Bible Passages Bridge: New Testament in a Year

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Galatians 4 - Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)

October 2
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King James and other versions... [http://bibleabc.net/bible/kjv/gal4-1.htm]
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4 I want to tell you this: While the heir* is still a child, he is no different
from a slave. It doesn't matter that the heir owns everything. Why? 2Because while
he is a child, he must obey the people who are chosen to care for him. But when
the child reaches the age his father set, he is free. 3It is the same for us. We
were once like children. We were slaves to the useless rules of this world. 4But
when the right time came, God sent his Son. God's Son was born from a woman. God's
Son lived under the law.* 5God did this so that he could buy the freedom of the
people who were under the law. God's purpose was to make us his children. 6You are
God's children. That is why God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. The
Spirit* cries out, "[Abba],* Father." 7So now you are not a slave like before. You
are God's child. God will give you the things he promised, because you are his child.
Paul's Love for the Galatian Christians
8In the past you did not know God. You were slaves to gods that were not real. 9But
now you know the true God. Really, it is God who knows you. So why do you turn back
to those weak and useless rules you followed before? Do you want to be slaves to
those things again? 10You still follow [the teaching of the law about] special
days, months, seasons, and years. 11I am afraid for you. I fear that my work for
you has been wasted. 12Brothers [and sisters], I was like you; so please become
like me. You were very good to me before. 13You remember why I came to you the
first time. It was because I was sick. That was when I told the Good News* to you.
14My sickness was a burden to you. But you did not show hate for me. You did not
make me leave. You welcomed me like I was an angel from God. You accepted me like
I was Jesus Christ himself! 15You were very happy then. Where is that joy now? I
remember that [you wanted to do anything possible to help me]. You would have taken
out your own eyes and given them to me if that were possible. 16Now am I your enemy
because I tell you the truth? 17Those people* are working hard to persuade you.
But this is not good for you. Those people want to persuade you to turn against
us. They want you to follow only them and no other people. 18It is good for people
to show interest in you, but only if their purpose is good. This is always true.
It is true when I am with you and when I am away. 19My little children, again I
feel pain for you like a mother feels when she gives birth. I will feel this until
you truly become like Christ. 20I wish I could be with you now. Then maybe I could
change the way I am talking to you. Now I don't know what to do about you.
The Example of Hagar and Sarah

21Some of you people still want to be under the law [of Moses]. Tell me, do you
know what the law says? 22The Scriptures* say that Abraham* had two sons. The mother
of one son was a slave woman. The mother of the other son was a free woman. 23Abraham's
son from the slave woman was born in the normal human way. But the son from the
free woman was born because of the promise [God made to Abraham]. 24This true story
makes a picture for us. The two women are like the two agreements (covenants) between
God and men. One agreement is [the law that God made] on Mount Sinai.* The people
who are under this agreement are like slaves. The mother named Hagar is like that
agreement. 25So Hagar is like Mount Sinai in Arabia. She is a picture of the earthly
[Jewish] city of Jerusalem. This city is a slave, and all its people (the Jews)
are slaves [to the law]. 26But the heavenly Jerusalem that is above is like the
free woman. This is our mother. 27It is written in the Scriptures* : "Be happy,
woman who cannot have children! You never gave birth. Shout and cry with joy! You
never felt the pain of giving birth. The woman who is alone* will have more children
than the woman who has a husband." (Isaiah 54:1)
28-29One son [of Abraham* ] was born in the normal way. [Abraham's] other son (Isaac)
was born by the power of the Spirit,* [because of God's promise]. My brothers [and
sisters], you are also children of promise like Isaac was then. The son who was
born in the normal way treated the other son (Isaac) badly. It is the same today.
30But what does the Scripture* say? "Throw out the slave woman and her son! The
son of the free woman will receive everything his father has. But the son of the
slave woman will receive nothing."* 31So, my brothers [and sisters], we are not
children of the slave woman. We are children of the free woman.

Footnotes: heir A person who will be given all that his father owned. law The law
of Moses. Spirit, Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ,
and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in
the world. Abba An Aramaic word. Jewish children called their fathers "[Abba]."
Good News The news that God has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven
and live with him forever. Those people The false teachers who were bothering the
believers in Galatia (Gal. 1:7). Scriptures Holy Writings--the Old Testament. Abraham
Most respected ancestor of the Jews. Mount Sinai Mountain in Arabia where God gave
his laws to Moses (Ex. 19 and 20). woman ... alone This means her husband has left
her. "Throw out ... nothing" Quote from Gen. 21:10.

"Taken from the HOLY BIBLE: EASY-TO-READ VERSION © 2001 by World Bible Translation
Center, Inc. and used by permission."
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Thursday, October 1, 2009

New Testament in a Year - October 2

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