but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 However then, when ye knew not God, ye did service to them which by nature are no gods.
9 But now, after ye have known God, or rather are known by God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which ye desire again to be in bondage? [1] [2]
10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am ; for I am as ye are : ye have not injured me at all.
13 Ye know that in infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel to you at the first.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 What then was the blessedness ye spoke of? for I bear you witness, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. [3]
16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 They zealously seek you, but not for good; for, they would exclude you, that ye may seek them. [4]
18 But it is good to be zealously sought always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I stand in doubt of you. [5]
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which beareth children for bondage, which is Hagar. [6] [7]
25 For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. [8]
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she who hath an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
CHAP. 5.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say to you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect to you, whoever of you are justified by the law; ye have fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7 Ye did run well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth? [9]
8 This persuasion cometh not from him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be not otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whoever he may be.
11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then hath the offence of the cross ceased.
12 I would they were even cut off who trouble you.
13 For, brethren, ye have been called to liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one by another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [10]
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are these ; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, contention, seditions, heresies,
- ↑ turn ye again: or, turn ye back
- ↑ elements: or, rudiments
- ↑ Where...: or, What was then
- ↑ exclude you: or, exclude us
- ↑ I stand...: or, I am perplexed for you
- ↑ covenants: or, testaments
- ↑ Sinai: Gr. Sina
- ↑ answereth to: or, is in the same rank with
- ↑ hinder you: or, drive you back
- ↑ ye...: or, fulfil not
