Sons and Heirs through Christ

1. Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a slave, though being lord of all,
2. but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
3. So also we, when we were children, were enslaved under the elements of the world.
4. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, having been born of a woman, born under the Law,
5. that He might redeem those under the Law, so that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6. And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
7. So then, you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, also an heir through God.

Turning Back to Slavery

8. But then indeed, not knowing God, you were enslaved to those who by nature are not gods.
9. But now, having known God, or rather having been known by God, how are you turning again to the weak and poor elements, to which you desire again to be enslaved?
10. You observe days and months and seasons and years.
11. I fear for you, lest perhaps I have labored among you in vain.

Paul’s Appeal from the Heart

12. I beg you, brethren, become as I am, because I also became as you are. You have wronged me in nothing.
13. And you know that through weakness of the flesh I preached the gospel to you formerly,
14. and the trial of me in my flesh you did not despise nor reject, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
15. Where then is your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
16. So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17. They are zealous for you, not well; rather they wish to shut you out, so that you may be zealous for them.
18. But it is good to be zealous always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19. My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
20. I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Hagar and Sarah: Bond and Free

21. Tell me, you who desire to be under the Law, do you not hear the Law?
22. For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.
23. But the one of the slave woman has been born according to flesh, and the one of the free woman through promise.
24. Which things are spoken allegorically, for these are two covenants: one indeed from Mount Sinai, bearing children into slavery, which is Hagar.
25. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
26. But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother.
27. For it is written:

“Rejoice, barren one who does not bear;
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;
For many are the children of the desolate,
more than of her who has a husband.”

28. But you, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.
29. But just as then, the one born according to flesh persecuted the one according to Spirit, so also now.
30. But what does the Scripture say?

“Cast out the slave woman and her son,
for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”

31. Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free.