Galatians Journal: Chapter 4, Verses 21 through 23

Galatians 4:21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

Today we get three verses for the price of one – 4:21 through 23

“Tell me” Paul transitions back to his more familiar and formal letter writing style, but he’s still in an agitated emotional state. While it seems as if he may be picking a fight by demanding proof or some evidence or argument in support of the Judiazers’ position, this is really one of Paul’s trademark rhetorical questions. Indeed, like any good lawyer or debater, Paul already knows the answer to the question he poses here. “The Law” here specifically is a reference to the book of Genesis, and one of the books of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, which was written by Moses.

Verse 22: This will be Paul’s final Old Testament proof for his position. Once again, he focuses on Abraham, the “Father of Judaism,” and the first real focal point of God’s covenant promise.

“had two sons” The first son was Ishmael, born to the servant girl of Abraham’s wife Sarah, Hagar. The second was Isaac, the son of his wife, Sarah. He refers to Hagar throughout this section of the letter not by name, but as the “slave woman.” In the same way, he does not speak of Sarah by her name either, but as the “free woman.” Of course, Hagar had been a literal slave, but Paul is using this concept to extend the slavery – freedom argument he emphasized back in 3:23 – 4:11.

Verse 23: This is an odd construct for modern day Christians to understand. Paul says Ishmael was born in the “ordinary way,” and Isaac was born “as the result of a promise.” My initial reaction is that this should be stated the opposite – Isaac was born in the “ordinary way” because he was the son of Abraham’s actual wife. But what Paul means by “ordinary” here is “by human effort,” rather than relying on God’s power and intervention – or by simply believing in Him. Believing in God, and Faith in God is the key, as it was for Abraham back in Galatians 3:6. Genesis 11:30 is clear – Sarah had been “barren;” she was physically incapable of conceiving a child. Sarah’s sterility emphasized the fact that God’s people, the true “children of Abraham” would not be born by natural means. It is also clear that the means of producing Ishmael had been Sarah’s suggestion, to which Abraham apparently readily agreed (see Genesis 16: 1-4). The tragedy of this “plan” was that it immediately followed all the promises God had made to Abraham in Genesis 15. Paul emphasizes these promises in Galatians 3: 6-14 as the foundation of the Jewish faith that was fulfilled in Jesus. Abraham’s first reaction to God’s promises was to try and fulfill the covenant himself, by his own efforts. This parallels the Judiazers’ argument that everyone still needed to follow the Jewish laws and customs so that by our own efforts we will be acceptable to God. The fulfillment of the covenant to Abraham, however, was by a promise – and a miracle, which produced Isaac. The covenant is fulfilled in us through a promise and a miracle – the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!