Galatians 4: From Slaves to Sons
When the fullness of time came, God sent his Son to redeem us and make us sons, and Paul pleads with the Galatians not to return to bondage.
Galatians 4 (WEB)
1 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;
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.
6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
9 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?
10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
13 but you know that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
14 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.
15 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.
16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—
20 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman.
23 However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break out and shout, you that don’t travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.”
28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29 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.
30 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.”
31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.
Galatians 4 (KJV)
1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
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 how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto 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 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
18 But it is good to be zealously affected 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 voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
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 bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after 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 gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
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 which hath an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after 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.
Galatians 4 (ASV)
1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;
2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.
3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:
4 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
5 that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
7 So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
8 Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:
9 but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?
10 Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.
12 I beseech you, brethren, become as I am, for I also am become as ye are. Ye did me no wrong:
13 but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time:
14 and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
16 So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?
17 They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.
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.
19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you—
20 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you.
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, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.
23 Howbeit the son by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise.
24 Which things contain an allegory: for these women are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.
25 Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, 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.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted himthat was bornafter the Spirit, so also it is now.
30 Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.
31 Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.
Summary
Paul illustrates the change the gospel brings with a picture from family life: an heir who is still a child is no better off than a slave, under guardians until the time set by his father. So it was with us, held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world—until the fullness of time came and God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons. Because we are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying “Abba, Father,” so that we are no longer slaves but sons and heirs through Christ. Paul is therefore baffled and grieved that the Galatians would turn back to weak and worthless principles, observing days and seasons as if returning to bondage. He pleads with them tenderly, recalling how warmly they once received him despite his bodily weakness, and how they would have given him their very eyes. Has he become their enemy by telling the truth? He is again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in them. Finally he draws an allegory from Abraham's two sons: Hagar and her son represent the covenant of Sinai and slavery; Sarah and Isaac, the free woman and the child of promise, represent the Jerusalem above, which is free. Believers, like Isaac, are children of promise, and Scripture says to cast out the slave woman's son—for they are not children of the slave but of the free.
Key Figures
- Paul — The apostle who pleads tenderly with the Galatians as his little children, perplexed at their drift and laboring again until Christ is formed in them.
- Christ the Son — Sent by God in the fullness of time, born of a woman and under the law, to redeem those under the law and bring us into sonship.
- The Holy Spirit — The Spirit of God's Son sent into believers' hearts, crying “Abba, Father,” the seal and assurance of our adoption.
- Hagar and Sarah — Abraham's two women, used by Paul as an allegory: Hagar for the covenant of slavery under Sinai, Sarah for the free covenant of promise to which believers belong.
Key Verse
Galatians 4:7 (WEB)
So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Lessons Learned
- In the fullness of time God sent his Son to redeem us and make us his children.
- The Spirit assures us we are sons, crying “Abba, Father” within our hearts.
- To return to law after receiving grace is to slide back toward slavery.
- Believers are children of promise, born free, like Isaac and not Ishmael.
- God acts at the right time. “When the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son” (Galatians 4:4, WEB). The Father's timing is perfect and purposeful.
- Redemption brings adoption. Christ came “that we might receive the adoption of children” (Galatians 4:5, WEB). We are not merely forgiven but welcomed into the family.
- The Spirit assures us we belong. “God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Galatians 4:6, WEB). Our sonship is felt, not merely affirmed.
- Grace must not give way to slavery. Paul fears they will “turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles” (Galatians 4:9, WEB). Returning to law-keeping is a step back into bondage.
- How does the picture of an heir who is still a child help explain our condition before Christ came (4:1-3)?
- What is the significance of God sending his Son “born to a woman, born under the law” (4:4)?
- What does it mean for the Spirit to cry “Abba, Father” in our hearts (4:6), and how does that affect daily life?
- Why is Paul so distressed that the Galatians want to observe “days, months, seasons, and years” (4:10)?
- Do you relate to God more like a fearful slave or a beloved child? What might help you live more fully as a son or daughter?
- Before Christ, even those who belonged to God lived under the law's tutelage, no freer in practice than slaves, waiting for the time of fulfillment. The picture shows that the law was a stage, not the destination. Help the group see the change Christ brought from minority to mature sonship.
- Jesus entered fully into our condition—truly human, born under the very law that condemned us—so that he could redeem us from within. His obedience and sacrifice purchased our adoption. Discuss how the incarnation is essential to our rescue, not incidental to it.
- “Abba” is the intimate cry of a child to a loving father. The Spirit assures believers, deep within, that God is truly their Father. Invite the group to consider how this intimacy can replace fear and performance with trust, especially in seasons of struggle.
- Paul fears that adopting the law's calendar and rules is the first step back into the slavery Christ freed them from—trading sonship for bondage. It signals reliance on works rather than grace. Encourage the group to watch for subtle ways we make our standing depend on observances rather than Christ.
- This is a personal-application question. Gently invite members to reflect on whether fear, guilt, or performance still shape how they approach God. As leader, hold out the assurance of the Spirit's witness and the security of being an heir, and resist pressuring anyone to share more than they wish.