Abba, Father, and heir through God (4:6–7)

Says Galatians 4:6 reads ὅτι δέ ἐστε υἱοί, ἐξαπέστειλεν ὁ θεὸς τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ (hoti de este huioi exapesteilen ho theos to pneuma tou huiou autou), the verb of 4:4 again. The Spirit is sent εἰς τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν (eis tas kardias hēmōn, “into our hearts”), after “you are sons”; RP 2018 and the TR read ὑμῶν (see the textual note on 4:6).

Says The participle κρᾶζον is neuter and agrees with τὸ πνεῦμα: the Spirit cries. Abbott-Smith lists this verse for κράζω “of importunate prayer”. The cry is Αββα ὁ πατήρ (Abba ho patēr, “Abba, Father”), an Aramaic word with its Greek rendering, which Abbott-Smith gives in the phrase as “Abba, Father”.

Says Galatians 4:7 turns to the singular: ὥστε οὐκέτι εἶ δοῦλος ἀλλὰ υἱός (hōste ouketi ei doulos alla huios), and εἰ δὲ υἱός, καὶ κληρονόμος διὰ θεοῦ (κληρονόμος, “an heir”). RP 2018 and the TR read θεοῦ διὰ Χριστοῦ (see the textual note on 4:7).

Implies One act names God who sends, his Son, and the Spirit of his Son; the result is sonship, not slavery, and the heir is made so through God.