Study Desk

For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law.

for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted.

Friends, I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong.

What has become of the goodwill you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you may make much of them.

It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman.

Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery.

Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

For it is written, "Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children, burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than the children of the one who is married."

But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman."

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.