New American Standard Bible 1995

Galatians 4:12-31

12I beg of you, 1brethren, 2become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13but you know that it was because of a 3bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the 4first time; 14and that which was a 5trial to you in my 6bodily condition you did not despise or 7loathe, but 8you received me as an angel of God, as 9Christ Jesus Himself. 15Where then is 10that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16So have I become your enemy 11by 12telling you the truth? 17They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable 13manner, and 14not only when I am present with you. 19 15My children, with whom 16I am again in labor until 17Christ is formed in you-- 20but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for 18I am perplexed about you.

21Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not 19listen to the law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, 20one by the bondwoman and 21one by the free woman. 23But 22the son by the bondwoman 23was born according to the flesh, and 24the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 25 26This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from 27Mount Sinai bearing children 28who are to be 29slaves; 30she is Hagar. 25Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26But 31the Jerusalem above is free; 32she is our mother. 27For it is written, “33Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; For more numerous are the children of the desolate Than of the one who has a husband.” 28And you brethren, 34like Isaac, are 35children of promise. 29But as at that time 36he who was born according to the flesh 37persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, 38so it is now also. 30But what does the Scripture say? “39Cast out the bondwoman and her son, For 40the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.” 31So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, 41but of the free woman.

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Notes

1. Galatians 4:12 Gal 6:18 ↩
2. Galatians 4:12 2 Cor 6:11, 13 ↩
3. Galatians 4:13 Lit weakness of the flesh ↩
4. Galatians 4:13 Or former ↩
5. Galatians 4:14 Or temptation ↩
6. Galatians 4:14 Lit flesh ↩
7. Galatians 4:14 Lit spit out at ↩
8. Galatians 4:14 Matt 10:40; 1 Thess 2:13 ↩
9. Galatians 4:14 Gal 3:26 ↩
10. Galatians 4:15 Lit the congratulation of yourselves ↩
11. Galatians 4:16 Amos 5:10 ↩
12. Galatians 4:16 Or dealing truthfully with you ↩
13. Galatians 4:18 Or thing ↩
14. Galatians 4:18 Gal 4:13f ↩
15. Galatians 4:19 1 John 2:1 ↩
16. Galatians 4:19 1 Cor 4:15 ↩
17. Galatians 4:19 Eph 4:13 ↩
18. Galatians 4:20 2 Cor 4:8 ↩
19. Galatians 4:21 Luke 16:29 ↩
20. Galatians 4:22 Gen 16:15 ↩
21. Galatians 4:22 Gen 21:2 ↩
22. Galatians 4:23 Rom 9:7; Gal 4:29 ↩
23. Galatians 4:23 Lit has been born ↩
24. Galatians 4:23 Gen 17:16ff; 18:10ff; 21:1; Gal 4:28; Heb 11:11 ↩
25. Galatians 4:24 Lit Which ↩
26. Galatians 4:24 1 Cor 10:11 ↩
27. Galatians 4:24 Deut 33:2 ↩
28. Galatians 4:24 Lit into slavery ↩
29. Galatians 4:24 Gal 4:3 ↩
30. Galatians 4:24 Lit which ↩
31. Galatians 4:26 Heb 12:22; Rev 3:12; 21:2, 10 ↩
32. Galatians 4:26 Lit which ↩
33. Galatians 4:27 Is 54:1 ↩
34. Galatians 4:28 Gal 4:23 ↩
35. Galatians 4:28 Rom 9:7ff; Gal 3:29 ↩
36. Galatians 4:29 Gal 4:23 ↩
37. Galatians 4:29 Gen 21:9 ↩
38. Galatians 4:29 Gal 5:11 ↩
39. Galatians 4:30 Gen 21:10, 12 ↩
40. Galatians 4:30 John 8:35 ↩
41. Galatians 4:31 V 5:1, note 1 ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Galatians 4