What I am saying is that as long as an heir is under age, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, ▼

▼Greek bondservant; also verse 7

though he is the owner of everything,

The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.

but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.

So also, when we were under age, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces ▼

▼Or under the basic principles

of the world.

In the same way we also, when we were children, ^cwere enslaved to the elementary principles ▼

▼Or elemental spirits; also verse 9

of the world.

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

But ^ewhen the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, ^fborn ^gof woman, born ^hunder the law,

to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. ▼

▼The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture.

^jto redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive ^kadoption as sons.

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, ▼

▼Aramaic for Father

Father.’

And because you are sons, God has sent ^mthe Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then ⁿan heir through God.

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

Formerly, when you ^odid not know God, you ^pwere enslaved to those that by nature ^qare not gods.

But now that you know God – or rather are known by God – how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces ▼

▼Or principles

? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

But now that you have come to know God, or rather ^sto be known by God, ^thow can you turn back again to ^uthe weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

^vYou observe days and months and seasons and years!

I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

I am afraid ^wI may have labored over you in vain.

I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong.

Brothers, ▼

▼Or  Brothers and sisters; also verses 28, 31

^yI entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. ^zYou did me no wrong.

As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you,

You know it was ^aabecause of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you ^abat first,

and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.

and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me ^acas an angel of God, ^adas Christ Jesus.

Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.

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

Have I then become your enemy by ^aetelling you the truth? ▼

▼Or by dealing truthfully with you

Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.

They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.

It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.

It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and ^agnot only when I am present with you,

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

^ahmy little children, ^aifor whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ ^ajis formed in you!

how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

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

Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?

Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?

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

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^akone by a slave woman and ^alone by a free woman.

His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.

But ^amthe son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while ^anthe son of the free woman was born through promise.

These things are being taken figuratively: the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: this is Hagar.

Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two ^aocovenants. ^apOne is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar.

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

Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; ▼

▼Some manuscripts For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia

she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

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

But ^arthe Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

For it is written:

‘Be glad, barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
break forth and cry aloud,
you who were never in labour;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband.’ ▼

▼Isaiah 54:1

For it is written,

^at“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband.”

Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.

Now you, ▼

▼Some manuscripts we

brothers, ^avlike Isaac, ^aware children of promise.

At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.

But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh ^axpersecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^ayso also it is now.

But what does Scripture say? ‘Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.’ ▼

▼Gen. 21:10

But what does the Scripture say? ^ba“Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

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

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

For ^bcfreedom Christ has ^bdset us free; ^bestand firm therefore, and do not submit again to ^bfa yoke of ^bgslavery.

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

Look: I, Paul, say to you that ^bhif you accept circumcision, ^biChrist will be of no advantage to you.

Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is required to obey the whole law.

I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ^bjhe is obligated to keep the whole law.

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

You are ^bksevered from Christ, ^blyou who would be justified ▼

▼Or counted righteous

by the law; ^bnyou have fallen away from grace.

For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly ^bowait for the hope of righteousness.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

For in Christ Jesus ^bpneither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but ^bqonly faith working through love.

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?

^brYou were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^bsthe truth?

That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.

This persuasion is not from ^bthim who calls you.

‘A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.’

^buA little leaven leavens the whole lump.

I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty.

^bvI have confidence in the Lord that you will ^bwtake no other view, and ^bxthe one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.

Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offence of the cross has been abolished.

But if I, brothers, ▼

▼Or  brothers and sisters; also verse 13

still preach ▼

▼Greek proclaim

circumcision, ^cawhy am I still being persecuted? In that case ^cbthe offense of the cross has been removed.

As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

I wish ^ccthose who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ▼

▼In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.

; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. ^ceOnly do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love ^cfserve one another.

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ ▼

▼Lev. 19:18

For ^chthe whole law is fulfilled in one word: ^ci“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

But if you ^cjbite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

But I say, ^ckwalk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify ^clthe desires of the flesh.

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever ▼

▼Or you do not do what

you want.

For ^cnthe desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, ^coto keep you from doing the things you want to do.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

But if you are ^cpled by the Spirit, ^cqyou are not under the law.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

Now ^crthe works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions

idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^csdivisions,

and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

envy, ▼

▼Some manuscripts add murder

drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^cuthose who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

But ^cvthe fruit of the Spirit is ^cwlove, joy, peace, patience, ^cxkindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

^cygentleness, ^czself-control; ^daagainst such things there is no law.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^dbhave crucified the flesh with its ^dcpassions and desires.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

If we live by the Spirit, ^ddlet us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

^deLet us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Brothers, ▼

▼Or  Brothers and sisters; also verse 18

^dgif anyone is caught in any transgression, ^dhyou who are spiritual should restore him in ^dia spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.

^djBear one another’s burdens, and ^dkso fulfill ^dlthe law of Christ.

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

For ^dmif anyone thinks he is something, ^dnwhen he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,

But let each one ^dotest his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

for each one should carry their own load.

For ^dpeach will have to bear his own load.

Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

^dqLet the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

^drDo not be deceived: God is not mocked, for ^dswhatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

For ^dtthe one who sows to his own flesh ^duwill from the flesh reap corruption, but ^dvthe one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

And ^dwlet us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, ^dxif we do not give up.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

So then, ^dyas we have opportunity, let us ^dzdo good to everyone, and especially to those who are ^eaof the household of faith.

See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

See with what large letters I am writing to you ^ebwith my own hand.

Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

^ecIt is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh ^edwho would force you to be circumcised, and only ^eein order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.

For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which ▼

▼Or whom

the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

But far be it from me to boast ^egexcept in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which ▼

▼Or through whom

the world ^eihas been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

For ^ejneither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but ^eka new creation.

Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule – to ▼

▼Or rule and to

the Israel of God.

And as for all who walk by this rule, ^empeace and mercy be upon them, and upon ^enthe Israel of God.

From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

^eoThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^epwith your spirit, brothers. Amen.