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"THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"
Chapter Four
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To appreciate the significance and blessedness of receiving the
Spirit in our hearts (cf. Jn 7:37-39; Ac 2:38; 5:32; Ro 5:5;
8:11-17; 15:13; 2 Co 1:22; 5:5; Ep 1:13-14; 3:16; 4:30)
2) To understand Paul's concern over the Galatians' observance of holy
days (cf. Co 2:16-17; Ga 5:4)
3) To comprehend the implications of the allegory of Hagar and Sarah
SUMMARY
In this chapter Paul continues and concludes his defense of the gospel
of justification by faith in Christ, in contrast to seeking
justification by the works of the Law. The previous chapter ended with
Paul making a practical argument, how that by faith they had become the
sons of God, the true seed of Abraham and heirs of the promise, when
they put on Christ in baptism.
The practical argument continues in the first part of chapter four as
Paul describes the condition of those under the Law prior to the coming
of Christ. They were "children", and really no different than slaves.
But when Christ came, He redeemed those under the Law and made it
possible for them to receive the adoption as "sons". A special
blessing of this sonship was receiving the Spirit in their hearts, and
now they are no longer as a slave but as a son and a heir of God
through Christ (1-7).
Paul then argues along sentimental lines. After having come to know
the true God and being recognized by Him, their observance of holy days
is indicative of a desire to return to bondage. That greatly concerns
Paul, who would have them become like him. He reminds them of their
reception of him in the past, and he hopes that by telling them the
truth he has not become their enemy. Wishing he could be with them in
person and use a different tone, he feels like a woman going through
labor again as he seeks to ensure that Christ is formed in them. All
of this because he has doubts about them (8-20).
His final argument is an appeal to the Law itself, addressed directly
to those who desire to be under it. He reminds them of Abraham's two
sons by Sarah and Hagar, and contends there are allegorical
implications concerning the two covenants. Hagar, the bondwoman who
gave birth to Ishmael, represents the covenant given at Mt. Sinai, and
corresponds to physical Jerusalem and the bondage of those under the
Law. Sarah, Abraham's wife who gave birth to Isaac, represents the new
covenant and corresponds to the heavenly Jerusalem which offers freedom
to all who accept it. With a reminder that those born of the Spirit
can expect persecution by those born according to the flesh, Paul
concludes his defense of the gospel of justification by faith in Christ
by proclaiming that those in Christ are of not of the bondwoman but of
the free (21-31).
OUTLINE
I. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH: THE PRACTICAL ARGUMENT, cont. (1-7)
A. THEY HAD BEEN AS CHILDREN, NO DIFFERENT THAN SLAVES (1-3)
1. The illustration of an heir (1-2)
a. While a child, is no different than a slave, even though a
"master" (1)
b. Under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by
the father (2)
2. In like manner, they had been as children, in bondage to the
elements of the world (3)
B. THEY'VE RECEIVED ADOPTION AS SONS, NO LONGER AS SLAVES (4-7)
1. At the right time, God sent His Son, born of woman, born under
the Law (4)
a. To redeem those under the Law (5a)
b. That they might receive the adoptions as sons (5b)
2. Because they are now "sons" (and not just "children")...
a. God sent the Spirit into their hearts, crying out "Abba,
Father!" (6)
b. No longer are they as "slaves", but as "sons", thus heirs
of God through Christ (7)
II. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH: THE SENTIMENTAL ARGUMENT (8-20)
A. PAUL'S FEAR OVER THEIR CONDITION (8-11)
1. They had come to know God, and to be known by God (8-9a)
2. But they seem to desire to be in bondage again, returning to
weak and beggarly elements (9b)
3. Their observance of holy days gives Paul fear that his labor
was in vain (10-11)
B. THEIR PAST AND PRESENT RELATIONS WITH HIM (12-20)
1. A plea for them to be as he is (12)
2. A reminder of their past relations with him (13-15)
a. They had not allowed his physical infirmities to hinder
their reception of him and his gospel (13-14)
b. They were even willing to pluck out their own eyes for him
(15)
3. Has he become their enemy because he tells them the truth?
(16)
4. They are being zealously courted by others, but zeal is good
only when for the right cause (17-18)
5. He labors over them again, that Christ might be formed in
them, wishing he could change his tone, but he has doubts
about them (19-20)
III. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH: THE ALLEGORICAL ARGUMENT (21-31)
A. AN ALLEGORY FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BE UNDER THE LAW (21-24a)
1. For those who wish to be under the law, will you hear what the
law says? (21)
2. For we read Abraham had two sons (22-23)
a. One of a bondwoman (Hagar), born according to the flesh
(Ishmael)
b. The other of a freewoman (Sarah), born through promise
(Isaac)
3. These things are symbolic (24a)
B. THE TWO COVENANTS (24b-31)
1. The two women represent two covenants (24b-26)
a. Hagar represents the covenant from Mount Sinai (the Law),
physical Jerusalem, and the bondage shared with her
children
b. Sarah represents a new covenant from Jerusalem above
(spiritual Jerusalem), which offers freedom to all
2. As prophesied, the barren woman (Sarah) would have more
children (27)
3. Those under the new covenant are like Isaac, children of
promise (28)
4. Those born of the Spirit can expect animosity from those born
of the flesh (29)
5. But the Scripture says that the children of the free woman
(Sarah, the Jerusalem above) will be the heir (30)
6. We are not children of the bondwoman but of the free (31)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Justification by faith: The practical argument, continued (1-7)
- Justification by faith: The sentimental argument (8-20)
- Justification by faith: The allegorical argument (21-31)
2) What is the condition of a child, even though an heir? (1-2)
- No different from a slave
- Under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the
father
3) What was the condition of those under the Law? (3)
- As children, in bondage under the elements of the world
4) When did God send His Son? Why? (4-5)
- When the fullness of time had come
- To redeem those under the Law, that they might receive the
adoption as "sons"
5) As sons of God, what do we receive? What is our condition? (6-7)
- The Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying "Abba, Father!"
- No longer a slave, but a "son" and an "heir" of God through Christ
6) What indication was there that the Galatians sought to be in bondage
again? (8-10)
- Their observance of days, months, seasons, and years
7) What did Paul fear? (11)
- That his labor with them had been in vain
8) How had the Galatians received Paul when he first preached the
gospel to them? (14)
- As an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus Himself
9) What were they apparently willing to do when Paul was with them?
(15)
- They would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to Paul
10) What concern did Paul have in telling them the truth? (16)
- Had he become their enemy?
11) Why did Paul wish he could be with them and change his tone? (20)
- He had doubts about them
12) For those who desired to be under the Law, what story from the Law
does Paul relate? (21-23)
- That of Hagar and Sarah, and their sons
13) What do the two women represent? (24-26)
- Two covenants
- Hagar represents the covenant given at Mt. Sinai which gives birth
to bondage, and relates to physical Jerusalem
- Sarah represents the covenant in Christ, corresponding to the
Jerusalem above which gives freedom to all
14) How are Christians like Isaac? (28,31)
- We are children of promise
- We are children of the freewoman, not of the bondwoman who
represents the Law
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Executable Outlines, Copyright
© Mark A. Copeland, 2001
www.ChristianLibrary.org