But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, though he is lord of all; 2but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. 3So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elements of the world. 4But when the time was right, Allah sent forth his Son, born to a woman, born under the Taurat, 5that he might redeem those who were under the Taurat, that we might be adopted as his children. 6And because you are children, Allah sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba,[1] Father!“ 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of Allah through al-Masih. 8However at that time, not knowing Allah, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods. 9But now that you have come to know Allah, or rather are known by Allah, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elements, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again? 10You observe days, months, seasons, and years. 11I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labour on you. 12I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong, 13but you know that in weakness of the flesh I declared the Injil to you the first time. 14Even though my physical condition could have tempted you to despise or reject me, you didn’t. Rather, you received me as though I was an angel of Allah, or al-Masih ‘Isa.
15What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16So then, have I become your enemy for telling you the truth? 17The others zealously seek you, but not for good. No, they want to alienate you from us, that you may seek them. 18But it is always good to be zealous for a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
19My little children, of whom I am again in pains of childbirth until al-Masih is formed in you– 20but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. 21Tell me, you who desire to be under the Taurat, don’t you listen to the Taurat? 22For it is written that Ibrahim had two sons, one by the slave woman, and one by the free woman. 23However, the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24These things contain an illustration, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hajira. 25For this Hajira is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27For it is written,
“Rejoice, O barren woman, who do not give birth.
Break forth and shout, you who have never been in labour.
For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.“[2]
28Now we, brothers, as Ishaq was, are children of promise. 29But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30However what does Al-Kitab say? “Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share in the inheritance with the son of the free woman.“[3] 31So then, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
[1] 4:6 Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for “Father“ or “Daddy“ used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way.
[2] 4:27 Quoting the Taurat, Shaya 54:1.
[3] 4:30 Quoting the Taurat, Genesis 21:10.