Galatians 3:19-4:9

English Standard Version

¹⁹ Why then the law? ^(A)It was added because of transgressions, ^(B)until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ^(C)put in place through angels ^(D)by an intermediary. ²⁰ Now ^(E)an intermediary implies more than one, but ^(F)God is one.

²¹ Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For ^(G)if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. ²² But the Scripture ^(H)imprisoned everything under sin, so that ^(I)the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given ^(J)to those who believe.

²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, ^(K)imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, ^(L)the law was our ^(M)guardian until Christ came, ^(N)in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus ^(O)you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as ^(P)were baptized ^(Q)into Christ have ^(R)put on Christ. ^28 (S)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave^[a] nor free, ^(T)there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And ^(U)if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, ^(V)heirs according to promise.

Sons and Heirs

4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,^[b] though he is the owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³ In the same way we also, when we were children, ^(W)were enslaved to the elementary principles^[c] of the world. ⁴ But ^(X)when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, ^(Y)born ^(Z)of woman, born ^(AA)under the law, ^5 (AB)to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive ^(AC)adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent ^(AD)the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then ^(AE)an heir through God.

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Formerly, when you ^(AF)did not know God, you ^(AG)were enslaved to those that by nature ^(AH)are not gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather ^(AI)to be known by God, ^(AJ)how can you turn back again to ^(AK)the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?