26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God(A) through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ(B) have clothed yourselves with Christ.(C) 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,(D) nor is there male and female,(E) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.(F) 29 If you belong to Christ,(G) then you are Abraham’s seed,(H) and heirs(I) according to the promise.(J)

What 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. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery(K) under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world.(L) But when the set time had fully come,(M) God sent his Son,(N) born of a woman,(O) born under the law,(P) to redeem(Q) those under the law, that we might receive adoption(R) to sonship.[b](S) Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son(T) into our hearts,(U) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.”(V) So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.(W)

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:3 Or under the basic principles
  2. Galatians 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.
  3. Galatians 4:6 Aramaic for Father

25-27 But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.

In Christ’s Family

28-29 In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises.

1-3 Let me show you the implications of this. As long as the heir is a minor, he has no advantage over the slave. Though legally he owns the entire inheritance, he is subject to tutors and administrators until whatever date the father has set for emancipation. That is the way it is with us: When we were minors, we were just like slaves ordered around by simple instructions (the tutors and administrators of this world), with no say in the conduct of our own lives.

4-7 But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.