THE EPISTLE
OF
PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO THE
GALATIANS

Galatians 4 ©

1 The apostle further explains what he had said before about the position of the schoolmaster of the law, by a similitude taken from a child under age, which is yet under tutors. 4 And testifies that now, by the coming of the Son of God in the flesh, we are freed from the tutorship and bondage of the law. 6 So that now we are children of God, who being become of age may possess our inheritance ourselves. 8 Reproves the Galatians that they, being converted from the pagan idolatry, betook themselves to the bondage of outward ceremonies. 12 Exhorts them to persevere in the zeal and good inclination unto him, with which they had first received the Gospel. 17 Warning them of the perverse zeal of false teachers. 19 Afterwards sweetens this reproof with a loving speech, wishing that he might be with them. 21 Proves further out of the law itself, that we are no longer subject to the bondage of the same, nor can be justified by the law, by applying of the types of the two sons of Abraham, namely, Isaac and Ishmael, and of their mother, Sarah and Hagar. 24 As also of mount Sinai and the city of Jerusalem; whereby the two Covenants are signified. 28 Teaches that the inheritance with Isaac is to be obtained by the promise of the Gospel, although with persecution. 30 And that they who seek to be saved by the law with Ishmael, shall be disowned from the inheritance.

1

NOW 1I say, That the heir, as long as he is 2a child, differeth 3nothing from a servant, though he be 4lord of all;

2

But is 5under tutorsa and governors 6until the time appointed of the father.

3

Even so 7we, 8when we were children, were 9in bondage 10under the elements of the world:

4

Butb when 11the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth 12his Son, 13made 14of a woman, madec15under the law,

5

16To redeem 17them that were under the law, thatd we might receive 18the adoption of sons.

6

Ande because 19ye are 20sons, God hath sent forth 21the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, 22crying, 23Abba, Father.

7

Wherefore 24thou art 25no more 26a servant, but a son; and if 27a son, then 28an heir of God 29through Christ.

8

Howbeit then, 30when ye knew not God, ye did 31service unto 32them 33whichf by nature are no gods.

9

But now, after that ye have known 34God, or 35rather are 36known of God, 37howg turn ye 38again 39to the weak and beggarlyh elements, whereunto ye 40desire 41again 42to be in bondage?

10

43Yei44observe 45days, and 46months, and 47times, and 48years.

11

I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour 49in vain.

12

Brethren, 50I beseech you, be 51as I am; for 52I am as ye are: ye have not injured 53me at all.

13

54Ye know how 55through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you 56at the first.

14

And 57my temptation 58which was in my flesh ye 59despised not, 60nor rejected; but received me as 61an angelj of God, 62even ask Christ Jesus.

15

63Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been 64possible, ye would have plucked out your 65own eyes, and have given them to me.

16

Am I therefore become 66your enemy, because I tell 67you the truth?

17

68Theyl zealously affectm you, but 69not well; yea, they would 70exclude 71you, that ye might affect 72them.

18

But it is good to be zealously affected 73always 74in a good thing, and not only 75when I am present with you.

19

76Myn little children, 77of whom I travail in birth again until 78Christ 79be formed in you,

20

I desire to be 80present with you now, and to change 81my voice; for I stand 82in doubt of you.

21

83Tell me, ye 84that desire to be under the law, do ye not 85hear the law?

22

86For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, 87the oneo by 88a bondmaid, 89the otherp by 90a freewoman.

23

Butq he who was of the bondwoman was born 91after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was 92by promise.

24

Which things are 93an allegory: for 94these 95are 96the two covenants; 97the one 98from the mount Sinai, which genderethr99to bondage, 100which is Agar.

25

For 101this Agar is mount 102Sinai 103in Arabia, and 104answereth to 105Jerusalem 106which now is, and is 107in bondage 108with her children.

26

Buts109Jerusalem which is above 110is free, which is 111the mother of 112us all.

27

113For it is written, Rejoice,t thou 114barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath 115many more 116children than she 117which hath an husband.

28

Nowu118we, brethren, 119as Isaac was, are the 120children of promise.

29

But as 121then he that was born 122after the flesh 123persecutedv him that was born 124after the Spirit, 125even so it is now.

30

Nevertheless 126what saith the scripture? 127Castw 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, brethren, 128we are not children 129of the bondwoman, but 130of the free.