“1 Now I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing
from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors
until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children,
were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the
time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To
redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son;
and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
“8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by
nature are no gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known
of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire
again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.”
“12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I [am]; for I [am] as ye [are]: ye have not
injured me at all. 13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the
gospel unto you at the first. 14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye
despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ
Jesus. 15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record,
that, if [it had been] possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and
have given them to me. 16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you
the truth?”
“17 They zealously affect you, [but] not well; yea, they would exclude you,
that ye might affect them. 18 But [it is] good to be zealously affected always
in [a] good [thing], and not only when I am present with you.”
“19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be
formed in you, 20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice;
for I stand in doubt of you.”
“21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other
by a freewoman. 23 But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh;
but he of the freewoman [was] by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for
these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to
bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth
to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem
which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written,
Rejoice, [thou] barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that
travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an
husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But
as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after
the Spirit, even so [it is] now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast
out the bondwoman and her son: for 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.” (Galatians 4:1-31 AV)
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