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Galatians 4

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

What does Galatians 4:25 mean?

Explanation

Galatians 4:25 draws a symbolic analogy between Hagar, a figure from the book of Genesis, and Mount Sinai in Arabia.

In this analogy, Hagar represents the Old Covenant of the Mosaic Law given to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai.

The text says that Hagar "answereth to Jerusalem which now is," meaning she corresponds to the earthly city of Jerusalem, where at the time the temple and the center of Jewish religious practice was located.

Furthermore, the verse concludes that this Jerusalem is "in bondage with her children," implying that those who rely on the law for their righteousness are enslaved by it, just as Hagar was a slave.

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Historical Context

Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul approximately in A.D. 49-58.

The book addresses the churches in the region of Galatia (present-day Turkey) and tackles the issue of Gentile Christians being compelled to follow Jewish customs and Mosaic Law to achieve salvation.

The historical context includes the tension between Jewish Christians who followed traditional Jewish law and Gentile Christians who did not adhere to these customs.

Paul uses the Hagar and Sarah analogy to argue that faith in Christ, not adherence to the law, is the basis for righteousness.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse speaks to the concept of freedom in Christ as compared to slavery under the law.

From a covenant theology perspective, Paul contrasts the Old Covenant (Law) and the New Covenant (Grace).

The Old Covenant is associated with bondage, as represented by Hagar, while the New Covenant is associated with freedom and the promise, as represented by Sarah (Galatians 4:26).

This analogy is used to illustrate that the path to salvation is not through legalistic observance but through faith in Jesus Christ.

Practical Applications

This verse encourages Christians today to live in the freedom that comes from faith in Christ rather than being enslaved by legalistic practices or trying to earn salvation through works.

It promotes the idea of being spiritually free and not bogged down by the rituals and regulations that cannot justify anyone before God.

It can also serve as a reminder of the importance of understanding one's identity in Christ rather than through cultural or religious affiliations alone.

Cross-References

Galatians 4:21-31: The broader context where Paul compares Hagar and Sarah.
Romans 8:15: "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
Hebrews 12:18-24: A passage contrasting Mount Sinai and Mount Zion, reflecting the shift from old to new covenants.
John 8:36: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Language Study

"Agar": Hagar, Sarah's Egyptian handmaid, mother of Ishmael in the Genesis narrative.

The Greek word here is "Hagar."

"Answereth": The Greek word "stoicheo" implies to be in line with or correspond to something.
"Bondage": Derived from the Greek "douleuo," indicating enslavement or servitude, often used in New Testament times to describe the condition of a slave.
"Children": Here, it refers to the descendants or adherents of a particular ideology or practice, those under the law.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Paul's allegorical use of Hagar and Sarah may be compared to other ancient myths where characters represent larger concepts or groups.

For example, in the Epic of Gilgamesh, characters and their actions symbolize themes such as the quest for immortality.

In terms of religious interpretation, both Judaism and Islam hold significant views on Hagar; in Islam, Hagar is seen as the matriarch of Arabs through her son Ishmael.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific understanding does not directly intersect with the metaphorical content of Galatians 4:25.

However, archaeology can play a role in understanding the historical Mount Sinai and its cultural significance.

Anthropology and sociology also contribute to understanding how law and religious practice can shape societies and create systems of inclusion or exclusion, which is relevant to the theme of bondage and freedom in the verse.

Commentaries

Regarding Galatians 4:25, commentators often focus on the allegorical meaning that Paul intends. For example, John Stott in his "The Message of Galatians" notes the dichotomy between law and grace that Paul emphasizes through Hagar and Sarah.

Additionally, the ESV Study Bible remarks on the context of first-century Judaism and its reliance on the law, which Paul argues against in favor of the grace found in Christ.

Many commentaries reinforce the concept of Christian freedom as opposed to the enslavement of the law.

Galatians 4

Galatians 4

What does Galatians 4:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Galatians Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Galatians 4:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Galatians Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?