1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate;2 but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father.3 So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe.4 But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"7 So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were in bondage to beings that by nature are no gods;9 but now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits, whose slaves you want to be once more?10 You observe days, and months, and seasons, and years!11 I am afraid I have labored over you in vain.12 Brethren, I beseech you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong;13 you know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first;14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.15 What has become of the satisfaction you felt? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.18 For a good purpose it is always good to be made much of, and not only when I am present with you.19 My little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you!20 I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.21 Tell me, you who desire to be under law, do you not hear the law?22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman.23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise.24 Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.27 For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in travail; for the children of the desolate one are many more than the children of her that is married."28 Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now.30 But what does the scripture say? "Cast out the slave and her son; for the son of the slave shall not inherit with the son of the free woman."31 So, brethren, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

1 λεγω δε εφ οσον χρονον ο κληρονομος νηπιος εστιν ουδεν διαφερει δουλου κυριος παντων ων2 αλλα υπο επιτροπους εστιν και οικονομους αχρι της προθεσμιας του πατρος3 ουτως και ημεις οτε ημεν νηπιοι υπο τα στοιχεια του κοσμου ημεν δεδουλωμενοι4 οτε δε ηλθεν το πληρωμα του χρονου εξαπεστειλεν ο θεος τον υιον αυτου γενομενον εκ γυναικος γενομενον υπο νομον5 ινα τους υπο νομον εξαγοραση ινα την υιοθεσιαν απολαβωμεν6 οτι δε εστε υιοι εξαπεστειλεν ο θεος το πνευμα του υιου αυτου εις τας καρδιας υμων κραζον αββα ο πατηρ7 ωστε ουκετι ει δουλος αλλ υιος ει δε υιος και κληρονομος θεου δια χριστου8 αλλα τοτε μεν ουκ ειδοτες θεον εδουλευσατε τοις μη φυσει ουσιν θεοις9 νυν δε γνοντες θεον μαλλον δε γνωσθεντες υπο θεου πως επιστρεφετε παλιν επι τα ασθενη και πτωχα στοιχεια οις παλιν ανωθεν δουλευειν θελετε10 ημερας παρατηρεισθε και μηνας και καιρους και ενιαυτους11 φοβουμαι υμας μηπως εικη κεκοπιακα εις υμας12 γινεσθε ως εγω οτι καγω ως υμεις αδελφοι δεομαι υμων ουδεν με ηδικησατε13 οιδατε δε οτι δι ασθενειαν της σαρκος ευηγγελισαμην υμιν το προτερον14 και τον πειρασμον μου τον εν τη σαρκι μου ουκ εξουθενησατε ουδε εξεπτυσατε αλλ ως αγγελον θεου εδεξασθε με ως χριστον ιησουν15 τις ουν ην ο μακαρισμος υμων μαρτυρω γαρ υμιν οτι ει δυνατον τους οφθαλμους υμων εξορυξαντες αν εδωκατε μοι16 ωστε εχθρος υμων γεγονα αληθευων υμιν17 ζηλουσιν υμας ου καλως αλλα εκκλεισαι υμας θελουσιν ινα αυτους ζηλουτε18 καλον δε το ζηλουσθαι εν καλω παντοτε και μη μονον εν τω παρειναι με προς υμας19 τεκνια μου ους παλιν ωδινω αχρις ου μορφωθη χριστος εν υμιν20 ηθελον δε παρειναι προς υμας αρτι και αλλαξαι την φωνην μου οτι απορουμαι εν υμιν21 λεγετε μοι οι υπο νομον θελοντες ειναι τον νομον ουκ ακουετε22 γεγραπται γαρ οτι αβρααμ δυο υιους εσχεν ενα εκ της παιδισκης και ενα εκ της ελευθερας23 αλλ ο μεν εκ της παιδισκης κατα σαρκα γεγεννηται ο δε εκ της ελευθερας δια της επαγγελιας24 ατινα εστιν αλληγορουμενα αυται γαρ εισιν αι δυο διαθηκαι μια μεν απο ορους σινα εις δουλειαν γεννωσα ητις εστιν αγαρ25 το γαρ αγαρ σινα ορος εστιν εν τη αραβια συστοιχει δε τη νυν ιερουσαλημ δουλευει δε μετα των τεκνων αυτης26 η δε ανω ιερουσαλημ ελευθερα εστιν ητις εστιν μητηρ παντων ημων27 γεγραπται γαρ ευφρανθητι στειρα η ου τικτουσα ρηξον και βοησον η ουκ ωδινουσα οτι πολλα τα τεκνα της ερημου μαλλον η της εχουσης τον ανδρα28 ημεις δε αδελφοι κατα ισαακ επαγγελιας τεκνα εσμεν29 αλλ ωσπερ τοτε ο κατα σαρκα γεννηθεις εδιωκεν τον κατα πνευμα ουτως και νυν30 αλλα τι λεγει η γραφη εκβαλε την παιδισκην και τον υιον αυτης ου γαρ μη κληρονομηση ο υιος της παιδισκης μετα του υιου της ελευθερας31 αρα αδελφοι ουκ εσμεν παιδισκης τεκνα αλλα της ελευθερας