Galatians 4
Hagar and Sarah, and Two Covenants
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Heirs and Sons
4:1Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is master of everything.
4:2Rather, he is under guardians and stewards until the date appointed by his father.
4:3So also we, when we were children, were enslaved under the elements of the world.
4:4But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under law,
4:5to buy free those under law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
4:6And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
4:7So you are no longer a slave but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through God.
Turning Back to Weak Elements
4:8But at that time, not knowing God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.
4:9Now, however, having come to know God—or rather, having been known by God—how do you turn back again to the weak and impoverished elements, to which you want to be enslaved all over again?
4:10You carefully observe days and months and seasons and years.
4:11I fear for you, lest somehow I have labored over you in vain.
Paul’s Appeal
4:12Become as I am, because I too became as you are, brothers; I beg you. You did me no wrong.
4:13And you know that it was because of a weakness of the flesh that I first proclaimed the gospel to you.
4:14And your trial in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
4:15Where, then, is your sense of blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have dug out your eyes and given them to me.
4:16So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
4:17They are zealous for you, but not for good; they want to shut you out, so that you may be zealous for them.
4:18But it is good to be sought zealously for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you,
4:19my children, for whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you.
4:20I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
Hagar and Sarah
4:21Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?
4:22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.
4:23But the one by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, and the one by the free woman through promise.
4:24These things are being interpreted allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one from Mount Sinai, bearing children into slavery, which is Hagar.
4:25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is enslaved with her children.
4:26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.
4:27For it is written, “Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; break out and cry aloud, you who are not in labor, because the children of the deserted woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband.”
4:28Now you, brothers, are children of promise, like Isaac.
4:29But just as then the one born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is also now.
4:30But what does Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall certainly not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
4:31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of a slave woman but of the free woman.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.