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Gal.4:1. I will also say: the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, although he is the master of everything. Gal.4:2. He is subordinate to trustees and stewards until the time appointed by his father. Gal.4:3. So, until we were children, we were enslaved to the material principles of the world. “I say: at times there is a young heir, a servant who is better than none, who is the Lord of all, but is under lords and guardians even before the father’s command. Likewise, we, when we were young, under the elements of the world of enslavement." When fathers die, they entrust their young children to some kind of guardian, ordering them to take care of them until they reach manhood. For the Apostle expresses this with the words: “even until the father’s plan,” and this “narok” is the perfect age. Likewise, says the Apostle, we, while we were children and minors, had the law as a kind of guardian and overseer. “Elements” of the “world” he called the observation of legal prescriptions, because day and night are determined by the sun and moon, and weeks, months and years are made from days; the law commanded to preserve Saturdays, new moons, annual holidays, weeks of years. That is why the Apostle said: “under the elements there is a world of enslavement”; for in this way time is constituted. Gal.4:4. But when the fullness of time came, God sent His (Only Begotten) Son, who was born of a woman and became subject to the law. Gal.4:5. To redeem those under the law, that we may receive adoption as sons. “When the end of the year came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, to be under the law and redeem those under the law, so that we may receive sonship.” At the proper time, which God determined, He sent His Son to fulfill the mystery of the incarnation. And the Son, having perceived; Our nature, being born of the Virgin and living according to the law, made those subject to the punishments of the law free and granted us the promised sonship. It should be noted that the Apostle applied the word “ambassador” to incarnation. For he did not say: “He sent Him to be born of a woman, so that we could understand the message of the Divine,” but says: “He is born of a woman.” And this is characteristic of House-building. Gal.4:6. And since you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying: “Abba, Father!” “And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.” For we would not dare, when praying, to call God Father, without having been granted the gift of sonship. This proof is indisputable, for they have seen miracles performed by the Divine Spirit. Gal.4:7. Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Jesus Christ. “The same now bear a servant, but a son: if he be a son, and heir of God, Jesus Christ.” For not every son is an heir. But you are both a son and an heir, and you acquired this through Christ, and not through the law. Gal.4:8. But then, not knowing God, you served gods who are not gods in essence. Gal.4:9. Now, having come to know God, or, better yet, having received knowledge from God, why do you return again to the weak and poor material principles and want to enslave yourself to them again? “But then, since you do not know God, you serve not by nature as God; now, having come to know God; “But rather than knowing from God, how come you return to the weak and evil elements, which you want to serve from above?” And what does this service consist of? Gal.4:10. You observe days, months, times and years. “You look at the days, and the months, and the times and the summers.” The apostle is trying to prove that keeping days according to the law is idolatry. For before you were honored with the calling, he says, you served “not by nature as a real god,” idolizing the elements. But the Lord Christ freed you from this error. Now, I don’t know why, you are returning to the same error. For by observing the Sabbath, the new moon and other days, and being afraid to break this, you have become like those who idolize the elements. Gal.4:11. I am afraid for you, whether I worked for you in vain. “I’m afraid for you, because we labored in vain in you.” A fatherly voice is appropriate for one who remembers his labors and does not see the fruit. Gal.4:12. I ask you, brothers, to be like me, because I am like you. You didn't offend me in any way. “Be like you, like you, and like you.” Before, I too had this zeal and loved the law very much. Don't look how he has changed. Therefore, you too compete with me in this change. “Brotherhood, I pray: you will not offend me in any way.” Painful suffering forces the Apostle to often change his manner of speech - sometimes to reprimand, sometimes to beg, sometimes to accuse, and sometimes to mourn. That’s why here, too, he lets you know how important what he writes about is. For he says: “I do not tolerate any offense from you; on the contrary, I have received the greatest possible service from you.” Gal.4:13. You know that, although I preached the gospel to you the first time in the weakness of the flesh. Gal.4:14. But you did not despise my temptation in my flesh and did not abhor it, but accepted me as an Angel of God, as Christ Jesus. “You know that because of the weakness of the flesh, you were given more good news than the good news, and my temptations, even in my flesh, you did not despise, nor disdain, but received me like an Angel of God.” I have not forgotten the honor you showed me. Although he bore great dishonor on his body, he was mocked, tortured and endured thousands of troubles. However, you did not look at the dishonor, but honored me, “like an Angel of God.” And what do I say: “like an Angel?” "As Christ Jesus"; because they thought, by serving me, to serve Christ Himself. Gal.4:15. How blessed you were! I testify about you that, if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. “What kind of bliss is yours?” Where are your worthy competitions for advancement in faith? For the Apostle used the phrase “some” instead of “where.” “I testify to you that, even if it were powerful, your hair would have gone quickly.” Therefore, I do not suffer any personal insult from you, but, on the contrary, I testify to you my gratitude; but I grieve for you. For this the Apostle adds: Gal.4:16. So, have I really become