Galatians 4

King James Version

Full text for Galatians Chapter 4

1¶ Now I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8¶ Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

9But 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?

10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

12¶ Brethren, I beseech you, be as I [am]; for I [am] as ye [are]: ye have not injured me at all.

13Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

14And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus.

15Where 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.

16Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

17¶ They zealously affect you, [but] not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

18But [it is] good to be zealously affected always in [a] good [thing], and not only when I am present with you.

19¶ My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

20I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

21¶ Tell 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 bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

23But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman [was] by promise.

24Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

25For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

27For 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.

28Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

29But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it is] now.

30Nevertheless 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.

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

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Paul explains that believers, once under the Law like children under tutors, are now adopted as sons through Christ, receiving the Spirit of sonship. He expresses concern that the Galatians are returning to legalistic observances, which he likens to a return to bondage. Through the allegory of Hagar and Sarah, he contrasts the covenant of law (bondage) with the covenant of promise (freedom), asserting that believers are children of the free.

Medium Summary

The apostle Paul begins by illustrating that an heir, while a child, is no different from a servant, being under guardians until a set time. He applies this to believers, stating that before Christ, they were in bondage under the "elements of the world," referring to the Mosaic Law. However, in the "fulness of the time," God sent His Son, born under the Law, to redeem those under it, granting them the adoption of sons and sending the Spirit into their hearts to cry "Abba, Father." Paul then questions why the Galatians, having known God, are turning back to "weak and beggarly elements" like observing specific days and months, fearing his labor among them has been in vain. He appeals to their past affection for him, contrasting it with their current susceptibility to false teachers who seek to bring them into bondage. Finally, Paul employs the allegory of Abraham's two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, representing the two covenants: one leading to bondage (Hagar/Sinai/Law) and the other to freedom (Sarah/Promise/Grace), concluding that believers are children of the free.

Long Summary

Paul opens Galatians chapter four by drawing an analogy between an heir who, while a child, is under the authority of tutors and governors, differing little from a servant despite owning everything. He applies this principle spiritually, explaining that humanity, prior to Christ, was in a state of childhood, held in bondage under the "elements of the world," which refers to the Mosaic Law and its ceremonial observances. However, at the divinely appointed "fulness of the time," God sent His Son, born of a woman and subject to the Law, with the express purpose of redeeming those who were under the Law. This redemption was designed to enable believers to receive the adoption of sons, a status confirmed by God sending the Spirit of His Son into their hearts, prompting them to cry out "Abba, Father." Consequently, Paul declares that believers are no longer servants but sons, and if sons, then heirs of God through Christ. He then expresses profound concern that the Galatians, having come to know God, or rather, being known by Him, are reverting to "weak and beggarly elements," specifically observing days, months, times, and years, which he perceives as a desire to return to bondage. Paul fears that his evangelistic efforts among them may have been in vain. He makes a personal appeal, reminding them of their initial warm reception of him despite his physical infirmity, even receiving him as an angel of God or Christ Jesus Himself. He questions their current disposition, asking if he has become their enemy by speaking the truth. Paul warns against false teachers who zealously pursue the Galatians with ill intent, aiming to alienate them from Paul and secure their allegiance for themselves. He passionately states that he is "travailing in birth again" for them until Christ is fully formed within them. To further illustrate his point, Paul introduces an allegory from the life of Abraham, who had two sons: Ishmael, born of the bondwoman Hagar according to the flesh, and Isaac, born of the freewoman Sarah by promise. He explains that these two women represent two covenants: Hagar symbolizes the covenant from Mount Sinai, which brings forth children into bondage, akin to the present Jerusalem and its adherence to the Law. In contrast, Sarah represents the "Jerusalem which is above," which is free and the spiritual mother of all true believers. Paul asserts that believers are children of promise, like Isaac. He notes that just as Ishmael persecuted Isaac, so too do those born after the flesh persecute those born after the Spirit. Concluding with a scriptural injunction to "Cast out the bondwoman and her son," Paul emphasizes that the children of the bondwoman will not inherit with the children of the freewoman, thus affirming that believers are children of the free, not of bondage.

Core Concepts

  • Sonship and AdoptionBelievers, once under the Law like children under a guardian, are now adopted as sons through Christ's redemption, receiving the Spirit of God's Son, which enables them to cry "Abba, Father" and become heirs.
  • Bondage to the LawPaul describes the state of being under the Mosaic Law or "elements of the world" as a form of spiritual childhood and bondage, from which Christ came to redeem humanity.
  • Return to "Weak and Beggarly Elements"The Galatians are admonished for reverting to observances like specific days and months, which Paul views as a regression to a state of spiritual immaturity and bondage, akin to their former pagan practices.
  • Paul's Pastoral ConcernThe apostle expresses deep personal anguish and fear that his labor among the Galatians has been in vain, likening his concern to a mother in childbirth until Christ is fully formed in them.
  • Allegory of Hagar and SarahThis Old Testament narrative is used allegorically to contrast two covenants: Hagar represents the covenant of the Law from Mount Sinai, leading to bondage, while Sarah represents the covenant of promise, leading to spiritual freedom.
  • Children of Promise vs. Children of the FleshBelievers are identified as "children of promise" like Isaac, born by divine intervention, in contrast to those born "after the flesh" like Ishmael, who represent adherence to human effort and legalistic principles.
  • Freedom in ChristThe chapter culminates in the declaration that true believers are children of the "free woman," emphasizing liberation from the bondage of the Law and the inheritance of God's promises through Christ.