From Slavery to Sonship
Study note
Paul uses the analogy of a child heir who, though legally owning everything, lives under guardians until the time appointed by the father. In the same way, humanity was held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world until God sent his Son, born under the law, to redeem those under the law. The proof of adoption is the Spirit of the Son crying 'Abba, Father' in believers' hearts, transforming their status from slaves to heirs.
1 A child will one day own everything. But while he is still young, he is treated no differently from a servant. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 He is under the care of guardians and managers until the date his father chose ahead of time. But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 That is how it was with us. Before we grew up spiritually, we were like slaves to the basic rules of the world. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But at exactly the right moment, God sent his Son. He was born to a woman and born under the law's authority. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 God sent him to buy freedom for all of us who were under the law, so we could be adopted as God's own children. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because you truly are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son right into your hearts. The Spirit calls out, "Abba, Father!" -- which means "Daddy, Father!" And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 So you are no longer a slave. You are God's child! And since you are his child, God has made you an heir who will receive everything he has promised. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Paul's Personal Appeal
Study note
Paul expresses alarm that the Galatians, having known the true God, are turning back to the weak and worthless elemental principles by observing special religious days and seasons. He appeals to their past relationship, reminding them of the warmth with which they first received him despite his physical weakness. His tone shifts to that of a mother in labor, agonizing until Christ is fully formed in them. He contrasts the self-serving motives of the false teachers with his own sacrificial love.
8 In the past, when you did not know God, you served things that are not truly gods at all. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9 But now you know God -- or more accurately, God knows you. So why would you go back to those weak and useless rules? Do you want to become their slaves all over again? But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10 You are going back to observing special days, months, seasons, and years. Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid that all the hard work I did for you might have been wasted. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12 Brothers and sisters, I am begging you: become like me, because I became like you. You have not done anything wrong to me. Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first came and preached the good news to you. Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14 Even though my physical condition must have been hard on you, you did not look down on me or push me away. Instead, you treated me like an angel of God -- like Jesus Christ himself. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 What happened to all that happiness you felt? I can honestly say you would have ripped out your own eyes and given them to me if you could have. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16 Have I become your enemy because I told you the truth? Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 Those other people are trying hard to win you over, but they do not have your best interests at heart. They want to cut you off from us so that you will become devoted to them instead. They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
18 Being excited about something is great, as long as it is for a good reason. And not just when I am there with you. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My dear children, I feel like I am going through childbirth pain all over again. I am waiting for Christ to be fully formed inside of you. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20 I wish I could be there with you right now and talk to you in a different tone. I am truly worried about you. I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah
Study note
Paul presents an allegory drawn from the story of Abraham's two sons. Hagar the slave woman represents the Sinai covenant and the present Jerusalem, which is in bondage. Sarah the free woman represents the covenant of promise and the heavenly Jerusalem, which is free. Believers, like Isaac, are children of the promise, born according to the Spirit. Just as Ishmael persecuted Isaac, those who rely on the law now persecute those who live by the Spirit. Paul concludes that believers are children of the free woman, not the slave.
21 Tell me something, you who want to live under the law: have you listened to what the law says? Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22 The Scripture tells us that Abraham had two sons. One was born to a slave woman, and the other was born to a free woman. For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 The slave woman's son was born through normal human means. But the free woman's son was born because of God's promise. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 This story has a deeper meaning. The two women stand for two agreements with God. One agreement came from Mount Sinai, and it produces slaves. That one is represented by Hagar. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia. She also lines up with the present-day Jerusalem, which is still living in slavery along with her children. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But the heavenly Jerusalem is free, and she is our mother. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 The Scripture says, "Be happy, woman who has no children! Shout with joy, you who have never gone through labor pains! Because the lonely woman will end up with more children than the woman who has a husband." For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28 Now, brothers and sisters, you are children born because of God's promise, just like Isaac was. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 Back then, the son born by human effort picked on the son born by the Spirit's power. The same thing is happening now. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 But what does the Scripture say? "Send the slave woman and her son away, because the slave woman's son will not share the inheritance with the free woman's son." Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast 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, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman. We are children of the free woman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.