| New American Standard Bible | ►► |
Sonship in Christ
1Now I say, as long as the heir is a [a]child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is [b]owner of everything,
2but he is under guardians and [c]managers until the [d]date set by the father.
3So we too, when we were children, were held in bondage under the [e]elementary principles of the world.
4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under [f]the Law,
5so that He might redeem those who were under [g]the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters.
6Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! [h]Father!”
7Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir [i]through God.
8However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are not gods.
9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless [j]elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again?
10You meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years.
11I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored [k]over you in vain.
12I beg of you, brothers and sisters, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong;
13but you know that it was because of a [l]bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the [m]first time;
14and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my [n]bodily condition, nor express contempt, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
15Where then is [o]that sense of blessing you had? For I testify about you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
16So have I become your enemy by [p]telling you the truth?
17They eagerly seek you, not [q]in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them.
18But it is good always to be eagerly sought [r]in a commendable way, and not only when I am present with you.
19My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—
20but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for I am at a loss about you!
Slave and Free
21Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the Law?
22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.
23But the son by the slave woman [s]was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.
24[t]This is speaking allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one coming from Mount Sinai giving birth to children [u]who are to be slaves;