Galatians

Urges believers to stand firm in the freedom Christ has given and not return to the law for salvation.

Chapter 4

1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

*Now I tell you, the person who will inherit everything is no different from a servant while they are still young. Even though they own everything, they are treated the same.

2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

*But is under teachers and leaders until the scheduled time set by the parent.

3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

*Just like children, we too were once controlled by the world's physical forces.

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

*But when the right time arrived, God sent his Son, born from a woman, subject to the law.

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

*To save those under the rules, so we can become children of God.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

*Because you are like his children, God has given you a feeling inside that says "Abba, Father."

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

*Because you are not just a servant anymore, but now a son; and if a son, then you inherit God's kingdom through Jesus Christ.

8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

*But at that time, when you didn't know God, you served things that were not actually gods by their nature.

9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

*But now, after knowing God, or being truly known by God, why do you go back to the weak and simple ideas, wanting to be under their control again?

10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

*You keep track of days, months, moments, and years.

11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

*I'm worried about you, so I don't want to waste your effort.

12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

*Dear friends, I kindly ask you, be like me because I am just like you; you haven't hurt me in any way.

13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

*You know that when I was weak, I shared the good news with you for the first time.

14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

*And you didn't dislike or turn away from the temptation I had in my body. Instead, you welcomed me like a messenger from God, just like Christ Jesus.

15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

*Where did you get the happiness you talked about? Because I can prove that if it were possible, you would have removed your own eyes and given them to me.

16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

*Am I then considered your enemy for telling you the truth?

17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

*They strongly care about you, but not in a good way; yes, they want to keep you away so you can influence them.

18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

*It's good to always care strongly about good things, not just when we're together.

19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

*My dear kids, I keep working hard until Jesus is fully developed in you.

20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

*I want to be with you right now and change how I speak, because I'm not sure about you.

21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

*"Inform me, those who wish to be under the law, don't you listen to the law?"

22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

*It says that Abraham had two children, one born from a slave girl and the other from a free woman.

23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

*But the one from the slave woman was born physically; but the one from the free woman came through a promise.

24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

*This verse says that there are two agreements: one from Mount Sinai that leads to slavery, and it calls this "Agar."

25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

*Agar, or Mount Sinai in Arabia, corresponds to present-day Jerusalem, which currently exists and has children living under its control.

26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

*But the heavenly Jerusalem is free; she's our shared mother.

27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

*It's written to be happy, childless woman! Celebrate and shout, the one who doesn't give birth! Many more kids belong to the abandoned lady than the married one.

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

*Now, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, we are the children of the promise.

29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

*But just like before, those born physically opposed those born spiritually, and this still happens today.

30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

*So, the question is: What does the Bible say? It tells us to remove the slave woman and her child because the child of the slave cannot share the inheritance with the child of the free person.

31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

*So, friends, we are not slaves' descendants, but of the free people.

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