galatians-4:21-31

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:21-23

The biblical story 4:21-23 read more

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:21-31

3. The biblical illustration 4:21-31Paul interpreted allegorically (i.e., figuratively, NIV) features of the history of Abraham’s two sons to convince his readers that they were in danger of joining the wrong branch of Abraham’s family. The apostle appears to have used the story of Abraham the way he did because this was a common rabbinic method that the Judaizers probably employed in their teaching in Galatia. [Note: R. Alan Cole, The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, pp. 128-29. Longenecker... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:22-23

He pointed out two contrasts between Ishmael and Isaac. First, Ishmael’s mother was a slave, but Isaac’s mother was free. These conditions affected the status of their sons in Abraham’s household. Second, Ishmael was born naturally, but Isaac was born supernaturally in fulfillment of God’s promise."In the scriptural record of the birth of these two sons of Abraham Paul recognizes the same opposition between reliance on self (’according to the flesh’) and reliance on God (’through promise’) as... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:24

Paul then interpreted these events figuratively. Note that he said the story "contained" an allegory, not "was" an allegory (lit. "which things are allegorized"). [Note: See Robertson, 4:306-7.] He acknowledged the historicity of the events. Paul saw in this story an illustration of the conflict between Judaism and Christianity, nomism and spirituality. He was calling allegory what we refer to as analogy. An "allegory," as we use that term today, is a story in which the events are not... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:24-27

The allegorical interpretation 4:24-27 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:25

Hagar represents the Mosaic Covenant made at Mount Sinai in Paul’s analogy (illustration). Her descendants represent the Israelites who lived in bondage under the Law. Sarah, not mentioned in Galatians 4:25, represents the Abrahamic Covenant, and her descendants are free, living under the promise.The earliest identification of Mt. Sinai with Jebel Musa in the Sinai Peninsula, the most popular probable site, comes from the writing of Egeria in the fourth century A.D. Perhaps in Paul’s day the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:26

Hagar also represents old Jerusalem, enslaved under Rome and the Mosaic Law, which Paul did not mention in Galatians 4:26. Sarah represents the heavenly city of Jerusalem, the final destiny of departed believers, which is free. She is also the mother of all true believers.The main features in this analogy are as follows.Hagar is the bond womenSarah is the free womanIshmael was born naturallyIsaac was born supernaturallyThe old covenantThe new covenantThe earthly JerusalemThe heavenly... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:27

The quotation from Isaiah 54:1 predicted that Israel, which was comparatively barren before the Babylonian exile, would enjoy numerous children in the future. This is probably a reference to the blessings of the millennial kingdom. Paul applied this prophecy to Sarah. She would have greater blessing and more children in the future than in the past, children of the promises, namely, all true believers including Christians. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:28

Paul drew three applications from his interpretation. First, Christians are similar to Isaac in that they experience a supernatural birth and are part of the fulfillment of God’s promise. Therefore they should not live as enslaved sons. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:28-31

The practical application 4:28-31 read more

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:21-23

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:21-31

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:22-23

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:24

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:24-27

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:25

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:26

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:27

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:28

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 4:28-31

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