Galatians 4 HCSB NLT Parallel

◄ Galatians 4 ►

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Holman Christian Standard Bible

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1Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything.

1Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.

2Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father.

2They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.

3In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world.

3And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

4When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

4But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

5to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

5God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!"

6And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

7So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

7Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

8But in the past, when you didn't know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods.

8Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist.

9But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?

9So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?

10You observe special days, months, seasons, and years.

10You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years.

11I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.

11I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing.

12I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me;

12Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws. You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you.

13you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness.

13Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News.

14You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.

14But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself.

15What happened to this sense of being blessed you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

15Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible.

16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

16Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?

17They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them.

17Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them.

18Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good--and not just when I am with you.

18If someone is eager to do good things for you, that’s all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I’m with you.

19My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you.

19Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.

20I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don't know what to do about you.

20I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you. Abraham’s Two Children

21Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don't you hear the law?

21Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says?

22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman.

22The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife.

23But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

23The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.

24These things are illustrations, for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery--this is Hagar.

24These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them.

25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

25And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law.

26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

26But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother.

27For it is written: Rejoice, childless woman, who does not give birth. Burst into song and shout, you who are not in labor, for the children of the desolate are many, more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband.

27As Isaiah said, “Rejoice, O childless woman, you who have never given birth! Break into a joyful shout, you who have never been in labor! For the desolate woman now has more children than the woman who lives with her husband!”

28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

28And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac.

29But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now.

29But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit.

30But what does the Scripture say? Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.

30But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”

31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

31So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.

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