1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,*4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 7 though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, *See ch. 2:4were enslaved to the elementary principles*4:3 Or elemental spirits; also verse 9 of the world. 4 But *[1 Tim. 2:6]; See Mark 1:15when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, *Phil. 2:7;See John 1:14born *[1 Tim. 2:15]; See Gen. 3:15of woman, born *[Luke 2:21,22,27]under the law, 5 *See ch. 3:13to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive *ch. 3:26;See Rom. 8:15adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent *[Rom. 5:5;2 Cor. 3:17]; See Acts 16:7the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then *See ch. 3:29an heir through God.

8 Formerly, when you *1 Cor. 1:21;1 Thess. 4:5;2 Thess. 1:8;1 John 4:8did not know God, you *[Eph. 2:11,12;1 Thess. 1:9] were enslaved to those that by nature *2 Chr. 13:9;Isa. 37:19;Jer. 2:11;5:7;16:20;[1 Cor. 8:4]are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather *See 1 Cor. 8:3to be known by God, *[ch. 3:3] how can you turn back again to *Rom. 8:3;Heb. 7:18the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 *Rom. 14:5;Col. 2:16You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid *ch. 2:2;5:2,4;1 Thess. 3:5I may have labored over you in vain.

12 Brothers,*4:12 Or Brothers and sisters; also verses 28, 31*[2 Cor. 6:13] I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. *[2 Cor. 2:5]You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was *See 1 Cor. 2:3because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you *[ch. 1:6]at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me *1 Sam. 29:9;[Mal. 2:7(Gk.);2 Cor. 5:20] as an angel of God, *See Matt. 10:40as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by *See ch. 2:5telling you the truth?*4:16 Or by dealing truthfully with you17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and *[ver. 13]not only when I am present with you, 19 *[1 Cor. 4:15;Philem. 10] my little children, *[James 1:18] for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ *Rom. 8:10is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, *Gen. 16:5one by a slave woman and *Gen. 21:2one by a free woman. 23 But *ver. 29;[Rom. 9:7] the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while *ver. 28;Gen. 17:16-19;18:10,14;21:1,2;Heb. 11:11the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two *See Rom. 9:4covenants. *Deut. 33:2One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;*4:25 Some manuscripts For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But *[Heb. 12:22;Rev. 3:12;21:2,10]the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,

*Cited from Isa. 54:1"Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;

break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!

For the children of the desolate one will be more

than those of the one who has a husband."

28 Now you,*4:28 Some manuscripts we brothers, *See ver. 23like Isaac, *Rom. 9:8;See ch. 3:29are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh *Gen. 21:9persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, *See ch. 5:11so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? *Cited from Gen. 21:10;[John 8:35]"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 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but *[1 Pet. 3:6]of the free woman.