Galatians:4:21-31

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rwp @Galatians:4:21 @{That desire to be under the law } (\hoi hupo nomon thelontes einai \). "Under law " (no article ), as in strkjv @3:23 ; strkjv @4:4 |, legalistic system . Paul views them as on the point of surrender to legalism , as "wanting " (\thelontes \) to do it (1:6 ; strkjv @3:3 ; strkjv @4:11 ,17 |). Paul makes direct reference to these so disposed to "hear the law ." He makes a surprising turn , but a legitimate one for the legalists by an allegorical use of Scripture . rwp @Galatians:4:22 @{By the handmaid } (\ek t s paidisk s \). From strkjv @Genesis:16:1 |. Feminine diminutive of \pais \, boy or slave . Common word for damsel which came to be used for female slave or maidservant (Luke:12:45 |) or doorkeeper like strkjv @Matthew:26:29 |. Songs:in the papyri . rwp @Galatians:4:23 @{Is born } (\gegenn tai \). Perfect passive indicative of \genna \, stand on record so . {Through promise } (\di ' epaggelias \). In addition to being "after the flesh " (\kata sarka \). rwp @Galatians:4:24 @{Which things contain an allegory } (\hatina estin all goroumena \). Literally , "Which things are allegorized " (periphrastic present passive indicative of \all gore \). Late word (Strabo , Plutarch , Philo , Josephus , ecclesiastical writers ), only here in N .T . The ancient writers used \ainittomai \ to speak in riddles . It is compounded of \allo \, another , and \agoreu \, to speak , and so means speaking something else than what the language means , what Philo , the past-master in the use of allegory , calls the deeper spiritual sense . Paul does not deny the actual historical narrative , but he simply uses it in an allegorical sense to illustrate his point for the benefit of his readers who are tempted to go under the burden of the law . He puts a secondary meaning on the narrative just as he uses \tupik s \ in strkjv @1Corinthians:10:11 | of the narrative . We need not press unduly the difference between allegory and type , for each is used in a variety of ways . The allegory in one sense is a speaking parable like Bunyan 's _Pilgrim 's Progress_ , the Prodigal Son in strkjv @Luke:15 |, the Good Shepherd in strkjv @John:10 |. But allegory was also used by Philo and by Paul here for a secret meaning not obvious at first , one not in the mind of the writer , like our illustration which throws light on the point . Paul was familiar with this rabbinical method of exegesis (Rabbi Akiba , for instance , who found a mystical sense in every hook and crook of the Hebrew letters ) and makes skilful use of that knowledge here . Christian preachers in Alexandria early fell victims to Philo 's allegorical method and carried it to excess without regard to the plain sense of the narrative . That startling style of preaching survives yet to the discredit of sound preaching . Please observe that Paul says here that he is using allegory , not ordinary interpretation . It is not necessary to say that Paul intended his readers to believe that this allegory was designed by the narrative . He illustrates his point by it . {For these are } (\hautai gar eisin \). Allegorically interpreted , he means . {From Mount Sinai } (\apo orous Sin \). Spoken from Mount Sinai . {Bearing } (\genn sa \). Present active participle of \genna \, to beget of the male (Matthew:1:1-16 |), more rarely as here to bear of the female (Luke:1:13 ,57 |). {Which is Hagar } (\h tis estin Hagar \). Allegorically interpreted . rwp @Galatians:4:25 @{This Hagar } (\to Hagar \). Neuter article and so referring to the word Hagar (not to the woman , \h \ Hagar ) as applied to the mountain . There is great variety in the MSS . here . The Arabians are descendants of Abraham and Hagar (her name meaning wanderer or fugitive ). {Answereth to } (\suntoichei \). Late word in Polybius for keeping step in line (military term ) and in papyri in figurative sense as here . Lightfoot refers to the Pythagorean parallels of opposing principles (\sunstoichiai \) as shown here by Paul (Hagar and Sarah , Ishmael and Isaac , the old covenant and the new covenant , the earthly Jerusalem and the heavenly Jerusalem ). That is true , and there is a correlative correspondence as the line is carried on . rwp @Galatians:4:26 @{The Jerusalem that is above } (\h an Ierousal m \). Paul uses the rabbinical idea that the heavenly Jerusalem corresponds to the one here to illustrate his point without endorsing their ideas . See also strkjv @Revelation:21:2 |. He uses the city of Jerusalem to represent the whole Jewish race (Vincent ). rwp @Galatians:4:27 @{Which is our mother } (\h tis estin m t r h m n \). The mother of us Christians , apply the allegory of Hagar and Sarah to us . The Jerusalem above is the picture of the Kingdom of God . Paul illustrates the allegory by quoting strkjv @Isaiah:54:1 |, a song of triumph looking for deliverance from a foreign yoke . {Rejoice } (\euphranth ti \). First aorist passive imperative of \euphrain \. {Break forth } (\r xon \). First aorist active imperative of \r gnumi \, to rend , to burst asunder . Supply \euphrosun n \ (joy ) as in strkjv @Isaiah:49:13 |. {The desolate } (\t s er mou \). The prophet refers to Sarah 's prolonged barrenness and Paul uses this fact as a figure for the progress and glory of Christianity (the new Jerusalem of freedom ) in contrast with the old Jerusalem of bondage (the current Judaism ). His thought has moved rapidly , but he does not lose his line . rwp @Galatians:4:28 @{Now we } (\h meis de \). Some MSS . have \humeis de \ (now ye ). In either case Paul means that Christians (Jews and Gentiles ) are children of the promise as Isaac was (\kata Isaak \, after the manner of Isaac ). rwp @Galatians:4:29 @{Persecuted } (\edi ken \). Imperfect active of \di k \, to pursue , to persecute . strkjv @Genesis:21:9 | has in Hebrew "laughing ," but the LXX has "mocking ." The Jewish tradition represents Ishmael as shooting arrows at Isaac . {Songs:now } (\houtos kai nun \) the Jews were persecuting Paul and all Christians (1Thessalonians:2:15f .|). rwp @Galatians:4:30 @{Cast out } (\ekbale \). Second aorist active imperative of \ekball \. Quotation from strkjv @Genesis:21:10 | (Sarah to Abraham ) and confirmed in strkjv @21:12 | by God 's command to Abraham . Paul gives allegorical warning thus to the persecuting Jews and Judaizers . {Shall not inherit } (\ou m kl ronom sei \). Strong negative (\ou m \ and future indicative ). "The law and the gospel cannot co-exist . The law must disappear before the gospel " (Lightfoot ). See strkjv @3:18 ,29 | for the word "inherit ." rwp @Galatians:4:31 @{But of the freewoman } (\alla t s eleutheras \). We are children of Abraham by faith (3:7 |).

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