Parallel Bible results for "galatians 4"

Galatians 4

The Complete Jewish Bible CJB

1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a minor he is no different from a slave, even though he is the legal owner of the estate;

2 rather, he is subject to guardians and caretakers until the time previously set by his father.

3 So it is with us - when we were "children" we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe;

4 but when the appointed time arrived, God sent forth his Son. He was born from a woman, born into a culture in which legalistic perversion of the Torah was the norm,

5 so that he might redeem those in subjection to this legalism and thus enable us to be made God's sons.

6 Now because you are sons, God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit who cries out, "Abba!" (that is, "Dear Father!").

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

8 In the past, when you did not know God, you served as slaves beings which in reality are non-gods.

9 But now you do know God, and, more than that, you are known by God. So how is it that you turn back again to those weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to enslave yourselves to them once more?

10 You observe special days, months, seasons and years!

11 I fear for you that my work among you has been wasted!

12 Brothers, I beg of you: put yourselves in my place - after all, I put myself in your place. It isn't that you have done me any wrong -

13 you know that it was because I was ill that I proclaimed the Good News to you at first;

14 and even though my physical condition must have tempted you to treat me with scorn, you did not display any sign of disdain or disgust. No, you welcomed me as if I had been an angel of God, as if I had been the Messiah Yeshua himself!

15 So what has become of the joy you felt? For I bear you witness that had it been possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.

16 Have I now become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

17 True, these teachers are zealous for you, but their motives are not good. They want to separate you from us so that you will become zealous for them.

18 To be zealous is good, provided always that the cause is good. Indeed, whether I am present with you or not,

19 my dear children, I am suffering the pains of giving birth to you all over again - and this will go on until the Messiah takes shape in you.

20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone of voice. I don't know what to do with you.

21 Tell me, you who want to be in subjection to the system that results from perverting the Torah into legalism, don't you hear what the Torah itself says?

22 It says that Avraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman.

23 The one by the slave woman was born according to the limited capabilities of human beings, but the one by the free woman was born through the miracle-working power of God fulfilling his promise.

24 Now, to make a midrash on these things: the two women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children for slavery - this is Hagar.

25 Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Yerushalayim, for she serves as a slave along with her children.

26 But the Yerushalayim above is free, and she is our mother;

27 for the Tanakh says, "Rejoice, you barren woman who does not bear children! Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor! For the deserted wife will have more children than the one whose husband is with her!"i

28 You, brothers, like Yitz'chak, are children referred to in a promise of God.

29 But just as then the one born according to limited human capability persecuted the one born through the Spirit's supernatural power, so it is now.

30 Nevertheless, what does the Tanakh say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for by no means will the son of the slave woman inherit along with the son of the free woman!"

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

The Bible in Basic English BBE

1 But I say that as long as the son is a child, he is in no way different from a servant, though he is lord of all;

2 But is under keepers and managers till the time fixed by the father.

3 So we, when we were young, were kept under the first rules of the world;

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

5 That he might make them free who were under the law, and that we might be given the place of sons.

6 And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, saying, Abba, Father.

7 So that you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, then the heritage of God is yours.

8 But at that time, having no knowledge of God, you were servants to those who by right are no gods:

9 But now that you have come to have knowledge of God, or more truly, God has knowledge of you, how is it that you go back again to the poor and feeble first things, desiring to be servants to them again?

10 You keep days, and months, and fixed times, and years.

11 I am in fear of you, that I may have been working for you to no purpose.

12 My desire for you, brothers, is that you may be as I am, because I am as you are. You have done me no wrong;

13 But you have knowledge that with a feeble body I was preaching the good news to you the first time;

14 And you did not have a poor opinion of me because of the trouble in my flesh, or put shame on it; but you took me to your hearts as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

15 Where then is that happy condition of yours? because I give you witness, that, if possible, you would have taken out your eyes and given them to me.

16 So then am I no longer your friend, because I give you true words?

17 Their interest in you is not good; but their desire is that you may be shut out, so that you may go after them.

18 But it is good to have an interest in a good cause at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

19 My children, of whom I am again in birth-pains till Christ is formed in you,

20 Truly my desire is to be present with you now, using a changed voice; for I am troubled about you.

21 Say, you whose desire it is to be under the law, do you not give ear to the law?

22 Because it is in the Writings, that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant-woman, and one by the free woman.

23 Now the son by the servant-woman has his birth after the flesh; but the son by the free woman has his birth through the undertaking of God.

24 Which things have a secret sense; because these women are the two agreements; one from the mountain of Sinai, giving birth to servants, which is Hagar.

25 Now this Hagar is the mountain Sinai in Arabia, and is the image of the Jerusalem which now is: which is a servant with her children.

26 But the Jerusalem on high is free, which is our mother.

27 For it is in the Writings, You who have never given birth, be glad; give cries of joy, you who have had no birth-pains; for the children of her who has been given up by her husband are more than those of the woman who has a husband.

28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are the children of the undertaking of God.

29 But as in those days he who had birth after the flesh was cruel to him who had birth after the Spirit, even so it is now.

30 What then do the Writings say? Send away the servant-woman and her son; for the son of the servant-woman will not have a part in the heritage with the son of the free woman.

31 So, brothers, we are not children of the servant-woman, but of the free woman.