The Strand Study Bible

Written From Ephesus During Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

1956

GALATIANS 4:1-24

13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you 15 at the first. 14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an 16 ANGEL OF GOD , even as Christ Jesus. 15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. 16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? 17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. 18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again 17 until Christ be formed in you, 20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. 21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? Hagar (law and bondage) verses Sarah (grace and liberty) 22 For it is written, that 18 Abraham had two sons, the one by a 19 bondmaid, the other by a 20 freewoman. 23 21 But he who was of the bondwoman was born 22 after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by 23 PROMISE . 24 Which things are an 24 allegory: for these are the two covenants; the 25 one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to

1. or, “those Jews to whom the promises were made” 2. or, “those who taught the legalistic laws of Judaism” 3. that is, “until Christ came” 4. or, “the legalistic laws of Judaism ” 5. Isa 7:14 & 9:6-7 6. Gen 3:15 & Isa 7:14 & Mic 5:3 & Jere 31:22 7. Lk 2:21-24 8. Rom 8:14-15 9. Jn 7:37-39 & 14:16-17 & 20:22 10. or, “daddy; a term of endearment” - Mk 14:36 & Rom 8:15 11. Acts 14:11-18 & I Thess 4:5 12. Colo 2:20 13. Rom 14:5 & Colo 2:16 14. I Thess 3:5 15. Acts 13:50 & 14:2 -5,19 16. Gen 21:17 & 31:11 & Exo 14:19 & Jud 6:20 & 13:6, 9 & Acts 27:23 17. that is, “until you become mature in Christ” 18. Gen 16:15 & 21:2 19. that is, “Hagar” - Gen 16:1-11 20. that is, “Sarah” 21. Gen 17:20 22. Rom 9:7-8 23. Gen 17:19 & Heb 11:11 24. that is, “a picture or type” 25. or, “the Law given by Moses”

Galatians 4 The law is bondage; however, in CHRIST there is freedom from the law and it’s curse Date Written - c. AD 54 1 Now I say, That the 1 heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under 2 tutors and governors 3 until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the 4 elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his 5 SON , 6 made of a woman, 7 made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the 8 adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, GOD hath sent forth the 9 SPIRIT of his SON into your hearts, crying, 10 Abba, FATHER . 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, 11 ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, 12 how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye 13 observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, 14 lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. 12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

4:1 An heir is someone to whom promises are made concerning a future inheritance. Paul used a metaphor here of a child (heir- to-be) who sits under an instructor (tutor - vs 2), just as a servant (slave) would sit under a master, until the child grows up. Point being: those who were saved by faith before Jesus arrived were like little children under a tutor (the Law); but now that the SON has arrived, all believers are counted as adult sons –free from the schoolmaster (the Law), because the work of redemption has been accomplished. 4:3 Paul linked the metaphor that he had just given in verses 1-2 to his own personal religious experience. As a Jewish child growing up in Israel, Paul also experienced “bondage under an instructor” –the legalistic laws of Judaism . 4:8 Paul reminded the Galatian converts that they too were in bondage before they were saved –to “paganism.” 4:9 After reminding the Galatians of their former status as slaves to paganism (vs 8), Paul then asked them in verse 9, “Why would you want to exchange your former bondage (how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, i.e., paganism) for a future bondage ( whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage ?, i.e., Judaism )?” Paul has always been perplexed as to why Christians fail to see their liberty in Christ ( I Cor 6:12 , Acts 15:28 and Gal 2:1-4 & 5:1). Insecurity in one’s personal relationship to Christ ( Eph 1:6 ) is what prompts many believers to enslave themselves to men and their movements and their standards, traditions, customs, fundamentalism, dress, music, etc. Religious baggage is a pointless burden for any believer to lug around. 4:18 Zig Ziglar said of zeal: “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” 1 ( always )

1 “ Zig Ziglar.” Brainyquote.com. Xplore inc, 2013. 30 December 2013. http://tinyurl.com/mbefcaw