Epistle to the Galatians, Chapter 4
Galatians 4 ASV - American Standard VersionChapter 4 of Galatians—American Standard Version (ASV)
- ¶ But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;
- but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.
- So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the [a]1rudiments of the world:
- but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
- that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
- And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
- So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
- ¶ Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:
- but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly [b]2rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?
- Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.
- I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.
- ¶ I beseech you, brethren, become as I am, for I also am become as ye are. Ye did me no wrong:
- but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I [c]3preached the gospel unto you the [d]first time:
- and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor [e]rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
- Where then is that gratulation [f]of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
- So then am I become your enemy, [g]by telling you the truth?
- They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.
- But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you.
- My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you—
- but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you.
- ¶ Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
- For it is written, 4that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.
- 5Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise.
- Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.
- [h]Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.
- But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.
- For it is written,
¶ 6Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not;
¶ Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not:
¶ For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband. - ¶ Now [i]we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
- But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also it is now.
- Howbeit what saith the scripture? 7Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.
- Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.
FOOTNOTES
- ^ Or, elements. 2 Pet. 3:10, 12
- ^ Or, elements. See verse 3.
- ^ See marginal note on 1:8.
- ^ Greek former.
- ^ Greek spat out.
- ^ Or, of yours
- ^ Or, by dealing truly with you
- ^ Many ancient authorities read For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia.
- ^ Many ancient authorities read ye.
REFERENCES
- ^ 2Pe 3:10, 12
- ^ Ga 4:3
- ^ Ga 1:8
- ^ Ge 16:15
- ^ Ge 21:2
- ^ Is 54:1
- ^ Ge 21:10, 12
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