1 Children who are under age are no better off than slaves, even though everything their parents own will someday be theirs. 2 This is because children are placed in the care of guardians and teachers until the time their parents have set. 3 This is how it was with us. We were like children ruled by the powers of this world.
4 But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law, 5 so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God's children. 6 Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father. 7 You are no longer slaves. You are God's children, and you will be given what he has promised.
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
8 Before you knew God, you were slaves of gods that are not real. 9 But now you know God, or better still, God knows you. How can you turn back and become the slaves of those weak and pitiful powers? 10 You even celebrate certain days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am afraid I have wasted my time working with you.
12 My friends, I beg you to be like me, just as I once tried to be like you. Did you mistreat me 13 when I first preached to you? No you didn't, even though you knew I had come there because I was sick. 14 My illness must have caused you some trouble, but you didn't hate me or turn me away because of it. You welcomed me as though I were one of God's angels or even Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where is that good feeling now? I am sure if it had been possible, you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Am I now your enemy, just because I told you the truth?
17 Those people may be paying you a lot of attention, but it isn't for your good. They only want to keep you away from me, so you will pay them a lot of attention. 18 It is always good to give your attention to something worthwhile, even when I am not with you. 19 My children, I am in terrible pain until Christ may be seen living in you. 20 I wish I were with you now. Then I would not have to talk this way. You really have me puzzled.
Hagar and Sarah
21 Some of you would like to be under the rule of the Law of Moses. But do you know what the Law says? 22 In the Scriptures we learn that Abraham had two sons. The mother of one of them was a slave, while the mother of the other one had always been free. 23 The son of the slave woman was born in the usual way. But the son of the free woman was born because of God's promise.
24 All of this has another meaning as well. Each of the two women stands for one of the agreements God made with his people. Hagar, the slave woman, stands for the agreement that was made at Mount Sinai. Everyone born into her family is a slave. 25 Hagar also stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and for the present city of Jerusalem. She and her children are slaves.
26 But our mother is the city of Jerusalem in heaven above, and she isn't a slave. 27 The Scriptures say about her,
“You have never had children,
but now you can be glad.
You have never given birth,
but now you can shout.
Once you had no children,
but now you will have
more children than a woman
who has been married
for a long time.”
28 My friends, you were born because of this promise, just as Isaac was. 29 But the child who was born in the natural way made trouble for the child who was born because of the Spirit. The same thing is happening today. 30 The Scriptures say, “Get rid of the slave woman and her son! He won't be given anything. The son of the free woman will receive everything.” 31 My friends, we are children of the free woman and not of the slave.
1 Bet es saku: kamēr mantinieks vēl nav pieaudzis, nav nekādas starpības starp viņu un kalpu, kaut arī visa manta viņam pieder. 2 Bet viņš ir padots aizbildņiem un pārvaldniekiem līdz tēva nospriestam laikam. 3 Tā arī mēs, kad nebijām pieauguši, bijām pasaules pirmspēku kalpībā. 4 Bet, kad laiks bija piepildījies, tad Dievs sūtīja Savu Dēlu, dzimušu no sievas, noliktu zem bauslības, 5 lai izpirktu tos, pār kuriem valdīja bauslība, ka mēs iegūtu bērnu tiesības. 6 Bet, ka jūs esat bērni, to ir Dievs apliecinājis, sūtīdams Sava Dēla Garu jūsu sirdīs, kas sauc: Aba, Tēvs! 7 Tātad tu vairs neesi kalps, bet bērns, bet, ja bērns, tad arī caur Dievu mantinieks. 8 Gan toreiz jūs, Dievu nepazīdami, kalpojāt tiem, kas pēc būtības nav dievi. 9 Bet tagad, kad jūs Dievu esat atzinuši vai, labāki sakot, kad Dievs jūs ir atzinis, kā tad jūs atkal atgriežaties pie nespēcīgajiem un nabadzīgajiem pirmspēkiem un tiem atkal no jauna gribat kalpot? 10 Jūs cienījat dienas, mēnešus, gadus un laikus. 11 Es bīstos, ka tik nebūtu velti pie jums strādājis. 12 Topiet tādi kā es, jo es tapu tāds kā jūs, es jūs lūdzu, brāļi. Jūs man neesat darījuši nekā ļauna. 13 Bet, kā jums zināms, es pirmoreiz, slims būdams, sludināju jums evaņģēliju. 14 Un jūsu pārbaudījums, kas jums cēlās ar manu slimību, nenoveda pie nicināšanas, nedz riebuma, bet jūs uzņēmāt mani kā Dieva eņģeli, kā Kristu Jēzu. 15 Kur tad nu paliek jūsu svētais prieks? Jo es varu jums apliecināt, ka jūs, ja būtu bijis iespējams, savas acis būtu izrāvuši un man atdevuši. 16 Tātad es esmu tapis jūsu ienaidnieks, sacīdams jums patiesību. 17 Ne labā nolūkā tie izrāda dedzību pret jums, bet tie grib jūs atšķirt, lai jūs dedzīgi pieķertos viņiem. 18 Teicami ir iekaist par labu vienumēr un ne tikai tad, kad es esmu pie jums. 19 Mani bērni, par kuriem es no jauna ciešu radību sāpes, līdz kamēr Kristus izveidotos jūsos; 20 bet es gribētu tagad būt pie jums un runāt ar jums citādā balsī, jo man pietrūkst padoma, ko darīt ar jums. 21 Sakiet man, jūs, kas gribat būt zem bauslības, vai jūs esat dzirdējuši, ko bauslība saka? 22 Proti, ir rakstīts, ka Ābrahāmam piedzima divi dēli, viens no kalpones, otrs no svabadās. 23 Bet tas, kas no kalpones, ir dabīgi dzimis, turpretim tas, kas no svabadās, pēc apsolījuma. 24 Tas ir līdzībā teikts, jo tās ir tās abas derības: viena no Sinaja kalna, kas dzemdē kalpībai, tā ir Hagare. 25 Bet Hagare ir Sinaja kalns Arābijā un atbilst tagadējai Jeruzālemei, jo tā ar saviem bērniem ir kalpu stāvoklī. 26 Bet augšējā Jeruzāleme ir svabada, tā ir mūsu māte; 27 jo ir rakstīts: priecājies, neauglīgā, kas nedzemdē, gavilē un sauc skaļi, kas necieti bērnu sāpes, jo daudz bērnu ir vientulei, vairāk nekā tai, kam ir vīrs. - 28 Jūs, brāļi, esat apsolījuma bērni kā Īzāks. 29 Bet, kā toreiz miesīgi dzimušais vajāja garīgi dzimušo, tā arī tagad. 30 Bet ko saka raksti? "Padzen kalponi un viņas dēlu! Jo kalpones dēlam nebūs mantot kopā ar svabadās dēlu." 31 Tātad, brāļi, mēs neesam kalpones, bet svabadās bērni.
