Notes · Gal 4:1–31

Sons and Heirs, Paul’s Concern, and Hagar and Sarah

22 approved team notes on Gal 4:1–31.

Read Gal 4:1–31

Gal 4:1

exegeticalGal 4:1–31

Overview of Galatians 4

SaysGalatians 4 moves from the heir who, while a child, differs nothing from a slave, through God’s sending of his Son and of the Spirit of his Son, to an appeal not to turn back to the stoicheia, and then to Abraham’s two sons, the two covenants, and the children of the free woman.
ImpliesBelievers are sons and heirs through God, not slaves; Abraham, Hagar, Sarah, Ishmael and Isaac are treated as historical persons, and the Genesis account as history which Paul reads.

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exegeticalGal 4:1–7

From slaves to sons and heirs (4:1–7)

SaysAs long as the heir is a child he is no different from a slave, though owner of everything, and is under guardians and trustees until the date set by his father; when we were children we were enslaved under the stoicheia of the world.
SaysBecause they are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying Abba, Father; they are no longer slaves but sons, and heirs through God.
ImpliesThe change from child to heir is set by the father, and those who are sons are heirs through God, not slaves.

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historicalGal 4:1–2

Guardians, trustees, and the heir (4:1–2)

SaysGal 4:1–2: as long as the heir is a child he is no different from a slave, though owner of everything; he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by his father.
ImpliesBecause the heir is under others until the date set by his father, and Paul applies this to the time before the fullness of time (4:3–4), the text presents the change from child to heir as set by the father.
UncertainWhich household or legal custom lies behind the guardians and trustees, and how closely Paul’s picture follows it, are open; the background does not fix the meaning.

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historicalGal 4:1–31

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

SaysGal 4:29–30: the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit, and it is the same now; Scripture says, Expel the slave woman and her son. Gen 21:9 says Hagar’s son was mocking Sarah’s son.
ImpliesBecause Paul quotes Gen 21:10 as what the Scripture says 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.
UncertainWhether Paul drew on traditions beyond Genesis for Gal 4:29 is open; comparisons do not show dependence, and the readings do not fix the meaning.

✓ Approved BSB public domain SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Lightfoot, Galatians public domain Burton, Galatians (ICC) public domain

languageGal 4:1; Gal 4:2; Gal 4:3

The heir as a child, and the stoicheia (4:1–3)

SaysGalatians 4:1–2 says the heir, while a child, differs nothing from a slave, though lord of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time set by the father.
SaysGalatians 4:3 says we were enslaved under the stoicheia of the world; the BSB has basic principles.
UncertainCalvin and Lightfoot take the stoicheia as rudiments or elementary teaching; Burton, Luther and Wesley speak guardedly to the same effect; no lean is taken.

✓ Approved BSB public domain SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Calvin, Galatians (Pringle) public domain Lightfoot, Galatians public domain Burton, Galatians (ICC) public domain

Gal 4:4

exegeticalGal 4:4–5

God sent His Son (4:4–5)

SaysWhen the fullness of the time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons.
ImpliesThe Son is sent as one who is already the Son, and he is placed in a true human birth and under the law, in order to redeem those under the law.

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languageGal 4:4; Gal 4:5

The fullness of time, and born of a woman (4:4–5)

SaysGalatians 4:4–5 says that when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons.
ImpliesThe Son is sent as one who is already the Son, and the participles place him in a true human birth and under the law.

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Gal 4:6

languageGal 4:6; Gal 4:7

Abba, Father, and heir through God (4:6–7)

SaysGalatians 4:6 says that because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying Abba, Father; the participle crying agrees with Spirit.
SaysGalatians 4:7 says you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, also an heir through God.
ImpliesOne act names God, his Son and the Spirit of his Son, and its result is sonship and inheritance through God.

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Gal 4:8

exegeticalGal 4:8–11

Turning back to the principles (4:8–11)

SaysFormerly, when they did not know God, they were slaves to those who by nature are not gods; now, knowing God, or rather being known by God, they are turning back to the weak and poor stoicheia, observing days, months, seasons and years.
ImpliesBeing known by God puts the initiative with God, which makes a return to slavery the stranger.
UncertainWhat the observances of 4:10 were, and how they relate to the stoicheia, is not settled here; the readings offered are treated in the historical note.

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historicalGal 4:8–10

Not gods, and the calendar (4:8–10)

SaysGal 4:8–10: formerly, not knowing God, the Galatians were slaves to those who by nature are not gods; now they are turning back to weak and worthless principles, observing days, months, seasons and years. Rom 14:5 speaks of regarding one day above another.
ImpliesBecause the readers once served those who by nature are not gods (4:8), they were Gentiles before they knew God.
UncertainWhich observances Gal 4:10 has in view, and how keeping them is a turning back (4:9), are open; the background does not fix the meaning.

✓ Approved BSB public domain SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Calvin, Galatians (Pringle) public domain Burton, Galatians (ICC) public domain Lightfoot, Galatians public domain

languageGal 4:8; Gal 4:9; Gal 4:10; Gal 4:11

Known by God, and weak and worthless principles (4:8–11)

SaysGalatians 4:8 says they once served those who by nature are not gods; 4:9 says they have known God, or rather been known by God, yet turn back to the weak and poor stoicheia.
SaysGalatians 4:10 says they observe days, months, seasons and years, and 4:11 that Paul fears his labor for them was in vain.
ImpliesBeing known by God puts the initiative with God, which makes a return to slavery the stranger.
UncertainWhat the observances of 4:10 were, and how they relate to the stoicheia, the grammar does not settle; no lean is taken.

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Gal 4:12

exegeticalGal 4:12–20

Paul’s appeal (4:12–20)

SaysPaul first preached to them because of a weakness of the flesh; though it was a trial to them, they did not despise him, and would have torn out their eyes and given them to him.
SaysOthers court them not well and want to shut them out; Paul is again in labor until Christ is formed in them, and he is perplexed about them.
UncertainThe nature of the illness is not named in these verses; the readings offered are treated in the historical note.

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languageGal 4:12; Gal 4:13; Gal 4:14; Gal 4:15

Weakness of the flesh, and your eyes (4:12–15)

SaysGalatians 4:13 says Paul first preached to them because of a weakness of the flesh; 4:14 calls it your trial in my flesh, which they did not despise or spit at.
SaysGalatians 4:15 asks where their blessing is, since they would have dug out their eyes and given them to him.
UncertainThe nature of the weakness is not named in these verses; no lean is taken.

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Gal 4:13

historicalGal 4:13–15

Paul’s illness in Galatia (4:13–15)

SaysGal 4:13–15: Paul first preached the gospel to the Galatians because of a weakness of the flesh; though it was a trial to them, they did not despise or reject him but welcomed him as an angel of God, and would have torn out their eyes for him.
ImpliesBecause the illness was the occasion of his first preaching and they welcomed him as an angel of God, the text presents their first reception as warm despite his weakness.
UncertainWhat Paul’s illness was is open; the text does not name it, and the background does not fix the meaning.

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Gal 4:16

languageGal 4:16; Gal 4:17; Gal 4:18; Gal 4:19; Gal 4:20

Zealous, not in a good way, and labor pains (4:16–20)

SaysGalatians 4:17 says the others court the Galatians not well and want to shut them out, so that they will court them.
SaysGalatians 4:19 says Paul is again in labor for his children until Christ is formed in them; 4:20 that he is perplexed about them.
ImpliesPaul pictures himself as a mother in labor a second time, until Christ is formed in them.

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Gal 4:21

exegeticalGal 4:21–27

Two women and two covenants (4:21–27)

SaysIt is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman; the son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise; the women represent two covenants, and Hagar is Sinai, a mountain in Arabia, corresponding to the present Jerusalem.
SaysThe Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother; Isaiah 54:1 is cited in support.
UncertainLightfoot, Chrysostom and Calvin take the Jerusalem above as the church; no verdict is given.

✓ Approved BSB public domain SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Lightfoot, Galatians public domain Chrysostom, Galatians (NPNF1 13) public domain

languageGal 4:21; Gal 4:22; Gal 4:23; Gal 4:24

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

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.

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Gal 4:24

exegeticalGal 4:24

Allegory and the Genesis history (4:24)

SaysPaul says these things are allegorized, for the women are two covenants; one covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery, which is Hagar.
ImpliesAbraham, Hagar, Sarah, Ishmael and Isaac are historical persons, and the Genesis account is history, which Paul reads.
UncertainWhat ἀλληγορούμενα means is treated in the language note; no verdict is given here.

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historicalGal 4:24–26

Hagar, Sinai in Arabia, and Jerusalem (4:24–26)

SaysGal 4:24–26: one covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery, which is Hagar; Hagar is Sinai, a mountain in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem; the Jerusalem above is free and is our mother. Exod 19:2 places Israel before the mountain in the Wilderness of Sinai.
ImpliesBecause Paul begins from what is written of Abraham’s two sons (4:22–23) and draws on Sinai, a real place, the text reads the Genesis account as history.
UncertainWhy Hagar is linked with Sinai in Arabia is open; the background does not fix the meaning.

✓ Approved BSB public domain SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Chrysostom, Galatians (NPNF1 13) public domain Burton, Galatians (ICC) public domain

Gal 4:25

languageGal 4:25; Gal 4:26; Gal 4:27

Hagar, Sinai, and the Jerusalem above (4:25–27)

SaysGalatians 4:25 says Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, which is in slavery with her children; the Greek order is Sinai mountain.
SaysGalatians 4:26 says the Jerusalem above is free and is our mother, and 4:27 cites Isa 54:1.
UncertainHow Hagar stands for Sinai, and what the Jerusalem above is, the grammar does not settle; no lean is taken.

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Gal 4:28

exegeticalGal 4:28–31

Children of the free woman (4:28–31)

SaysYou, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise; the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit, and it is the same now; Scripture says, Expel the slave woman and her son; therefore we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
ImpliesChildren of promise, as Isaac was, are sons of the free woman and heirs, not slaves.
UncertainChrysostom and Calvin take Ishmael’s mocking in Gen 21:9 as persecution of Isaac; Burton and Lightfoot speak more guardedly; no verdict is given.

✓ Approved BSB public domain SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Chrysostom, Galatians (NPNF1 13) public domain Calvin, Galatians (Pringle) public domain

languageGal 4:28; Gal 4:29; Gal 4:30; Gal 4:31

Children of promise, and expel the slave woman (4:28–31)

SaysGalatians 4:28 says you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise; 4:29 says the one born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now.
SaysGalatians 4:30 cites Gen 21:10, expel the slave woman and her son, with a strong denial that the slave’s son will inherit; 4:31 concludes we are children of the free woman.
ImpliesChildren of promise, as Isaac was, are sons of the free woman and heirs, not slaves.
UncertainWhat the persecution of 4:29 refers to in Genesis is not stated in the verse; no lean is taken.

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