Galatians 4

From Bondage to Sonship Galatians 4:3–7

³Verse 3. So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world. ⁴Verse 4. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, ⁵Verse 5. that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children. ⁶Verse 6. And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” ⁷Verse 7. So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Concern for Return to Bondage Galatians 4:8–11

⁸Verse 8. However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods. ⁹Verse 9. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again? ¹⁰Verse 10. You observe days, months, seasons, and years. ¹¹Verse 11. I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.

Paul's Personal Appeal Galatians 4:12–20

¹²Verse 12. I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong, ¹³Verse 13. but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time. ¹⁴Verse 14. That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Verse 15. What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶Verse 16. So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

¹⁷Verse 17. They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them. ¹⁸Verse 18. But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you. ¹⁹Verse 19. My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you— ²⁰Verse 20. but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Allegory of Two Sons Galatians 4:21–31

²¹Verse 21. Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law? ²²Verse 22. For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman. ²³Verse 23. However, the son by the servant was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴Verse 24. These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. ²⁵Verse 25. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.

²⁶Verse 26. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. ²⁷Verse 27. For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you that don’t travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.” ²⁸Verse 28. Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. ²⁹Verse 29. But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. ³⁰Verse 30. However what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”

³¹Verse 31. So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman.