Galatians 4
1
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
2
but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.
3
Even so we, when we were children, a were in bondage under the elements of the world.
4
But b when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, c born d of a woman, e born under the law,
5
f to redeem those who were under the law, g that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6
And because you are sons, God has sent forth h the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
7
Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, i and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8
But then, indeed, j when you did not know God, k you served those which by nature are not gods.
9
But now l after you have known God, or rather are known by God, m how is it that you turn again to n the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
10
o You observe days and months and seasons and years.
11
I am afraid for you, p lest I have labored for you in vain.
12
Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. q You have not injured me at all.
13
You know that r because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.
14
And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me s as an angel of God, t even as Christ Jesus.
15
What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
16
Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
17
They u zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.
18
But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.
19
v My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,
20
I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
21
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?
22
For it is written that Abraham had two sons: w the one by a bondwoman, x the other by a freewoman.
23
But he who was of the bondwoman y was born according to the flesh, z and he of the freewoman through promise,
24
which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount a Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar -
25
for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children -
26
but the b Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27
For it is written:
c "Rejoice, O barren,
You who do not bear!
Break forth and shout,
You who are not in labor!
For the desolate has many more children
Than she who has a husband."
28
Now d we, brethren, as Isaac was, are e children of promise.
29
But, as f he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, g even so it is now.
30
Nevertheless what does h the Scripture say? i "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for j the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."
31
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
-
Cross References
Galatians 4:9
But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
Colossians 2:8
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Colossians 2:20
Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations -
Hebrews 5:12
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Hebrews 9:10
Concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
-
Cross References
Genesis 49:10
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
-
Cross References
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Romans 1:3
Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh.
Romans 8:3
For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh.
Philippians 2:7
But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
-
Cross References
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:25
And did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
-
Cross References
Matthew 5:17
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
Luke 2:21
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:27
So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law.
-
Cross References
Matthew 20:28
"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Galatians 3:13
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree").
-
Cross References
John 1:12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
-
Cross References
Acts 16:7
After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go ...
Romans 5:5
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love ...
Romans 8:9
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit,...
Romans 8:15
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage a...
Romans 8:16
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spiri...
2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spiri...
-
Cross References
Romans 8:16
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
Romans 8:17
And if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
-
Cross References
1 Corinthians 1:21
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
Ephesians 2:12
That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
1 Thessalonians 4:5
Not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God.
2 Thessalonians 1:8
In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-
Cross References
Romans 1:25
Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
-
Cross References
1 Corinthians 8:3
But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
-
Cross References
Galatians 3:1 - 3
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
Colossians 2:20
Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations -
-
Cross References
Hebrews 7:18
For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness.
-
Cross References
Romans 14:5
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
Colossians 2:16
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths.
-
Cross References
1 Thessalonians 3:5
For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
-
Cross References
2 Corinthians 2:5
But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent - not to be too severe.
-
Cross References
1 Corinthians 2:3
I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
-
Cross References
Malachi 2:7
For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
-
Cross References
Luke 10:16
"He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."
-
Cross References
Romans 10:2
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
-
Cross References
1 Corinthians 4:15
For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
-
Cross References
Genesis 16:15
So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
-
Cross References
Genesis 21:2
For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
-
Cross References
Romans 9:7
Nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called.
Romans 9:8
That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
Galatians 4:29
But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
-
Cross References
Genesis 16:15
So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his ...
Genesis 17:15 - 19
Then God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wi...
Genesis 18:10
And He said, "I will certainly return to you ac...
Genesis 21:1
And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and ...
Galatians 4:28
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of...
Hebrews 11:11
By faith Sarah herself also received strength t...
-
Cross References
Exodus 24:6 - 8
And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
Deuteronomy 33:2
And he said: "The LORD came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came with ten thousands of saints; From His right hand Came a fiery law for them.
-
Cross References
Isaiah 2:2
Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.
-
Cross References
Isaiah 54:1
Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman," says the LORD.
-
Cross References
Romans 9:7
Nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called.
Romans 9:8
That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
Galatians 3:29
And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
-
Cross References
Acts 3:25
"You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'
-
Cross References
Genesis 21:9
And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing.
-
Cross References
Galatians 5:11
And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.
-
Cross References
Galatians 3:8
And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed.
Galatians 3:22
But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
-
Cross References
Genesis 21:10
Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.
Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.
-
Cross References
John 8:35
And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.