by . Greek. ek . Same as "of", Galatians 4:4 . bondmaid . Greek. paidiske , as verses: Galatians 4:23 , Galatians 4:30 , Galatians 4:31 , Elsewhere translated "maid "or damsel", the other = and one. read more
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.Ishmael was the son of Hagar, Sarah's maid, whom she gave to Abraham, in order to claim a son (by such a device) for herself. Abraham had many sons by concubines, but they were his property, not Sarah's. Isaac was the actual son born to Sarah, born as a result of the promise of God long after the time when either Abraham or Sarah might have expected to have children. Sarah of course was free, the lawful... read more
22. (Genesis 16:3-16; Genesis 21:2). Abraham—whose sons ye wish to be (compare Genesis 21:2- :). a bond maid . . . a free woman—rather, as Greek, "the bond maid . . . the free woman." read more
The biblical story 4:21-23 read more
3. The biblical illustration 4:21-31Paul interpreted allegorically (i.e., figuratively, NIV) features of the history of Abraham’s two sons to convince his readers that they were in danger of joining the wrong branch of Abraham’s family. The apostle appears to have used the story of Abraham the way he did because this was a common rabbinic method that the Judaizers probably employed in their teaching in Galatia. [Note: R. Alan Cole, The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, pp. 128-29. Longenecker... read more
He pointed out two contrasts between Ishmael and Isaac. First, Ishmael’s mother was a slave, but Isaac’s mother was free. These conditions affected the status of their sons in Abraham’s household. Second, Ishmael was born naturally, but Isaac was born supernaturally in fulfillment of God’s promise."In the scriptural record of the birth of these two sons of Abraham Paul recognizes the same opposition between reliance on self (’according to the flesh’) and reliance on God (’through promise’) as... read more
4:22 servant, (d-14) Or 'bondmaid,' paidiske (as Acts 12:13 ). Though in practice the word amounted to the same as a bondmaid, yet the Greek root is essentially different from that of doulos , a bondman, or slave. read more
The Bondage of the Law. Freedom in Christ1-7. Under the Law we were in bondage; under the Gospel we have received the freedom of sons.Paraphrase. ’(1) The heir before he comes of age can no more enter upon his inheritance than a servant in the family can possess himself of it, (2) but must continue, until the set time, in a subordinate position, and under the authority and training of others. (3) So, when we were under the elementary Law system, we were in a position like that of the heir in... read more
(21-31) The next eleven verses contain an elaborate argument from the history of the two sons of Abraham, as types of the two covenants, in further proof that freedom is the essential character of the Christian dispensation.We have seen that St. Paul applies the history of the natural Israel allegorically to the spiritual Israel; and not only does he do this with reference to the history of the formed theocracy, but he goes back to its origin in the time of the patriarchs, and traces there the... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:21-31
Example of Hagar and Sarah (4:21-31)Paul now attacks the Judaisers by using a form of argument that they themselves liked to use. He returns to the story of Abraham to show that law-keeping is slavery and it cannot be mixed with grace. (For the background to the illustration that follows read Genesis 15:1-6; Genesis 16:1-16; Genesis 17:15-22; Genesis 18:1-15; Genesis 21:1-21.) Abraham had two sons, Ishmael, who was born as a result of human arrangements that lacked any exercise of faith, and... read more