language · Gal 4:21; Gal 4:22; Gal 4:23; Gal 4:24 · ✓ Approved

Allegoroumena, and two covenants (4:21–24)

Says In 4:21 τὸν νόμον οὐκ ἀκούετε; (ton nomon ouk akouete, “do you not hear the law?”). Galatians 4:22 cites what γέγραπται: Abraham had two sons, ἕνα ἐκ τῆς παιδίσκης καὶ ἕνα ἐκ τῆς ἐλευθέρας; παιδίσκη is “a young female slave, a maid-servant”. In 4:23 one κατὰ σάρκα γεγέννηται, the other δι’ ἐπαγγελίας.

Says Galatians 4:24 reads ἅτινά ἐστιν ἀλληγορούμενα (hatina estin allēgoroumena, “which things are allegorized”), with ἀλληγορέω, “to speak allegorically”; the BSB has “These things serve as illustrations”. The reason is αὗται γάρ εἰσιν δύο διαθῆκαι, one ἀπὸ ὄρους Σινᾶ.

Uncertain Lightfoot (p. 180) writes, “St Paul uses ἀλληγορία here much in the same sense as he uses τύπος,” “not denying the historical truth of the narrative, but superposing a secondary meaning.” Chrysostom (p. 34): “Contrary to usage, he calls a type an allegory.” Calvin (p. 136) writes, “Paul certainly does not mean that Moses wrote the history for the purpose of being turned into an allegory, but points out in what way the history may be made to answer the present subject.” Wesley (p. 502), more guardedly: “For these two Sons are types of the two Covenants.” No lean is taken here.

Implies Paul argues from what “is written” of two historical sons before he reads them as two covenants.

Claims

SaysGalatians 4:22–23 cites what is written: Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman born according to the flesh, one by the free woman through promise.
SaysGalatians 4:24 says these things are allegorized, for the women are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai.
UncertainLightfoot, Chrysostom and Calvin read allegoroumena as typology grounded in the history; Wesley guardedly calls the sons types; no lean is taken.
ImpliesPaul argues from what is written of two historical sons before reading them as two covenants.

Citations

BSB public domain Gal 4:21–24
SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Gal 4:21–24
Lightfoot, Galatians public domain Lightfoot, Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians (Macmillan, 1914 printing), on Gal 4:24, p. 180 (leaf n199); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
Chrysostom, Galatians (NPNF1 13) public domain Chrysostom, Commentary on Galatians (NPNF¹ 13, Oxford translation rev. Gross Alexander, 1889), on Gal 4:24, p. 34 (leaf n55); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
Calvin, Galatians (Pringle) public domain Calvin, Commentaries on Galatians and Ephesians (Pringle, CTS 1854), on Gal 4:24, p. 136 (leaf n149); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
Wesley, Notes NT (1755) public domain Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755), on Gal 4:24, p. 502 (leaf n515); checked against the printed page (scan); quoted, otherwise paraphrased
Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. παιδίσκη (G3814) — a young female slave, a maid-servant
Abbott-Smith public domain s.v. ἀλληγορέω (G238) — to speak allegorically

Sources BSB public domain SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Lightfoot, Galatians public domain Chrysostom, Galatians (NPNF1 13) public domain Calvin, Galatians (Pringle) public domain Wesley, Notes NT (1755) public domain Abbott-Smith public domain Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0

2026-11-13

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