Gal.4.1
Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal.4.1
Let me show you the implications of this. As long as the heir is a minor, he has no advantage over the slave. Though legally he owns the entire inheritance,
Gal.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.
Gal.4.1
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
Gal.4.1
Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves great wealth 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.
Gal.4.2
But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal.4.2
he is subject to tutors and administrators until whatever date the father has set for emancipation.
Gal.4.2
He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
Gal.4.2
but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
Gal.4.2
They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.
Gal.4.3
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal.4.3
That is the way it is with us: When we were minors, we were just like slaves ordered around by simple instructions (the tutors and administrators of this world), with no say in the conduct of our own lives.
Gal.4.3
So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.
Gal.4.3
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.
Gal.4.3
And that's the way it was with us before Christ came. We were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world.
Gal.4.4
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal.4.4
But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law.
Gal.4.4
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,
Gal.4.4
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
Gal.4.4
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.
Gal.4.5
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal.4.5
Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage.
Gal.4.5
to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Gal.4.5
to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Gal.4.5
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.
Gal.4.6
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal.4.6
You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!"
Gal.4.6
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."
Gal.4.6
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
Gal.4.6
And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father.
Gal.4.7
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Gal.4.7
Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
Gal.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.
Gal.4.7
Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Gal.4.7
Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.
Gal.4.8
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Gal.4.8
Earlier, before you knew God personally, you were enslaved to so-called gods that had nothing of the divine about them.
Gal.4.8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
Gal.4.8
But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
Gal.4.8
Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist.
Gal.4.9
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal.4.9
But now that you know the real God--or rather since God knows you--how can you possibly subject yourselves again to those paper tigers?
Gal.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?
Gal.4.9
But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
Gal.4.9
And now that you have found God (or should I say, now that God has found you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual powers of this world?
Gal.4.10
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal.4.10
For that is exactly what you do when you are intimidated into scrupulously observing all the traditions, taboos, and superstitions associated with special days and seasons and years.
Gal.4.10
You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
Gal.4.10
You observe days and months and seasons and years.
Gal.4.10
You are trying to find favor with God by what you do or don't do on certain days or months or seasons or years.
Gal.4.11
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Gal.4.11
I am afraid that all my hard work among you has gone up in a puff of smoke!
Gal.4.11
I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Gal.4.11
I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
Gal.4.11
I fear for you. I am afraid that all my hard work for you was worth nothing.
Gal.4.12
Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
Gal.4.12
My dear friends, what I would really like you to do is try to put yourselves in my shoes to the same extent that I, when I was with you, put myself in yours. You were very sensitive and kind then. You did not come down on me personally.
Gal.4.12
I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.
Gal.4.12
Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all.
Gal.4.12
Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles were--free from the law. You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you.
Gal.4.13
Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
Gal.4.13
You were well aware that the reason I ended up preaching to you was that I was physically broken, and so, prevented from continuing my journey, I was forced to stop with you. That is how I came to preach to you.
Gal.4.13
As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.
Gal.4.13
You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.
Gal.4.13
Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News of Christ.
Gal.4.14
And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
Gal.4.14
And don't you remember that even though taking in a sick guest was most troublesome for you, you chose to treat me as well as you would have treated an angel of God--as well as you would have treated Jesus himself if he had visited you?
Gal.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.
Gal.4.14
And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
Gal.4.14
But even though my sickness was revolting to you, you did not reject me and turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself.
Gal.4.15
Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
Gal.4.15
What has happened to the satisfaction you felt at that time? There were some of you then who, if possible, would have given your very eyes to me--that is how deeply you cared!
Gal.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.
Gal.4.15
What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
Gal.4.15
Where is that joyful spirit we felt together then? In those days, I know you would gladly have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible.
Gal.4.16
Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Gal.4.16
And now have I suddenly become your enemy simply by telling you the truth? I can't believe it.
Gal.4.16
Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Gal.4.16
Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
Gal.4.16
Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?
Gal.4.17
They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
Gal.4.17
Those heretical teachers go to great lengths to flatter you, but their motives are rotten. They want to shut you out of the free world of God's grace so that you will always depend on them for approval and direction, making them feel important. [JC]
Gal.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.
Gal.4.17
They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.
Gal.4.17
Those false teachers who are so anxious to win your favor are not doing it for your good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay more attention to them.
Gal.4.18
But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
Gal.4.18
It is a good thing to be ardent in doing good, but not just when I am in your presence. Can't you continue the same concern for both my person and my message when I am away from you that you had when I was with you?
Gal.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.
Gal.4.18
But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.
Gal.4.18
Now it's wonderful if you are eager to do good, and especially when I am not with you.
Gal.4.19
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Gal.4.19
Do you know how I feel right now, and will feel until Christ's life becomes visible in your lives? Like a mother in the pain of childbirth.
Gal.4.19
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
Gal.4.19
My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
Gal.4.19
But oh, my dear children! I feel as if I am going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.
Gal.4.20
I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
Gal.4.20
Oh, I keep wishing that I was with you. Then I wouldn't be reduced to this blunt, letter-writing language out of sheer frustration.
Gal.4.20
how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Gal.4.20
I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
Gal.4.20
How I wish I were there with you right now, so that I could be more gentle with you. But at this distance I frankly don't know what else to do.
Gal.4.21
Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
Gal.4.21
Tell me now, you who have become so enamored with the law: Have you paid close attention to that law?
Gal.4.21
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?
Gal.4.21
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
Gal.4.21
Listen to me, you who want to live under the law. Do you know what the law really says?
Gal.4.22
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal.4.22
Abraham, remember, had two sons: one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.
Gal.4.22
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
Gal.4.22
For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
Gal.4.22
The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave-wife and one from his freeborn wife.
Gal.4.23
But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal.4.23
The son of the slave woman was born by human connivance; the son of the free woman was born by God's promise.
Gal.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.
Gal.4.23
But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,
Gal.4.23
The son of the slave-wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God's promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God's own fulfillment of his promise.
Gal.4.24
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal.4.24
This illustrates the very thing we are dealing with now. The two births represent two ways of being in relationship with God. One is from Mount Sinai in Arabia.
Gal.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.
Gal.4.24
which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar--
Gal.4.24
Now these two women serve as an illustration of God's two covenants. Hagar, the slave-wife, represents Mount Sinai where people first became enslaved to the law.
Gal.4.25
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal.4.25
It corresponds with what is now going on in Jerusalem--a slave life, producing slaves as offspring. This is the way of Hagar.
Gal.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.
Gal.4.25
for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children--
Gal.4.25
And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery.
Gal.4.26
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal.4.26
In contrast to that, there is an invisible Jerusalem, a free Jerusalem, and she is our mother--this is the way of Sarah.
Gal.4.26
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
Gal.4.26
but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal.4.26
But Sarah, the free woman, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. And she is our mother.
Gal.4.27
For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal.4.27
Remember what Isaiah wrote: Rejoice, barren woman who bears no children, shout and cry out, woman who has no birth pangs, Because the children of the barren woman now surpass the children of the chosen woman.
Gal.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."
Gal.4.27
For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband."
Gal.4.27
That is what Isaiah meant when he prophesied, "Rejoice, O childless woman! Break forth into loud and joyful song, even though you never gave birth to a child. For the woman who could bear no children now has more than all the other women!"
Gal.4.28
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Gal.4.28
Isn't it clear, friends, that you, like Isaac, are children of promise?
Gal.4.28
Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
Gal.4.28
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
Gal.4.28
And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac.
Gal.4.29
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Gal.4.29
In the days of Hagar and Sarah, the child who came from faithless connivance (Ishmael) harassed the child who came--empowered by the Spirit--from the faithful promise (Isaac). Isn't it clear that the harassment you are now experiencing from the Jerusalem heretics follows that old pattern?
Gal.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.
Gal.4.29
But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
Gal.4.29
And we who are born of the Holy Spirit are persecuted by those who want us to keep the law, just as Isaac, the child of promise, was persecuted by Ishmael, the son of the slave-wife.
Gal.4.30
Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal.4.30
There is a Scripture that tells us what to do: "Expel the slave mother with her son, for the slave son will not inherit with the free son."
Gal.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."
Gal.4.30
Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."
Gal.4.30
But what do the Scriptures say about that? "Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the family inheritance with the free woman's son."
Gal.4.31
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Gal.4.31
Isn't that conclusive? We are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Gal.4.31
Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Gal.4.31
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Gal.4.31
So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, obligated to the law. We are children of the free woman, acceptable to God because of our faith.
