Heirs of God
NOW I say, as long as he is a child; the heir differs nothing from a bond-servant, though he be lord of all;
2 Rather he is under schoolmasters and stewards until the appointed time of the father.
3 ¶ Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elementary principles of this world:
4 But when the fulness of time had come; God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 To redeem those under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba! Father!
7 Therefore you are no longer a bond-servant, but a son; and if a son: then an heir of God through Christ.
Fears for the Galatians
8 ¶ Howbeit then, when you knew not God: you did serve those, which by nature are not gods;
9 But now, after you have known God (or rather are known of God), how do you again turn to the weak and worthless elementary principles? Do you desire again to be in bondage?
10 ¶ You observe days, and months, and times, and years:
11 I am afraid for you, lest I have bestowed upon you my labour in vain.
12 ¶ Brothers, I plead with you: become as I am; for I also, are like you. You have not wronged me:
13 But you know how through infirmity of the flesh I proclaimed the gospel to you at the first.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh you despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an Angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I bear you witness, that, if possible you would have plucked out your own eyes, and given them to me.
16 Have I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 ¶ They zealously seek you, but not for good; rather, they wish to remove you, that you might seek after them.
18 Now it is always good to be zealous in good; and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you;
20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed by you.
Two Covenants
21 ¶ Tell me you that desire to be under the law, have you not heard the law?
22 For it is written that: Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was from the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh; but he from the freewoman, was through the promise.
24 Which is an analogy, for these are the two covenants: The one from mount Sinai, which gave birth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the Jerusalem which now is; and is in bondage with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of all of us.
27 For it is written: Rejoice, you barren that did not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you that did not travail: for the desolate has many more children than she which has a husband.
28 ¶ Now we brothers, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But just as at that time: he that was born according to the flesh, persecuted him that was born according to the Spirit; also, so it is now!
30 Nevertheless what does the scripture say? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
31 So then brothers: we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.