1  Now I say, As long as the heir is a child, he differs nothing from a bondman, though he be lord of all; 2  but he is under guardians and stewards until the period fixed by the father. 3  So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the principles of the world; 4  but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, come of woman, come under law, 5  that he might redeem those under law, that we might receive sonship. 6  But because ye are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7  So thou art no longer bondman, but son; but if son, heir also through God.

8  But then indeed, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods; 9  but now, knowing God, but rather being known by God, how do ye turn again to the weak and beggarly principles to which ye desire to be again anew in bondage? 10  Ye observe days and months and times and years. 11  I am afraid of you, lest indeed I have laboured in vain as to you.

12  Be as I am, for I also am as ye, brethren, I beseech you: ye have not at all wronged me. 13  But ye know that in weakness of the flesh I announced the glad tidings to you at the first; 14  and my temptation, which was in my flesh, ye did not slight nor reject with contempt; but ye received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15  What then was your blessedness? for I bear you witness that, if possible, plucking out your own eyes ye would have given them to me. 16  So I have become your enemy in speaking the truth to you?

17  They are not rightly zealous after you, but desire to shut you out from us, that ye may be zealous after them.