Galatians Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Now I say, that the heir, as long as he’s a child is the same as a servant even though he is the lord of all. But, he’s under tutors and governors until the father says he no longer needs these things.

It’s the same for us, when we were children, we were in bondage under the elements of the world. But, when the time was right, God sent us JC. He was made of a woman, under the law, so that he could redeem all the folks that were under the law so that our sons could be adopted.

And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his son into your hearts to cry “Father”. Now you’re not a servant, but a son (which we recall from several lines ago is the same as a servant… oh wait, but now we’re grown up so it’s all different… what if you’re the son of a servant? Oh, and I won’t even bother with the whole what if you’re a woman deal… that’s just pointless). If you’re a son then you’re and heir through JC (Hooray, she cried tepidly).

How was it then, that when you didn’t even know God, you did service to those who are not by nature gods. But now, after you know God, or rather now that God knows you, how can turn to the weak and beggardly elements? Do you again desire to be in bondage? (I think service to God and mean old JC sounds like pretty crappy bondage, but maybe that’s just me).

You observes days and months and times and years (are times longer than months, I wonder?). I’m afraid of you, because I don’t want to waste my time.

Brethren, I beg you, be like me (Huge pass on that one Paul!), for I am as you are. You haven’t injured me at all. You know that it was through an infirmity of the flesh that I first preached the gospel to you.

Even though I had temptation that was in my flesh, you didn’t despise me or reject me. Instead, you received me as an angel of God even as JC himself (Paul really wishes he was JC… I’m not sure that a little part of him doesn’t believe that he is!)

Where is the blessedness you spoke of? I remind you that, if it was possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. (Gross!)

Am I your enemy because I told you the truth?

They zealously affect you, but it’s not good. They would exclude you so you can’t affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected from good things and not just when I’m with you.

My little children (who doesn’t like being condescended to like that), who I work with until you receive Christ. I want to be present with you now, and to change what I say to you, because now I doubt you.

Tell me that you desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?

It is written that Abe had two sons, one by the bondmaid and the other by a freewoman. But the son from the bondwoman was born after the flesh, and one from the freewoman was born by promise.

This is an allegory (thanks for letting us know), these are the two covenants: the one from Mt. Sinai engenders bondage which is Agar. This Agar is Mt. Sinai in Arabia and answers to Jerusalem now and is in bondage with her children. (Interesting… what was going on between Jerusalem and Arabia at the time?)

But Jerusalem is free and mother to us all.

For it is written, Rejoice, you who are barren, break forth and cry, you who don’t work, for the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband. (Garble, huh?)

Now we, brethren, are the children of promise, just like Isaac. But back then those who were born after the flesh persecuted those born after the Spirit. It’s still like that now.

Nevertheless, what does the scripture say? Cast out the bondwoman and her son because the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. (Oh, that’s just fucking awesome. So Abe can screw whoever he wants but he doesn’t have to acknowledge any kids he has with slaves. In fact he just casts them out to the street? That’s fucking nice.)

So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the freewoman.

Garble, ergh, yack, yack… blah