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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 4:30 mean?

Explanation

Galatians 4:30 references an event from the Genesis narrative in the Old Testament, specifically the story of Sarah and Hagar.

Sarah, Abraham's wife, was initially barren and gave her maidservant Hagar to Abraham to bear a child.

Hagar bore Ishmael, but later Sarah had her own son, Isaac.

The tension between Sarah and Hagar, and by extension their sons, Ishmael and Isaac, led to Sarah's demand that Hagar and her son be cast out.

In Galatians, the Apostle Paul uses this event allegorically to distinguish between those who are born of the "flesh" (the Old Covenant, law) and those born of the "spirit" (the New Covenant, grace).

The literal meaning of this verse is the instruction found in the Old Testament to send away Hagar and Ishmael so that Isaac, the child of promise, would be the sole heir.

The deeper meaning Paul is conveying is that Christians are not to be part of the old covenant of law, represented by Hagar, but rather are heirs of the new covenant of grace through faith, represented by Sarah and Isaac.

Top Rated Galatians Books

Historical Context

Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul around 49 to 58 AD, addressing early Christian communities in Galatia, a region in modern-day Turkey.

During this time, there were controversies surrounding the integration of Gentile (non-Jewish) converts into Christianity and whether they needed to adhere to Jewish law, such as circumcision, to be true Christians.

Paul addresses these issues by asserting the superiority of faith in Christ over adherence to the Mosaic Law for salvation.

Theological Insights

This verse has been a point of theological discussion regarding the relationship between law and grace.

One perspective is that the law, represented by Hagar, is obsolete and believers are now under the dispensation of grace, represented by Sarah.

Covenant theologians see this as a distinction between the covenant of works (law) and the covenant of grace (faith in Christ).

Dispensationalists emphasize different economies of God's dealings with humankind, with a clear division between the epochs of law and grace.

Practical Applications

"Galatians 4:30" may be interpreted in practical terms as an encouragement for believers to release legalistic practices and to live in the freedom provided by faith in Christ.

It can also apply to liberating oneself from past bondage, whether it be personal struggles, sins, or any form of spiritual slavery, to live as children of promise.

Cross-References

Genesis 21:10-12 - "Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac."
Galatians 4:24 - "Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar."
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 11:17-18 - "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:"

Language Study

The key terms in the original Greek text include:

"Cast out" (ἔκβαλε ekbale) which carries the force of expulsion, used both literally and figuratively.
"Bondwoman" (παιδίσκης paidiskēs) refers to a female slave or servant, in this case Hagar.
"Heir" (κληρονόμος klēronomos) represents one who receives an inheritance; in the context of Paul's letter, it signifies being part of God's promise.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the dynamics between primary wives, concubines, and their children often dictated inheritance and social standing. The story of Sarah and Hagar mirrors other ancient myths where rivalry and lineage play critical roles.

The cultural norm of the time was that the son of a free woman would be the rightful heir, overshadowing the son of a bondwoman.

Scientific Perspectives

Galatians 4:30 does not directly intersect with scientific concepts or discussions.

However, the verse addresses human lineage and inheritance, which can tangentially relate to genetics and evolutionary biology in terms of inherited characteristics and social behavior.

Commentaries

Classic and contemporary biblical scholars generally agree on the allegorical application of Genesis in Galatians 4:30.

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes that just as Isaac was the child of promise and heir, so Christians are heirs of God's promise through faith, not through the law.

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible also takes a similar stance, viewing the verse as an instruction to reject the Judaic system and its laws in favor of the Christian gospel.

More modern commentaries continue to explore the implications of being heirs of promise rather than adherents to the law.

Galatians 4

Galatians 4

What does Galatians 4:30 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 4:30 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?