Scripture say? Cast out the maidservant and her son, for the son of the maidservant shall by no means inherit with the son of the free woman.
4:31 So then, brothers, we are not children of the maidservant but of the free woman.