4: 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.
4: 3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the 44rudiments of the world:
44Or, elements (and in vs. 9) As in 2Pt 3:10, 12.
4: 4 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law covenant,
4: 5 that he might redeem them that were under the law covenant, that we might receive the 45placement as sons.
45Lit. placing as sons, whether by adoption, or by the promotion suggested in vs. 2 (Cf. Dt 21:16). Compare Ro 8:15, 23, 9:4; Ep 1:5.
4: 6 And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into 46our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
46So p46ℵBCA 1739 copsa arm vg. 33 81 and a majority of lesser Gk. mss. read your
4: 7 So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
4: 8 Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:
4: 9 but now that ye have come to know God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?
4: 10 Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.
4: 11 I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.
4: 12 I beseech you, brethren, become as I am, for I also am become as ye are. Ye did me no wrong:
4: 13 but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I 47preached the gospel unto you the 48first time:
47Or, preached good news unto See marginal note on Mt 4:23.
48Gk. former:
4: 14 and that which was a 49trial to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor 50rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
49So ℵ*BA 33 (1739) copbo vg. 81 arm read trial which in C*vid 1175 and a majority of lesser Gk. mss., copsa read trial to me which in p46 almost alone reads trial to me in
50Gk. spat out;
4: 15 Where then is that gratulation 51of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
51Or, of yours?
4: 16 So then am I become your enemy, 52by telling you a truth?
52Or, by dealing truly with you?
4: 17 They zealously seek you in no good way; no, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.
4: 18 But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you.
4: 19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you –
4: 20 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you.
4: 21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
4: 22 For it is written, that 53Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.
53Ge 16:15.
4: 23 54Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through the promise.
54Ge 21:2.
4: 24 Which things contain an allegory: for these women 55are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.
55Or, represent Similarly in verse 25.
4: 25 56Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.
56So BA 1175 {31 mss.}. 33 81 {545 mss.}, arm read For this Hagar is mount Sinai ℵC 1739 {15 mss.} vg read For this is mount Sinai p46 copsa almost alone read Now this is mount Sinai
4: 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is 57our mother.
57So p46ℵ*BC* 1739 33 copsa,bo vg. A 81 and the majority of lesser Gk. mss., arm read the mother of us all.
4: 27 For it is written, 58Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband.
58Is 54:1.
4: 28 Now 59ye, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of the promise covenant.
59So p46B 1739 33 1175 copsa. But ℵCA 81 and a majority of lesser Gk. mss., copbo arm vg read we
4: 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also is it now.
4: 30 Howbeit what saith the scripture? 60Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.
60Ge 21:10, 12.
4: 31 Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.
