Now what I mean when I talk about children and their guardians is this: as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave even though he is the future owner and master of all the estate; 2 but he is under the authority of guardians and household administrators or managers until the date set by his father when he is of legal age. 3 So also we whether Jews or Gentiles, when we were children (spiritually immature) , were kept ^alike slaves under the ^belementary man-made religious or philosophical teachings of the world. 4 But when in God’s plan ^athe proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, ^bborn of a woman, born ^cunder the regulations of the Law, 5 so that He might redeem and liberate those who were under the Law, that we who believe might be adopted as ^asons as God’s children with all rights as fully grown members of a family. Rom 11:17-24 6 And because you really are His sons, ^aGod has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out,¹ “^bAbba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave (bond-servant) , but a son; and ^aif a son, then also an heir through the gracious act of God through Christ.

8 But at that time, ^awhen you did not know the true God and were unacquainted with Him, you Gentiles were ^bslaves to ^cthose pagan things which by their very nature were not and could not be gods at all. 9 Now, however, since you have come to know the true God through personal experience, or rather to be ^aknown by God, ^bhow is it that you are turning back again to the weak and worthless ^celemental principles of religions and philosophies, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 For example, you ^aobserve particular days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored to the point of exhaustion over you in vain.

12 ^aBelievers, I beg of you, ^bbecome as I am free from the bondage of Jewish ritualism and ordinances, for I have become as you are a Gentile. You did me no wrong when I first came to you; do not do it now. 13 On the contrary, you know that it was because of a physical illness that I remained and preached the gospel to you the first time; 14 and even though my physical condition was a trial to you, you did not regard it with contempt, or scorn and reject me; but ^ayou received me as an angel of God, even as ^bChrist Jesus Himself. 15 What then has become of that sense of blessing and the joy that you once had from your salvation and your relationship with Christ? For I testify of you that, if possible, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me ¹to replace mine. 16 So have I become your enemy ^aby telling you the truth? 17 These men the Judaizers eagerly seek you to entrap you with honeyed words and attention, to win you over to their philosophy, not honorably for their purpose is not honorable or worthy of consideration. They want to isolate you from us who oppose them so that you will seek them. 18 Now it is always pleasant to be eagerly sought after provided that it is for a good purpose, and ^anot just when I am with you seeking you myself—but beware of the others doing it. 19 ^aMy little children, for whom ^bI am again in the pains of labor until ^cChrist is completely and permanently formed within you— 20 how I wish that I were with you now and could change my tone, because ^aI am perplexed in regard to you.

21 Tell me, you who are bent on being under the Law, do you not ^alisten to what the Law really says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^aone by the slave woman Hagar and ^bone by the free woman Sarah. Gen 16:15; 21:2, 9 23 But ^athe child of the slave woman was born according to the flesh and had an ordinary birth, while ^bthe son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of the promise. 24 ^aNow these facts are about to be used by me as an allegory that is, I will illustrate by using them: for these women can represent two covenants: one covenant originated from ^bMount Sinai where the Law was given that bears children destined for ^cslavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is (represents) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But ^athe Jerusalem above that is, the way of faith, represented by Sarah is free; she is our mother. 27 For it is written in the Scriptures,“^aREJOICE, O BARREN WOMAN WHO HAS NOT GIVEN BIRTH;BREAK FORTH INTO A joyful SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR;FOR THE DESOLATE WOMAN HAS MANY MORE CHILDRENTHAN SHE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.” Is 54:1 28 And we, believing brothers and sisters, ^alike Isaac, are children not merely of physical descent, like Ishmael, but are children born ^bof promise born miraculously. 29 But as at that time ^athe child of ordinary birth born according to the flesh ^bpersecuted the son who was born according to the promise and working of the Spirit, ^cso it is now also. Gen 21:9 30 But what does the Scripture say?“^aCAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN Hagar AND HER SON Ishmael,FOR NEVER SHALL ^bTHE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN BE HEIR and SHARE THE INHERITANCE WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.” Gen 21:10 31 So then, believers, we who are born again—reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose are not children of a slave woman the natural, but of the free woman the supernatural.

Now I say, as long as the heir is a ¹child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is ²owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and stewards until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were ^aenslaved under the ^1belemental things of the world. 4 But when ^athe fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, ^bborn of a woman, born ^cunder ¹the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under ¹the Law, that we might receive the adoption as ^asons. 6 And because you are sons, ^aGod sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “^bAbba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and ^aif a son, then an heir ¹through God.

8 However at that time, ^awhen you did not know God, you were ^bslaves to ^cthose which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, having known God, or rather having been ^aknown by God, ^bhow is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless ^1celemental things, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You ^aobserve days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored ¹over you for nothing.

12 I beg of you, ^abrothers, ^bbecome as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. 13 But you know that it was because of a ¹bodily illness that I proclaimed the gospel to you the ²first time; 14 and that which was a ¹trial to you in my ²bodily condition you did not despise or ³loathe, but ^ayou received me as an angel of God, as ^bChrist Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is ¹that sense of blessing you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy ^aby ¹telling you the truth? 17 They zealously seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will zealously seek them. 18 But it is good always to be zealously sought in a commendable ¹manner, and ^anot only when I am present with you. 19 ^aMy children, with whom ^bI am again in labor until ^cChrist is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, because ^aI am perplexed about you.

21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not ^alisten to the Law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^aone by the servant-woman and ^bone by the free woman. 23 But ^athe son by the servant-woman had been born according to the flesh, while ^bthe son by the free woman through the promise. 24 ^1aThis is ²spoken with allegory, for these women are two covenants: one from ^bMount Sinai bearing children into ^cslavery; ³she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But ^athe Jerusalem above is free; ¹she is our mother. 27 For it is written,“^aREJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT GIVE BIRTH;BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR;FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE ONETHAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.” 28 And you brothers, ^ain accordance with Isaac, are ^bchildren of promise. 29 But as at that time ^ahe who was born according to the flesh ^bwas persecuting him who was born according to the Spirit, ^cso it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say?“^aCAST OUT THE SERVANT-WOMAN AND HER SON,FOR ^bTHE SON OF THE SERVANT-WOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.” 31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant-woman, ¹but of the free woman.

Now I say, as long as the heir is a ¹child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is ²owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and ¹managers until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were held ^ain bondage under the ^1belemental things of the world. 4 But when ^athe fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, ^bborn of a woman, born ^cunder ¹the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under ¹the Law, that we might receive the adoption as ^asons. 6 Because you are sons, ^aGod has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “^bAbba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and ^aif a son, then an heir ¹through God.

8 However at that time, ^awhen you did not know God, you were ^bslaves to ^cthose which by nature are no gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be ^aknown by God, ^bhow is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless ^1celemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 You ^aobserve days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored ¹over you in vain.

12 I beg of you, ^abrethren, ^bbecome as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13 but you know that it was because of a ¹bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the ²first time; 14 and that which was a ¹trial to you in my ²bodily condition you did not despise or ³loathe, but ^ayou received me as an angel of God, as ^bChrist Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is ¹that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy ^aby ¹telling you the truth? 17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable ¹manner, and ^anot only when I am present with you. 19 ^aMy children, with whom ^bI am again in labor until ^cChrist is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for ^aI am perplexed about you.

21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not ^alisten to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^aone by the bondwoman and ^bone by the free woman. 23 But ^athe son by the bondwoman ¹was born according to the flesh, and ^bthe son by the free woman through the promise. 24 ^1aThis is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from ^bMount Sinai bearing children ²who are to be ^cslaves; ³she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But ^athe Jerusalem above is free; ¹she is our mother. 27 For it is written,“^aREJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR;BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR;FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATETHAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.” 28 And you brethren, ^alike Isaac, are ^bchildren of promise. 29 But as at that time ^ahe who was born according to the flesh ^bpersecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^cso it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say?“^aCAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON,FOR ^bTHE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, ¹but of the free woman.