Parallel Bible results for "Galatians 4"

Galatians 4

Common English Bible CEB

1 I'm saying that as long as the heirs are minors, they are no different from slaves, though they really are the owners of everything.

2 However, they are placed under trustees and guardians until the date set by the parents.

3 In the same way, when we were minors, we were also enslaved by this world's system.

4 But when the fulfillment of the time came, God sent his Son, born through a woman, and born under the Law.

5 This was so he could redeem those under the Law so that we could be adopted.

6 Because you are sons and daughters, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!"

7 Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son or daughter, and if you are his child, then you are also an heir through God.

8 At the time, when you didn't know God, you were enslaved by things that aren't gods by nature.

9 But now, after knowing God (or rather, being known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless world system? Do you want to be slaves to it again?

10 You observe religious days and months and seasons and years.

11 I'm afraid for you! Perhaps my hard work for you has been for nothing.

12 I beg you to be like me, brothers and sisters, because I have become like you! You haven't wronged me.

13 You know that I first preached the gospel to you because of an illness.

14 Though my poor health burdened you, you didn't look down on me or reject me, but you welcomed me as if I were an angel from God, or as if I were Christ Jesus!

15 Where then is the great attitude that you had? I swear that, if possible, you would have dug out your eyes and given them to me.

16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17 They are so concerned about you, though not with good intentions. Rather, they want to shut you out so that you would run after them.

18 However, it's always good to have people concerned about you with good intentions, and not just when I'm there with you.

19 My little children, I'm going through labor pains again until Christ is formed in you.

20 But I wish I could be with you now and change how I sound, because I'm at a loss about you.

21 Tell me—those of you who want to be under the Law—don't you listen to the Law?

22 It's written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.

23 The son by the slave woman was conceived the normal way, but the son by the free woman was conceived through a promise.

24 These things are an allegory: the women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to slave children; this is Hagar.

25 Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and she corresponds to the present-day Jerusalem, because the city is in slavery with her children.

26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.

27 It's written: Rejoice, barren woman, you who have not given birth. Break out with a shout, you who have not suffered labor pains; because the woman who has been deserted will have many more children than the woman who has a husband.

28 Brothers and sisters, you are children of the promise like Isaac.

29 But just as it was then, so it is now also: the one who was conceived the normal way harassed the one who was conceived by the Spirit.

30 But what does the scripture say? Throw out the slave woman and her son, because the slave woman's son won't share the inheritance with the free woman's son.

31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we aren't the slave woman's children, but we are the free woman's children.

New Revised Standard NRS

1 My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property;

2 but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father.

3 So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world.

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.

6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods.

9 Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits? How can you want to be enslaved to them again?

10 You are observing special days, and months, and seasons, and years.

11 I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted.

12 Friends, I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong.

13 You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you;

14 though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.

15 What has become of the goodwill you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you may make much of them.

18 It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

19 My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

20 I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

21 Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law?

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman.

23 One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise.

24 Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery.

25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

26 But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother.

27 For it is written, "Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children, burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than the children of the one who is married."

28 Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac.

29 But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.

30 But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman."

31 So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman.