Early readings of Galatians 4: the persecution of 4:29

Says “At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now” (Gal 4:29; ἐδίωκε). Genesis says that Sarah saw that Hagar’s son “was mocking her son” (Gen 21:9), and Scripture says, “Expel the slave woman and her son” (Gal 4:30; Gen 21:10).

On where Paul’s account of the persecution comes from, Lightfoot writes, “This incident which is so lightly sketched in the original narrative had been drawn out in detail in later traditions”. Burton is guarded: he refers the persecution probably to Gen 21:9 “and the traditions that had gathered about it,” adding that Paul “may also have had in mind the mutual hostility of the nations supposed to have descended from the two brothers.” These are their readings; whether the mocking of Gen 21:9 was persecution is weighed in the exegetical notes.

Implies Because Paul quotes Gen 21:10 as what “the Scripture” says (4:30) and names Abraham’s two sons by their mothers (4:22–23), the text treats the Genesis account as history and as God’s word.

Uncertain Whether Paul drew on traditions beyond Genesis for 4:29 is open; comparisons with such traditions do not show dependence, and these readings do not fix the meaning of the text.