What does Galatians 4:28 mean?

Explanation

Galatians 4:28 states, "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise." This verse encapsulates a key aspect of the Apostle Paul's teaching about the identity of Christian believers.

Here, Paul is drawing a parallel between Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, and the status of believers as children of God's promise.

Isaac was born according to the promise God gave to Abraham about having a multitude of descendants (Genesis 17:19), despite the seeming impossibility due to Sarah's old age.

This birth was a divine act, a fulfillment of God's promise rather than a natural occurrence.

In the same way, Paul is saying that believers, both Jewish and Gentile, are children of promise in a spiritual sense.

They are not children of God because of physical descent or adherence to the law, as Isaac was not born according to the natural course of things, but rather through the promise of God and a work of the Spirit.

In a deeper sense, the verse suggests that being a child of the promise means being part of the covenant community that God has established through faith in Jesus Christ, much like Isaac was part of the covenant through the promise made to Abraham.

Historical Context

The Apostle Paul wrote Galatians to the churches in Galatia, a region in what is now modern-day Turkey, around AD 48-55. This was a time when early Christian communities were grappling with their identity in relation to Judaism and the Law of Moses.

Many of Paul's letters address the issue of whether Gentile converts to Christianity needed to obey Jewish law and customs, including circumcision.

Paul's reference to Isaac in this context was deliberate, as he was countering the arguments of Judaizers – Jewish Christians who insisted that Gentile converts must follow the Jewish law.

By comparing Christian believers to Isaac, Paul reinforced the idea that faith in Christ, rather than adherence to the law, was the basis for inclusion in God's people.

Theological Insights

Theologically, Galatians 4:28 speaks to the doctrine of justification by faith. This principle asserts that individuals become righteous in the sight of God through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the law.

Moreover, the verse plays into the concept of the "true Israel," suggesting that God's people are defined not by ethnicity or the law, but by faith in the promise of salvation through Christ.

From a covenant theology perspective, this verse exemplifies the continuity of God's plan of salvation from the Old Testament to the New Testament, with Christ as the fulfillment of the promises made to the patriarchs.

Dispensationalists, on the other hand, may see a distinction between Israel and the Church, but they might still agree that the church, represented by Gentiles and Jews in Christ, is spiritually connected to the promise made to Abraham through Isaac.

Practical Applications

Galatians 4:28 encourages Christians to find their identity in being children of promise rather than in their own achievements, ethnicity, or religious backgrounds. It can be applied in daily life by:

Embracing a spiritual family that transcends cultural and national boundaries. 2.

Relying on faith in God's promises, instead of personal efforts, for righteousness and salvation. 3.

Understanding that the Christian identity is given by grace through faith and is not earned. 4.

Encouraging unity within the church, breaking down divisions based on background or status.

Cross-References

• Romans 9:8 - "That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."
• Hebrews 11:11 - "Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised."
• Galatians 3:29 - "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Language Study

The key phrase in Galatians 4:28 is "children of promise" (Greek: τέκνα ἐπαγγελίας, tekna epangelias).

The word τέκνα (tekna) means "children" but implies those born into a family, denoting a relationship rather than merely offspring.

The term ἐπαγγελίας (epangelias) translates to "of promise," signifying something assured or granted by a declaration, often by God in the biblical context.

By using these terms, Paul emphasizes not just descent but a relational and assured status given through God's proclamation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the ancient Near East, many cultures had stories of gods making promises or covenants with humans.

However, the distinctness of the biblical narrative is in the monotheistic nature of the promise, made by one God with individuals and extended to a community of faith.

Comparing this to other religious traditions, in Islam, for example, Ishmael rather than Isaac is seen as the child of promise through whom God's covenant with Abraham is continued, illustrating a significant divergence in the interpretation of these patriarchal narratives.

Scientific Perspectives

Galatians 4:28 is not a verse that intersects directly with scientific understandings, as it deals with matters of faith and divine promise.

However, the concept of being "children of promise" could be discussed metaphorically in terms of genetics and inheritance, wherein the Christian faith could be seen as a spiritual inheritance that transcends physical genetics.

Commentaries

Commentators have explored various aspects of Galatians 4:28:

• John Stott emphasizes that the true children of Abraham are those who share his faith, not necessarily his bloodline.
• Martin Luther saw this verse as affirmation that faith, not works or the Law, identifies one as a child of God.
• F.F.

Bruce suggests that just as Isaac's birth was a result of supernatural intervention, so the new birth of believers is the work of the Spirit.

• The ESV Study Bible notes clarify that "children of promise" means that Christians are heirs to the blessings promised to Abraham and his offspring, citing this verse as part of Paul's larger argument that Christians are not under the law but under grace.