Galatians 4
Galatians 4 is part of “Paul's Gospel Explained” (3–4) in the outline of Galatians.
Galatians 4 summary
The apostle, in this chapter, is still carrying on the same general design as in the former - to recover these Christians from the impressions made upon them by the judaizing teachers, and to represent their weakness and folly in suffering themselves to be drawn away from the gospel doctrine of justification, and to be deprived of their freedom from the bondage of the law of Moses. For this purpose he makes use of various considerations; such as, I. The great excellence of the gospel state above the legal (Gal 4:1-7). II.
Read the full introduction
The apostle, in this chapter, is still carrying on the same general design as in the former - to recover these Christians from the impressions made upon them by the judaizing teachers, and to represent their weakness and folly in suffering themselves to be drawn away from the gospel doctrine of justification, and to be deprived of their freedom from the bondage of the law of Moses. For this purpose he makes use of various considerations; such as, I. The great excellence of the gospel state above the legal (Gal 4:1-7). II. The happy change that was made in them at their conversion (Gal 4:8-11). III. The affection they had had for him and his ministry (Gal 4:12-16). IV. The character of the false teachers by whom they had been perverted (Gal 4:17, Gal 4:18). V. The very tender affection he had for them (Gal 4:19, Gal 4:20). VI. The history of Isaac and Ishmael, by a comparison taken from which he illustrates the difference between such as rested in Christ and such as trusted in the law. And in all these, as he uses great plainness and faithfulness with them, so he expresses the tenderest concern for them.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Galatians 4 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Sons and Heirs
1Then I say, that the heire as long as hee is a childe, differeth nothing from a seruant, though he be Lord of all, 2But is vnder tutours and gouernours, vntil the time appointed of the Father. 3Euen so, we when wee were children, were in bondage vnder the rudiments of the world. 4But when the fulnesse of time was come, God sent forth his Sonne made of a woman, and made vnder the Lawe, 5That hee might redeeme them which were vnder the Law, that we might receiue the adoption of the sonnes. 6And because ye are sonnes, God hath sent foorth the Spirit of his Sonne into your heartes, which crieth, Abba, Father. 7Wherefore, thou art no more a seruant, but a sonne: now if thou be a sone, thou art also the heire of God through Christ.
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
8But euen then, when ye knewe not God, yee did seruice vnto them, which by nature are not gods: 9But now seeing ye knowe God, yea, rather are knowen of God, howe turne ye againe vnto impotent and beggerly rudiments, whereunto as from the beginning ye wil be in bondage againe? 10Ye obserue dayes, and moneths, and times and yeeres. 11I am in feare of you, lest I haue bestowed on you labour in vaine. 12Be ye as I (for I am euen as you) brethren, I beseech you: ye haue not hurt me at all. 13And ye know, how through infirmitie of the flesh, I preached ye Gospel vnto you at the first. 14And the trial of me which was in my flesh, ye despised not, neither abhorred: but ye receiued me as an Angel of God, yea, as Christ Iesus. 15What was then your felicitie? for I beare you recorde, that if it had bene possible, ye would haue plucked out your owne eyes, and haue giuen them vnto me. 16Am I therefore become your enemie, because I tell you the trueth? 17They are ielous ouer you amisse: yea, they woulde exclude you, that ye shoulde altogether loue them. 18But it is a good thing to loue earnestly alwayes in a good thing, and not onely when I am present with you, 19My litle children, of whome I trauaile in birth againe, vntill Christ be formed in you. 20And I would I were with you nowe, that I might change my voyce: for I am in doubt of you.
The Example of Hagar and Sarah
21Tell me, ye that will be vnder the Law, doe ye not heare the Lawe? 22For it is written, that Abraham had two sonnes, one by a seruant, and one by a free woman. 23But he which was of the seruant, was borne after the flesh: and he which was of the free woman, was borne by promise. 24By the which things another thing is meant: for these mothers are the two testaments, the one which is Agar of mount Sina, which gendreth vnto bondage. 25(For Agar or Sina is a mountaine in Arabia, and it answereth to Hierusalem which nowe is) and she is in bondage with her children. 26But Hierusalem, which is aboue, is free: which is the mother of vs all. 27For it is written, Reioyce thou barren that bearest no children: breake forth, and cry, thou that trauailest not: for the desolate hath many moe children, then she which hath an husband. 28Therefore, brethren, wee are after the maner of Isaac, children of the promise. 29But as then hee that was borne after the flesh, persecuted him that was borne after the Spirit, euen so it is nowe. 30But what sayth the Scripture? Put out the seruant and her sonne: for the sonne of the seruant shall not be heire with the sonne of the free woman. 31Then brethren, we are not children of the seruant, but of the free woman.