Sons and Heirs

1NOW I affirm, that as long as the heir is an infant, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be master of all; 2but is under tutors and trustees until the time fixed by his father. 3So we also, when we were infants, were in bondage under the first elementary principles of the world: 4but when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son born of a woman, born under the law, 5that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6But because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father! 7Therefore thou art no more a slave, but a son, and if a son, an heir also of God through Christ.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

8But at that time when ye knew not God, ye served those who by nature are not gods. 9But now after having known God, or rather being known of God, how turn ye back again to those weak and beggarly elements, to which again a second time ye desire to be in bondage? 10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11I am afraid for you, lest haply I have bestowed on you labour in vain.

12Be as I am, for I also am as ye are, brethren?this is my request to you: ye have not injured me in the least. 13Ye know that with infirmity of flesh I preached to you the gospel at the first. 14And my temptation, which was in my flesh, ye despised not, nor rejected with disgust; but as an angel of God ye received me, even as Christ Jesus himself. 15What then was your blessedness, for I bear witness to you that, if it were possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes, and given them to me. 16Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? 17They affect zeal for you, not honourably; but they wish to exclude us, that you may be zealously attached to them. 18It is good indeed to be zealously affected in a good cause always, and not only when I am present with you. 19My little children of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you, 20I wish I could be with you now, and change my address; for I am in doubt about you.

Hagar and Sarah

21Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondwoman, and the other by a free. 23Now the son of the bond-maid was born after the flesh, but that by the free woman was by promise. 24Which things are allegorical; for these are the two covenants, the one from mount Sinai, gendering unto bondage, which is represented by Agar. 25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds with Jerusalem that now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

27For it is written, ?Rejoice, thou barren who bearest not, cry out and shout for joy, thou that travailest not, for more are the children of her that was desolate, than of her which had an husband.?

28So we, brethren, as Isaac, are the children of the promise. 29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so is it now.

30But what saith the scripture? ?Cast out the bond-woman and her son for the son of the bond-maid shall in no wise inherit with the son of the free woman.?

31So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free.