your enemy by telling you the truth? “The same was your enemy, speaking the truth.” For the sake of truth, I use cruel words. Gal.4:17. They are uncleanly jealous of you, but they want to excommunicate you so that you will be jealous of them. “They are jealous of you in a bad way, but they want to excommunicate you, but you are jealous of them.” The Apostle said this about these wicked teachers. Seeing that you are distinguished by your faith, says Paul, they are tormented and use all means to deprive you of these benefits and subject you to their power. For he expressed this by saying: “Yes, you are jealous of them.” Gal.4:18. It is always good to be jealous in good things, and not only in my presence with you. “It’s good that jealousy is always good.” But it is desirable for me that you excel in all good things, so that others may benefit from you. “And I don’t mean to always come to you.” Both with me and without me, remain equally worthy of approval. Having said this, the Apostle again becomes like a bitterly weeping and lamenting mother and cries out: Gal.4:19. My children, for whom I am again in the throes of birth, until Christ is portrayed in you! “My children, even though I am sick, until Christ is imagined in you.” I endure birth illnesses a second time, because the first ones were unsuccessful and you became stillborn. This also exposes the madness of the Novatovs’ followers, who close the door to repentance. Gal.4:20. I wish I could be with you now and change my voice, because I am at a loss about you. “I would like to come to you now and change my voice, as if I had no thoughts about you.” Inflamed by love, I would like to become inspired, to hurry, to see what is happening among you, and to mourn the deviation of some, and to marvel at the firmness of others. For now, says the Apostle, being separated from you, I do not know what to say, what to talk about, what to mourn. Having presented this to the Galatians, he turns his speech to the evil defenders of the law and says: Gal.4:21. Tell me, you who want to be under the law: do you not listen to the law? Gal.4:22. For it is written: Abraham had two sons, one by a bondwoman, and the other by a freewoman. Gal.4:23. But he who is of a slave is born according to the flesh; and the one who is free, the one according to the promise. Gal.4:24. There is an allegory in this. These are two covenants: one from Mount Sinai, who gives birth to slavery, which is Hagar. Gal.4:25. For Hagar means Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, because it is in bondage with its children. Gal.4:26. And Jerusalem above is free: it is the mother of us all. “Speak to us, even though you want to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? It is written that Abraham had two sons: one by a slave, and the other by a free woman. But those who were born of a slave were born according to the flesh, and those who were born of a free woman were born according to a promise. Even the essence is allegorical.” The Divine Apostle said: “allegorical,” that is, they can be understood in other ways. For it does not reject the historical meaning, but explains what is represented by history; because it adds: “For this is two covenants: one is from Mount Sinai, who gives birth to work, which is Hagar: Hagar, for Mount Sinai is in Arabia, and is attached to the present Jerusalem, and works with his children: and the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Why, says the Apostle, are you who decide to serve the law not convinced by the teachings of the law? For the law teaches you that Abraham had two wives and became the father of two sons; but one of them came from a slave, the other from a free woman. And this is in accordance with what is happening to us. For just as there is one father, but two mothers and two sons, so here there is one God, but two covenants and two nations. But the prototype of the first covenant is Hagar, and the second is Sarah, because the old law was given from Mount Sinai, and the family of Hagar settled at that mountain. That mountain corresponds to this earthly Jerusalem. And Sarah is a type of the heavenly city, whose sons we are called. He is free, that is, he does not have the yoke of the law on him; and Jerusalem on earth is enslaved, and so are those who are subject to the law. The Apostle also points to a prophecy consistent with this prototype. Gal.4:27. For it is written: Rejoice, O barren, unbearable; shout and shout, you who did not suffer from childbirth; because the one who is abandoned has many more children than the one who has a husband. “For it is written: rejoice, O barren One, who beareth no child: break away, and cry, O She who is not in pain, for there are many more empty children than those who have husbands” (Isaiah 54:1). For just as Sarah gave birth in her old age, beyond all human aspirations, so the pagans, at the very end of their lives, became worthy of the knowledge of God, and the barren one surpassed the many-children who were born of old. Gal.4:28. We, brothers, are the children of the promise according to Isaac. “But we, brethren, according to Isaac, are the children of the promise.” For we were not born by nature, but by grace. Just as Isaac was not produced by natural law, but by the word of promise, so we were produced by the promise given to Abraham. Gal.4:29. But just as then he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now. “But just as then he was born according to the flesh as a spiritual pursuer, so it is now.” Let it not sadden you that those who believed are persecuted by the infidels. For we find the same thing in the type Gal.4:30. What does Scripture say? Cast out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will not be an heir along with the son of the free woman. “But what does the scripture say? Marry the slave and her son, lest the son of a slave should inherit with the son of a free woman” (Gen. 21:10). The Apostle called Sarrino's saying a saying of Scripture, showing the purpose of Scripture, that this writing was given for this purpose, so that together with the truth the type might be seen. Gal.4:31. So, brothers, we are not the children of slaves, but of a free woman. “The same, brethren, we are not the children of a slave, but free.” Therefore, what do you command? You might be interested in: