1Here is my point: as long as the heir is a child, he is no different than a slave, although being the owner of everything. 2The heir is under tutors and trustees until the day appointed by the father. 3Likewise, when we too were children, we were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world. 4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5so that he might redeem those who were under the law and so that we might receive adoption as children. 6And because you are children, God has sent forth the Spirit1909 of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba,1910 Father!” 7Now you are no longer slaves, but children; and if [you are] children, then [you are] heirs of God through Christ.
Return to slavery
8In the past, as you did not know God, you were in bondage to those who by nature1911 are not gods. 9But now that you have come to know God, or rather come to be known by God, why do you return to the weak and miserable primordial forces1912 whose slaves you want to be all over again? 10You observe days, months, seasons, and years. 11I am afraid for you, that I may have wasted my labor for you. 12I beg you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have never treated me wrongly, 13but you know that it was an illness that first gave me an opportunity to preach the Good News to you. 14Even though my condition was a trial for you, you did not despise nor reject me; instead, you received me as an angel1913 of God, even as Christ Jesus!
15What has happened to the blessing you enjoyed? Indeed, I bear witness to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me! 16And now, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17Those people pursue you, but not for good. No, they desire to cut you off from us, so that you might eagerly seek after them. 18But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, not only when I am present with you!
19My little children, I am again in labor over you, until Christ is formed in you! 20I wish that I could be with you in person now, to change my tone, because I am confused about you. 21Tell me, since you desire to be under the law, {why} do you not listen to the law?
Two mountains
22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondmaid, and one by the free woman.1914 23However, the son by the bond-maid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through a promise. 24These things contain an allegory1915 which represents two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to slavery, and that is Hagar. 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and it corresponds to the Jerusalem that exists now, in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and the mother of us all. 27As it is written:
Rejoice, O barren [woman] who bears no child;1916
Break forth and shout, you that do not travail.
For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.1917
28Brethren, we are—just as Isaac—children of promise; 29and it is now as it was then: the one who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit.1918 So it is even now! 30However, what does the Scripture say?
Throw out the bond-maid and her son,
because the son of the bond-maid will not inherit
with the son of the free woman.1919
31And so, brethren, we are not children of a bond-maid, but children of the free woman!
Freedom in Christ or yoke of slavery
- Or “spirit”
- Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for “Father/Papa/Daddy” used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way.
- Greek fu,sei
- Or “elemental principles”
- Or “messenger”
- Ismael by Hagar and Isaac by Sarah
- Or indeed what we would call a typology
- NT agrees with LXX against MT.
- Isaias (Isaiah) 54:1
- Or “spirit”
- Genesis 21:10
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
