4 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, awere in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But bwhen the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, cborn 1 dof a woman, eborn under the law, 5 fto redeem those who were under the law, gthat we might receive the adoption as sons.

6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth hthe Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 2“Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, iand if a son, then an heir 3of God 4through Christ.

Fears for the Church

8 But then, indeed, jwhen you did not know God, kyou served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now lafter you have known God, or rather are known by God, mhow is it that you turn again to nthe weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 oYou observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, plest I have labored for you in vain.

12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. qYou have not injured me at all. 13 You know that rbecause of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. 14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me sas an 5angel of God, teven as Christ Jesus. 15 6What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

17 They uzealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19 vMy little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

Two Covenants

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: wthe one by a bondwoman, xthe other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman ywas born according to the flesh, zand he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are 7the two covenants: the one from Mount aSinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—26 but the bJerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written:

c“Rejoice, O barren,

You who do not bear!

Break forth and shout,

You who are not in labor!

For the desolate has many more children

Than she who has a husband.”

28 Now dwe, brethren, as Isaac was, are echildren of promise. 29 But, as fhe who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, geven so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does hthe Scripture say? i“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for jthe son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Christian Liberty

5 Stand a 1fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a byoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that cif you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised dthat he is 2a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 eYou have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; fyou have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly gwait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For hin Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but ifaith working through love.