Galatians 4:28

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 4:21-31

In these verses the apostle illustrates the difference between believers who rested in Christ only and those judaizers who trusted in the law, by a comparison taken from the story of Isaac and Ishmael. This he introduces in such a manner as was proper to strike and impress their minds, and to convince them of their great weakness in departing from the truth, and suffering themselves to be deprived of the liberty of the gospel: Tell me, says he, you that desire to be under the law, do you not... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 4:21-31

4:21-31 Tell me this--you who want to be subject to the law, you listen to it being read to you, don't you? Well, then, it stands written in it that Abraham had two sons; one was the son of the slave girl and one was the son of the free woman. But the son of the slave girl was born in the ordinary human way, whereas the son of the free woman was born through a promise. Now these things are an allegory. For these two women stand for two covenants. One of these covenants--the one which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:28

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was ,.... The Ethiopic version reads, "you, brethren"; and so one of Stephens's copies. As the two women, Hagar and Sarah, might be, and are allegorized; so likewise their respective offspring. Isaac signified, and was a type and figure of Abraham's spiritual seed, whether Jews or Gentiles, under the Gospel dispensation: and as he was, so they are, the children of promise ; as Isaac was promised unto Abraham, so were this spiritual seed, when it was said unto... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:28

Now we - Who believe in the Lord Jesus, are the children of promise - are the spiritual offspring of the Messiah, the seed of Abraham, in whom the promise stated that all the nations of the earth should be blessed. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:21-31

The allegory of Hagar. Writing to men who were unduly subservient to the Jewish Law, St. Paul clenches his argument with an appeal to what he regards as the typical meaning of the history contained in that very Law. This was an argumentum ad homines. It is important, when possible, to convince men on their own ground. Among believers in Scripture, arguments are naturally drawn from Scripture, Only it is necessary to bear in mind that there are different "views ' of Scripture; so that we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:28

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise ( ἡμεῖς δέ , ἀδελφοί κατὰ ἰσαακ ἐπαγγελίας τέκνα ἐσμέν [or, ὑμεῖς δέ ... ἐστέ ]); now we (or, now ye ), brethren , after the mariner of Isaac , are children of promise. In the Greek text it is uncertain whether we should read ἡμεῖς ... ἐσμέν or ὑμεῖς .., ἐστέ , "we are" or "ye are." The only difference is that "ye are" would more directly thrust upon the attention of the Galatians... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:28

Now we, brethren - We who are Christians.Are the children of the promise - We so far resemble Isaac, that there are great and precious promises made to us. We are not in the condition of Ishmael, to whom no promise was made. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Galatians 4:28-30

Galatians 4:28-30. Now That I may apply what has just been advanced to ourselves; we, brethren Who believe, whether Jews or Gentiles; as Isaac was Κατα Ισαακ , after the manner of Isaac; are children of promise Are children of God, being children of Abraham and Sarah, by the promise which made him the father, and her the mother, of nations. In other words, we are children, not born in a natural way, but by the supernatural power of God; and as such, we are heirs of the promise made to... read more

Donald C. Fleming

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Galatians 4:28

as Isaac was = according to (Greek. kata , as Galatians 4:23 ) Isaac , i.e. after the type of Isaac. Compare Romans 4:19 , read more

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