Soalsowe, whilewe were children,were held in bondageunderthe elemental thingsof the world.
"Cometo Me, allwho are wearyand heavy-laden,and I will give you rest.
SoJesuswas sayingto thoseJewswho had believedHim, "Ifyou continuein My word,[then] you are trulydisciplesof Mine;
"Nowthereforewhydo you putGodto the testby placingupon the neckof the disciplesa yokewhichneitherour fathersnorwe have been ableto bear?
For we knowthat the Lawis spiritual,but I amof flesh,soldinto bondage to sin.
For you have not receiveda spiritof slaveryleadingto fearagain,but you have receiveda spiritof adoption as sonsby whichwe cryout, "Abba!Father!"
For you tolerateit ifanyoneenslavesyou, anyonedevoursyou, anyonetakesadvantage of you, anyoneexaltshimself, anyonehitsyou in the face.
But [it was] becauseof the false brethrensecretly brought in, who had sneakedin to spyout our libertywhichwe havein ChristJesus,in orderto bring us into bondage.
Whythe Lawthen?It was addedbecauseof transgressions,having been ordainedthroughangelsby the agencyof a mediator,untilthe seedwould cometo whomthe promise had been made.
but he is underguardiansand managersuntilthe date setby the father.
Thisis allegorically speaking,for these[women] are twocovenants:one[proceeding] from MountSinaibearing childrenwho are to be slaves;she is Hagar.
NowthisHagaris MountSinaiin Arabiaand correspondsto the presentJerusalem,for she is in slaverywith her children.
So then,brethren,we are not childrenof a bondwoman,but of the free woman.
Howeverat that time,when you did not knowGod,you were slavesto thosewhich by natureare nogods.
But nowthat you have come to knowGod,orratherto be knownby God,howis it that you turn backagainto the weakand worthlesselemental things,to whichyou desireto be enslavedall overagain?
Ifyou have diedwith Christto the elementary principlesof the world,why,as ifyou were livingin the world,do you submit yourself to decrees,such as,
Seeto it that noonetakes you captivethroughphilosophyand emptydeception,accordingto the traditionof men,accordingto the elementary principlesof the world,ratherthanaccordingto Christ.
For thoughby thistimeyou oughtto be teachers,you haveneedagainfor someoneto teachyou the elementaryprinciplesof the oraclesof God,and you have cometo needmilkand not solidfood.
whohas become[such] not on the basisof a lawof physicalrequirement,but accordingto the powerof an indestructiblelife.
