Chapter 4
1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child , he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all ,
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father .
3 So we also , when we were children , were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world .
4 But when the fullness of the time came , God sent out his Son , born to a woman , born under the law ,
5 that he might redeem those who were under the law , that we might receive the adoption as children .
6 And because you are children , God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts , crying , "Abba, Father !"
7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son ; and if a son , then an heir of God through Christ.
8 However at that time , not knowing God , you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods .
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 ?
10 You observe days , months , seasons , and years .
11 I am afraid for you , that I might have wasted my labour for you .
12 I beg you , brothers, become as I am , for I also have become as you are . You did me no wrong,
13 but you know that because of weakness in the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time .
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 .
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 .
16 So then , have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They zealously seek you in no good way. No , they desire to alienate you , that you may seek them .
18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause , and not only when I am present with you .
19 My little children , of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you —
20 but I could wish to be present with you now , and to change my tone , for I am perplexed about you .
21 Tell me , you that desire to be under the law , don’ t you listen to the law ?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons , one by the servant , and one by the free woman .
23 However , the son by the servant was born according to the flesh , but the son by the free woman was born through promise .
24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants . One is from Mount Sinai , bearing children to bondage , which is Hagar.
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 .
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free , which is the mother of us all .
27 For it is written , " Rejoice , you barren who don’ t bear . Break out and shout, you who don’ t travail. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband."
28 Now we , brothers, as Isaac was , are children of promise .
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 .
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 ."
31 So then , brothers, we are not children of a servant , but of the free woman .