Read-aloud uses AI-generated Orakel narrator voices when available. Voice names are Orakel styles, not provider names.
Galatians Chapter 4 004:001 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all; 004:002 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. 004:003 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
004:004 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, 004:005 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.
004:006 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba,{Abba is a Greek spelling for the Aramaic word for "Father" or "Daddy" used in a familiar, respectful, and loving way.} Father!" 004:007 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 004:008 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
004:009 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again? 004:010 You observe days, months, seasons, and years. 004:011 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you. 004:012 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are.
You did me no wrong, 004:013 but you know that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time. 004:014 That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn't despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 004:015 What 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. 004:016 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
004:017 They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them. 004:018 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you. 004:019 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you-- 004:020 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. 004:021 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don't you listen to the law?
004:022 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman. 004:023 However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. 004:024 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. 004:025 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
004:026 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 004:027 For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren who don't bear. Break forth and shout, you that don't travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband."{Isaiah 54:1} 004:028 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 004:029 But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 004:030 However what does the Scripture say?
"Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman."{Genesis 21:10} 004:031 So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.