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Galatians 4:6-8
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Galatians 4:6-8
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
6 As proof that you are children,[a] God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”(A) 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.(B)
Do Not Throw This Freedom Away.[b] 8 (C)At a time when you did not know God, you became slaves to things that by nature are not gods;[c]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 4:6 Children: see note on Gal 3:26; here in contrast to the infant or young person not of age (Gal 3:1, 3). Abba: cf. Mk 14:36 and the note; Rom 8:15.
- 4:8–11 On the basis of the arguments advanced from Gal 3:1 through Gal 4:7, Paul now launches his appeal to the Galatians with the question, how can you turn back to the slavery of the law (Gal 4:9)? The question is posed with reference to bondage to the elemental powers (see note on Gal 4:3) because the Galatians had originally been converted to Christianity from paganism, not Judaism (Gal 4:8). The use of the direct question is like Gal 3:3–5.
- 4:8 Things that by nature are not gods: or “gods that by nature do not exist.”
Galatians 4:6-8
New International Version
Galatians 4:6-8
New International Version
6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son(A) into our hearts,(B) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[a] Father.”(C) 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.(D)
Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you did not know God,(E) you were slaves(F) to those who by nature are not gods.(G)
Footnotes
- Galatians 4:6 Aramaic for Father
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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