Galatians
4
- 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.
- He is subject to guardians and trustees until
the time set by his father.
- So also, when we were children, we were in
slavery under the basic principles of the world.
- But when the time had fully come, God sent
his Son, born of a woman, born under law,
- to redeem those under law, that we might
receive the full rights of sons.
- Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit
of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba , Father."
- So you are no longer a slave, but a son;
and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
- Formerly, when you did not know God, you
were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
- 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 ?
- You are observing special days and months
and seasons and years !
- I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted
my efforts on you.
- I plead with you, brothers, become like me,
for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.
- As you know, it was because of an illness
that I first preached the gospel to you.
- 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.
- 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.
- Have I now become your enemy by telling you
the truth ?
- 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.
- It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose
is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.
- My dear children, for whom I am again in
the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
- how I wish I could be with you now and change
my tone, because I am perplexed about you !
- Tell me, you who want to be under the law,
are you not aware of what the law says ?
- For it is written that Abraham had two sons,
one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.
- 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.
- 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.
- Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia
and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery
with her children.
- But the Jerusalem that is above is free,
and she is our mother.
- 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."
- Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children
of promise.
- 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.
- 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."
- Therefore, brothers, we are not children
of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
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