1 But listen, as long as the heir of the host is a child, he has no advantage over the slaves, although he is the master of them all.
2 He is subject to those who care for him and who are entrusted with his affairs until the time set by his father comes.
3 In the same way we as children were first subjected to the created forces that govern the world.
4 But when the fullness of time came, God sent his Son. He came born of woman and subject to the Law,
5 in order to redeem the subjects of the Law, that we may be given our full rights of sons and daughters of God.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent into your hearts the Spirit of his Son which cries out: Abba! that is, Father!
7 You yourself are no longer a slave but a son or daughter, and yours is the inheritance by God's grace.
8 When you did not know God, you served those who are not gods.
9 But now that you have known God - or rather he has known you - how can you turn back to weak and impoverished created things? Do you want to be enslaved again?
10 Will you again observe this and that day, and the new moon, and this period and that year...?
11 I fear I may have wasted my time with you.
12 I implore you, dearly beloved, do as I do, just as I became like you. You have not offended me in anything.
13 Remember that I was sick when I first announced the Gospel to you.
14 Although I was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
15 Where is this bliss? For I can testify that you would have even plucked out your eyes to give them to me.
16 But now, have I become your enemy for telling you the truth?
17 Those who show consideration to you are not sincere; they want to separate you from me, so that you may show interest in them.
18 Would that you were surrounded with sincere care at all times, and not only from me when I am with you!
19 My children! I still suffer the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.
20 How I would like to be with you now and speak to you personally, for I do not know what to say for the best.
21 Tell me, you who desire to submit yourselves to the Law, did you listen to it?
22 It says that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman, the other by the free woman, his wife.
23 The son of the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of God's promise.
24 Here we have an allegory and the figures of two covenants. The first is the one from Mount Sinai, represented through Hagar: her children have slavery for their lot.
25 We know that Hagar was from Mount Sinai in Arabia: she stands for the present city of Jerusalem which is in slavery with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem above, who is our mother, is free.
27 And Scripture says of her: Rejoice, barren woman without children, break forth in shouts of joy, you who do not know the pains of childbirth, for many shall be the children of the forsaken mother, more than of the married woman.
28 You, dearly beloved, are children of the promise, like Isaac.
29 But as at that time the child born according to the flesh persecuted Isaac, who was born according to the spirit, so is it now.
30 And what does Scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave cannot share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.
31 Brethren, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Versículos relacionados com Galatians, 4:
In Galatians 4, Paul continues to argue against the teachings of false teachers who try to persuade the Galatians to return to the observance of the Mosaic Law. He uses a heir metaphor who, while being a minor, has no authority over his inheritance and is controlled by tutors and administrators. Paul uses this to illustrate that Jewish believers under the law were in a state of spiritual minority, but now, through faith in Christ, they became mature children and heirs of God. The following verses relate to the topics addressed in Galatians 4:
Romans 8:15: "For you have not received a Spirit who slaves them to fear again, but have received the Spirit who adopts them as children, through which we cry out:" ABA, Father. " This verse highlights the relationship of adoption of believers as children of God, which is a central theme in Galatians 4.
Colossians 2:8: "Be careful that no one enslaves them to vain and misleading philosophies, which are based on human traditions and the elementary principles of this world, not in Christ." Paul warns the Colossians not to be enslaved by human teachings and traditions, which is one of Paul's main arguments in Galatians 4.
Romans 6:14: "For sin will not dominate them, because you are not under the law, but under grace." This verse highlights the freedom of believers in the domain of sin and law, which is an important theme in Galatians 4.
Ephesians 2:19: "Thus, you are no longer foreigners or foreign, but citizens of the saints and members of the family of God." Paul emphasizes the relationship of believers with the family of God, which is a central theme in Galatians 4.
Hebrews 2:15: "And deliver those who, by the fear of death, were subject to slavery for a lifetime." This verse highlights the liberation of the believers of the slavery of the fear of death, which is a central theme in Galatians 4, where Paul argues that the observance of the law is a form of slavery that brings spiritual fear and insecurity.
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