Galatians 4 - J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

4 1-7 But you must realise that so long as an heir is a child, though he is destined to be master of everything, he is, in practice, no different from a servant. He has to obey a guardian or trustee until the time which his father has chosen for him to receive his inheritance. So is it with us: while we were “children” we lived under the authority of basic moral principles. But when the proper time came God sent his son, born of a human mother and born under the jurisdiction of the Law, that he might redeem those who were under the authority of the Law and lead us into becoming, by adoption, true sons of God. It is because you really are his sons that God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts to cry “Father, dear Father”. You, my brother, are not a servant any longer; you are a son. And, if you are a son, then you are certainly an heir of God through Christ.

Consider your own progress: do you want to go backwards

8-11 At one time when you had no knowledge of God, you were under the authority of gods who had no real existence. But now that you have come to know God, or rather are known by him, how can you revert to dead and sterile principles and consent to be under their power all over again? Your religion is beginning to be a matter of observing certain days or months or seasons or years. Frankly, you stagger me, you make me wonder if all my efforts over you have been wasted!

I appeal to you by our past friendship, don’t be misled

12-16 I do beg you to follow me here, my brothers. I am a man like yourselves, and I have nothing against you personally. You know how handicapped I was by illness when I first preached the Gospel to you. You didn’t shrink from me or let yourselves be revolted at the disease which was such a trial to me. No, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, or even as though I were Jesus Christ himself! What has happened to that fine spirit of yours? I guarantee that in those days you would, if you could, have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy because I continue to tell you the same truth?

17-20 Oh, I know how keen these men are to win you over, but can’t you see that it is for their own ends? They would like to see you and me separated altogether, and have you all to themselves. Don’t think I’m jealous—it is a grand thing that men should be keen to win you, whether I’m there or not, provided it is for the truth. Oh, my dear children, I feel the pangs of childbirth all over again till Christ be formed within you, and how I long to be with you now! Perhaps I could then alter my tone to suit your mood. As it is, I honestly don’t know how to deal with you.

Let us see what the Law itself has to say

21 Now tell me, you who want to be under the Law, have you heard what the Law says?

22-27 It is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave and the other by the free woman. The child of the slave was born in the ordinary course of nature, but the child of the free woman was born in accordance with God’s promise. This can be regarded as an allegory. Here are the two agreements represented by the two women: the one from Mount Sinai bearing children into slavery, typified by Hagar (Mount Sinai being in Arabia, the land of the descendants of Ishmael, Hagar’s son), and corresponding to present-day Jerusalem—for the Jews are still, spiritually speaking, “slaves”. But the free woman typifies the heavenly Jerusalem, which is the mother of us all, and is spiritually “free”. It is written: ‘Rejoice, O barren, you who do not bear! Break forth and shout, you who do not travail! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.’

28-30 Now we, my brothers, are like Isaac, for we are children born “by promise”. But just as in those far-off days the natural son persecuted the “spiritual” son, so it is today. Yet what is the scriptural instruction? ‘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, my brothers, we are not to look upon ourselves as the sons of the slave woman but of the free, not sons of slavery under the Law but sons of freedom under grace.

You Might Also Like:

Galatians 4 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

4 And I say, so long time as the heir is a babe, he differeth nothing from a servant -- being lord of all, 2 but is under tutors and stewards till the time appointed of the father, 3 so also we, when we were babes, under the elements of the world were in servitude, 4 and when the fulness of time did...
Read More

Galatians 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 But I say, as long time as the heir is a little child, he diverseth nothing from a servant, when he is lord of all things [when he is lord of all]; 2 but he is under keepers and tutors, into the time determined of the father.[a] 3 So we, when we were little children, we served under the elements...
Read More

Galatians 4 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

4 Here is what I mean. When a man dies, his son is to receive his property. As long as the son is not grown up, he cannot have it. He has no more right than a servant, even though he really owns all the property. 2 He still has people who take care of him and he must obey them until the time set by ...
Read More

Galatians 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

4 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. 3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world. 4 B...
Read More

Galatians 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

4 Listen. I am going to explain how this all works: When a minor inherits an estate from his parents, although he is the owner of everything, he is the same as a slave. 2 Until the day set by his father, the minor is subject to the authorities or guardians whom his father put in charge. 3 It is li...
Read More

Galatians 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Living as Heirs4 Now I am saying, so long as the heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, even though he is the owner of everything. 2 Instead, he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were subservient to the basic principl...
Read More

Galatians 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

4 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 whe...
Read More

Galatians 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

4 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 whe...
Read More

Galatians 4 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

4 Then I say that the heir (as long as he is a child) differs nothing from a servant - though he be Lord of all - 2 but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the Father. 3 Even so, we (when we were children) were in bondage under the basic principles of the world. 4 But when the ...
Read More

Galatians 4 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

The Son and the Spirit4 Let me put it like this. As long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave – even if, in fact, he is master of everything! 2 He is kept under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. 3 Well, it’s like that with us. When we were children, we were...
Read More

Galatians 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

4 My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; 2 but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3 So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits[a] of the...
Read More

Galatians 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

4 My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than those who are enslaved, though they are the owners of all the property, 2 but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3 So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental pri...
Read More

Galatians 4 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Paul shows that through Christ we are delivered from the law, and he rebukes the unthankfulness of the Galatians. 4 And I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ from a servant, though he be lord of all, 2 but is under tutors and managers until the time appointed by the father....
Read More

Galatians 4 - New Living Translation (NLT)

4 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father ...
Read More

Galatians 4 - New Life Version (NLV)

Sons of God4 Let me say this another way. A young child who will get all the riches of his family is not different from a servant who is owned by the family. And yet the young child owns everything. 2 While he is young, he is cared for by men his father trusts. These men tell the child what he can ...
Read More

Galatians 4 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Sons and Heirs Through Christ4 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, (A)were in bondage under the element...
Read More