New American Standard Bible 2020

Galatians 4:12-31

12I beg of you, 1brothers and sisters, 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 you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my 5bodily condition, nor express contempt, but 6you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. 15Where then is 7that sense of blessing you had? For I testify about you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16So have I become your enemy 8by 9telling you the truth? 17They eagerly seek you, not 10in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18But it is good always to be eagerly sought 11in a commendable way, and 12not only when I am present with you. 19 13My children, with whom 14I am again in labor until 15Christ is formed in you-- 20but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for 16I am at a loss about you!

21Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not 17listen to the Law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, 18one by the slave woman and 19one by the free woman. 23But 20the son by the slave woman 21was born according to the flesh, and 22the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 23 24This is speaking allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one coming from 25Mount Sinai giving birth to children 26who are to be 27slaves; 28she is Hagar. 25Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is enslaved with her children. 26But 29the Jerusalem above is free; 30she is our mother. 27For it is written: “31Rejoice, infertile one, you who do not give birth; Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; For the children of the desolate one are more numerous Than those of the one who has a husband.” 28And you, brothers and sisters, 32like Isaac, are 33children of promise. 29But as at that time 34the son who was born according to the flesh 35persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, 36so it is even now. 30But what does the Scripture say? “37Drive out the slave woman and her son, For 38the son of the slave woman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.” 31So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave woman, but 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 Lit flesh ↩
6. Galatians 4:14 Matt 10:40; 1 Thess 2:13 ↩
7. Galatians 4:15 I.e., considering yourselves fortunate ↩
8. Galatians 4:16 Amos 5:10 ↩
9. Galatians 4:16 Or dealing truthfully with you ↩
10. Galatians 4:17 Or with good intentions ↩
11. Galatians 4:18 Or with good intentions ↩
12. Galatians 4:18 Gal 4:13f ↩
13. Galatians 4:19 1 John 2:1 ↩
14. Galatians 4:19 1 Cor 4:15 ↩
15. Galatians 4:19 Eph 4:13 ↩
16. Galatians 4:20 2 Cor 4:8 ↩
17. Galatians 4:21 Luke 16:29 ↩
18. Galatians 4:22 Gen 16:15 ↩
19. Galatians 4:22 Gen 21:2 ↩
20. Galatians 4:23 Rom 9:7; Gal 4:29 ↩
21. Galatians 4:23 Lit has been born ↩
22. Galatians 4:23 Gen 17:16ff; 18:10ff; 21:1; Gal 4:28; Heb 11:11 ↩
23. Galatians 4:24 Lit Which ↩
24. Galatians 4:24 1 Cor 10:11 ↩
25. Galatians 4:24 Deut 33:2 ↩
26. Galatians 4:24 Lit into slavery ↩
27. Galatians 4:24 Gal 4:3 ↩
28. Galatians 4:24 Lit which ↩
29. Galatians 4:26 Heb 12:22; Rev 3:12; 21:2, 10 ↩
30. Galatians 4:26 Lit which ↩
31. Galatians 4:27 Is 54:1 ↩
32. Galatians 4:28 Gal 4:23 ↩
33. Galatians 4:28 Rom 9:7ff; Gal 3:29 ↩
34. Galatians 4:29 Gal 4:23 ↩
35. Galatians 4:29 Gen 21:9 ↩
36. Galatians 4:29 Gal 5:11 ↩
37. Galatians 4:30 Gen 21:10, 12 ↩
38. Galatians 4:30 John 8:35 ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Galatians 4