4:6a
And: Verse 4:6 is an additional point in Paul’s discussion about being sons of God. The Berean Standard Bible connects this verse to the previous verse with the conjunction And.
Some English versions do not begin this sentence with such a conjunction. In some languages, it will not be necessary to begin this sentence with such a conjunction either.
because you are sons: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because :
(1) It means because. According to this interpretation, this word is a conjunction and introduces the reason why God has given us the Spirit. Paul is saying that because we are his children, God has given us the Spirit. For example:
Because you are sons (New International Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New International Version, NET Bible, Revised Standard Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
(2) It means that. According to this interpretation, God gives us his Spirit, and that confirms that we are his children. So this verse should read, “?That which shows? that we are his children is that God gave us the Spirit.” For example:
To show that you are his children (Good News Translation)
(Good News Translation, Revised English Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Most English versions follow this interpretation.
Another way to translate this clause is:
Now that you are sons
you: Paul used the pronoun you to address the Galatians directly. He then changed to the pronoun “our” in 4:6b to focus on the fact that all believers are sons and have the Spirit. In some languages, it may not be natural to change pronouns in this way. If that is true in your language, you may use the pronoun “we” here. For example:
And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts (New Living Translation (2004))
4:6b
God sent: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as sent is the same Greek word as in 4:4b.
Another way to translate this is:
God gave us
the Spirit of His Son: The phrase the Spirit of His Son refers to the Holy Spirit. In other passages, he is also called “the Spirit of God” and “the Spirit of Christ.” Your word for the Spirit of His Son must make it clear that this is the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
the Spirit of his Son, ?that is, the Holy Spirit?
-or-
the ?Holy Spirit,? the Spirit that his Son ?promised?
See Spirit in the Glossary.
into our hearts: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hearts refers to the inner being of a person. It is who we are as a person.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
to live in our hearts/minds
-or-
to stay in us
-or-
to be with us
Many languages use a different part of the body such as “liver,” “kidney,” “intestines,” or “mind” to refer to the inner being of a person.
4:6c
crying out: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crying out refers to earnest, intense “calling out.” It describes what the Holy Spirit does in our hearts. He enables us to call God “Father.” It does not refer to weeping.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
It’s the Spirit ?living in us? who urgently calls out
-or-
The Spirit enables us to say
“Abba, Father!”: The word Abba is the Aramaic word that means Father. Jesus called God “Abba.” Jesus is God’s Son. Now we are God’s sons, so we too can call him “Abba.” Before Christ came, people did not address God as “Father.”
Some ways to translate these words are:
• Transliterate the word “Abba” and use the word for “Father” in your language. This is what many English versions do. For example:
Abba, Father
If you choose this option, you may want to include a footnote explaining that “Abba” means “Father” in Aramaic.
• Transliterate the word “Abba” and then explain that it means “Father.” For example:
“Abba,” which means Father.
• Use only one term. Either transliterate “Abba” or use your word for “Father.” For example:
Abba
-or-
Father (New Century Version)
If the word “Abba” is already a word in your language that means something else, you should not transliterate that word.
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