1What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces4:3 Or under the basic principles of the world. 4But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.4:5 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. 6Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,4:6 Aramaic for Father Father.” 7So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces4:9 Or principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
12I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14and 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. 15Where, 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. 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17Those 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. 18It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Hagar and Sarah
21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23His 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.
24These 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. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written:
“Be glad, barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband.”4:27 Isaiah 54:1
28Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30But 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.”4:30 Gen. 21:10 31Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
1Lile nisemalo ni kwamba wakati wote mrithi bado ni mtoto, hana tofauti na mtumwa, ingawa ndiye mmiliki wa mali yote. 2Yeye huwa yuko chini ya uangalizi wa walezi na wadhamini mpaka ufike wakati uliowekwa na baba yake. 34:3 Gal 4:9; 5:1; Kol 2:8, 20; Ebr 9:10Vivyo hivyo na sisi, tulipokuwa bado watoto wadogo, tulikuwa utumwani chini ya taratibu za kawaida za ulimwengu. 44:4 Mk 1:15; Rum 5:6; Efe 1:10; Yn 3:17; 1:14; Lk 2:27Lakini ulipowadia utimilifu wa wakati, Mungu alimtuma Mwanawe, ambaye alizaliwa na mwanamke, akazaliwa chini ya sheria, 54:5 Rum 3:24; Yn 1:12; Rum 8:14kusudi awakomboe wale waliokuwa chini ya sheria, ili tupate kupokea zile haki kamili za kufanywa watoto wa Mungu. 64:6 Mdo 16:7; Rum 5:5; 8:15, 16Kwa sababu ninyi ni watoto wa Mungu, Mungu amemtuma Roho wa Mwanawe mioyoni mwetu, anayelia, “Abba,4:6 Abba ni neno la Kiaramu ambalo maana yake ni Baba; lingeweza kutumiwa tu na mtoto wa kuzaa. Baba.” 74:7 Rum 8:17; Gal 3:29Kwa hiyo, wewe si mtumwa tena, bali ni mtoto, kwa kuwa wewe ni mtoto, Mungu amekufanya wewe pia kuwa mrithi kwa kupitia Kristo.
Paulo Awashawishi Wagalatia
84:8 Rum 1:28; 1Kor 1:21; 15:34; 1The 4:5; 2The 1:8; Gal 4:3Zamani, mlipokuwa hammjui Mungu, mlikuwa watumwa wa viumbe ambavyo kwa asili si Mungu. 94:9 1Kor 8:3; Gal 4:3; Kol 2:20Lakini sasa kwa kuwa mmemjua Mungu, au zaidi mmejulikana na Mungu, inakuwaje mnarejea tena katika zile kanuni za kwanza zenye udhaifu na upungufu? Mnataka ziwafanye tena watumwa? 104:10 Rum 14:5; Kol 2:16Mnaadhimisha siku maalum, miezi, nyakati na miaka! 114:11 1The 3:5; Gal 2:2; 5:2, 4Nina hofu juu yenu, kwamba kazi niliyofanya kwa ajili yenu inaweza kuwa nimejitaabisha bure.
124:12 Rum 7:1; Gal 6:18; 2Kor 2:5Ndugu zangu, nawasihi mwe kama mimi, kwa sababu mimi nimekuwa kama ninyi. Hamkunitendea jambo lolote baya. 134:13 1Kor 2:3; 2Kor 11:30; 12:7, 9; Gal 1:6Ninyi mwajua kwamba ni kwa ajili ya udhaifu wangu niliwahubiria Injili. 144:14 Mt 10:40; 2Sam 19:27; Mal 2:7; Zek 12:8; Mt 10:40; Lk 10:16Ingawa hali yangu iliwatia majaribuni, hamkunidharau wala kunidhihaki, bali mlinikaribisha kama malaika wa Mungu, kama vile Kristo Yesu. 15Ile hali ya furaha mliyokuwa nayo imekwenda wapi? Naweza kushuhudia kwamba, kama ingewezekana mngengʼoa macho yenu na kunipa mimi. 164:16 Gal 2:5, 14; Amo 5:10Je, sasa nimekuwa adui yenu kwa kuwaambia kweli?
174:17 Gal 2:4, 12; Rum 10:12; 1Kor 11:2Hao wana shauku ya kuwapata lakini si kwa kusudi zuri. Wanachotaka ni kuwatenga mbali nasi, ili ninyi mpate kuwaonea wao shauku. 184:18 Gal 4:13, 14Ni vizuri wakati wote kuwa na shauku kwa ajili ya kusudi zuri, si wakati nikiwa pamoja nanyi tu. 194:19 1The 2:11; Rum 8:29; Efe 4:13Watoto wangu wapendwa, ambao kwa mara nyingine ninawaonea utungu, ninatamani kwamba Kristo aumbike ndani yenu. 20Natamani kama ningekuwa pamoja nanyi sasa, pengine ningebadilisha sauti yangu. Kwa maana nina wasiwasi kwa ajili yenu.
Mfano Wa Hagari Na Sara
214:21 Rum 2:12Niambieni, ninyi mnaotaka kuwa chini ya sheria, je, hamjui sheria inavyosema? 22Kwa maana imeandikwa kwamba Abrahamu alikuwa na wana wawili, mmoja wa mwanamke mtumwa na wa pili wa mwanamke huru. 234:23 Gal 4:28, 29; Rum 9:7, 8; Mwa 17:16-21; 18:10-14; 4:24Lakini, mtoto wa mwanamke mtumwa alizaliwa kwa mapenzi ya mwili, na yule mwingine wa mwanamke huru alizaliwa kutokana na ahadi ya Mungu.
24Mambo haya yanaweza kuchukuliwa kama mfano. Kwa maana hao wanawake wawili ni mfano wa maagano mawili: Agano la kwanza, ni lile lililofanyika katika Mlima Sinai, lizaalo watoto wa utumwa. Hili ndilo huyo Hagari. 25Basi Hagari anawakilisha Mlima Sinai ulioko Arabuni, na unafanana na Yerusalemu ya sasa ambayo iko utumwani pamoja na watoto wake. 264:26 Flp 2:3; Ebr 12:22; Isa 2:2; Ufu 3:12; 21:2, 10Lakini Yerusalemu wa juu ni huru, nayo ndiye mama yetu. 274:27 Isa 54:1Kwa maana imeandikwa:
“Furahi, ewe mwanamke tasa,
wewe usiyezaa;
paza sauti, na kuimba kwa furaha,
wewe usiyepatwa na utungu wa kuzaa;
kwa maana watoto wa mwanamke aliyeachwa ukiwa ni wengi
kuliko wa mwanamke mwenye mume.”
284:28 Mdo 3:25; Rum 9:8; Gal 3:29Basi, sisi ndugu zangu, ni kama Isaki, tu watoto wa ahadi. 294:29 Mwa 21:9; Gal 5:11; 6:12Lakini, kama vile ilivyokuwa siku zile yule aliyezaliwa kwa mwili alivyomchokoza yule aliyezaliwa kwa Roho, ndivyo ilivyo hata sasa. 304:30 Mwa 21:10Lakini Maandiko yasemaje? “Mwondoe mwanamke mtumwa pamoja na mwanawe, kwa sababu mwana wa mwanamke mtumwa kamwe hatarithi pamoja na mwana wa aliye huru.” 314:31 Rum 7:4; Gal 4:22Kwa hiyo ndugu zangu, sisi si watoto wa mwanamke mtumwa, bali wa yule aliye huru.
