Sonship in Christ
Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and stewards until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were aenslaved under the belemental things of the world. 4 But when athe fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, bborn of a woman, born cunder the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as asons. 6 And because you are sons, aGod sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “bAbba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and aif a son, then an heir through God.
8 However at that time, awhen you did not know God, you were bslaves to cthose which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, having known God, or rather having been aknown by God, bhow is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless celemental things, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You aobserve days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you for nothing.
12 I beg of you, abrothers, bbecome as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. 13 But you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I proclaimed the gospel to you the first time; 14 and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but ayou received me as an angel of God, as bChrist Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy aby telling you the truth? 17 They zealously seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will zealously seek them. 18 But it is good always to be zealously sought in a commendable manner, and anot only when I am present with you. 19 aMy children, with whom bI am again in labor until cChrist is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, because aI am perplexed about you.
An Allegory of Two Covenants
21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not alisten to the Law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, aone by the servant-woman and bone by the free woman. 23 But athe son by the servant-woman had been born according to the flesh, while bthe son by the free woman through the promise. 24 aThis is spoken with allegory, for these women are two covenants: one from bMount Sinai bearing children into cslavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But athe Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
“aRejoice, barren woman who does not give birth;
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;
For more numerous are the children of the desolate one
Than of the one who has a husband.”
28 And you brothers, ain accordance with Isaac, are bchildren of promise. 29 But as at that time ahe who was born according to the flesh bwas persecuting him who was born according to the Spirit, cso it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say?
“aCast out the servant‑woman and her son,
For bthe son of the servant‑woman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”
31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant-woman, but of the free woman.