Read & explore together
Sons and Heirs
This passage compares a young heir under supervision with those who were in bondage, then shows the change God made by sending his Son and the Spirit of his Son. The movement is from restraint to family belonging.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This letter section begins with an heir who, while still a child, lives under guardians and stewards until the father’s chosen time. The passage then says “we” were in bondage, before describing God sending his Son, adoption as children, and the Spirit crying, “Abba, Father!”
Galatians 4:1–7Main takeaway
Those addressed are described here as no longer bondservants, but children and heirs of God through Christ.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01An heir under guardiansThe passage starts with a family picture. An heir who is still a child is called “lord of all”, yet at that stage he is “no different from a bondservant”.
Explanation
The passage starts with a family picture. An heir who is still a child is called “lord of all”, yet at that stage he is “no different from a bondservant”. He lives under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. The image stresses limitation before the appointed time.
02“We” were held in bondageThe writer then applies the picture to “we”. When “we were children”, “we were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world”.
Explanation
The writer then applies the picture to “we”. When “we were children”, “we were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world”. This verse states bondage plainly, but does not explain those principles further here. The main contrast is between life under bondage and the freedom described later.
03God sent his SonThe turning point is God’s action. “When the fullness of the time came”, God sent out his Son.
Explanation
The turning point is God’s action. “When the fullness of the time came”, God sent out his Son. The passage says the Son was “born to a woman” and “born under the law”. His sending had a purpose: to redeem those under the law so that “we might receive the adoption as children”.
04The Spirit cries, “Abba, Father!”The passage next says, “because you are children”, God sent “the Spirit of his Son” into your hearts.
Explanation
The passage next says, “because you are children”, God sent “the Spirit of his Son” into your hearts. The cry is “Abba, Father!” This matches the final conclusion: “you are no longer a bondservant, but a son”; and if a son, then “an heir of God through Christ”.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What shows that the heir in the opening picture still lives with limits for a time?
Look for the phrases about being “no different from a bondservant” and being under “guardians and stewards” until the father’s appointed day.
02What does the passage say God did when “the fullness of the time came”?
Answer from the text by naming whom God sent, how the Son is described, and the stated purpose of his sending.
03How does the passage describe the change from bondage to family belonging?
Trace the words from “held in bondage” to “children”, “Abba, Father!”, and “heir of God through Christ”.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Galatians 4:1–7
1But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all,
2but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
3So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
4But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
5that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as children.
6And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
7So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.