GALATIANS

Ch 3-4: Grace-Faith versus Law-Works A. 3:1-9The Preeminence of Faith B. 3:10-14The Curse of Works C. 3:15-18The Precedent of Promise D. 3:19-25The Purpose of the Law E. 3:26-4:7Sons and Heirs through Christ F. 4:8-18The Emptiness of Legalism G. 4:19-31Law and Grace Cannot Coexist

Galatians 4:22 “It stands written!” Vine’s “it is used of Scripture as a standing authority.” cp. Gal 3:10, 13; 4:27

Galatians 4:23 kata. (KATA) with the accusative of “flesh”—denotes here according to the natural standard of physical birth dia. (DIA) denotes the channel of an act, in this case God’s promise resulting in a supernatural (or miraculous) birth

Galatians 4:23 Howard Vos “The son born of the bondwoman was born ‘after the flesh’—in the course of nature. Circumstances surrounding Ishmael’s birth were not ordained of God and were therefore natural. God would bring to fruition His own plan in His own time without the aid of men or their conniving wives (Gen 16:1-2) who try to help His plans along. Isaac was born of the freewoman ‘by virtue of the promise.’ He could not be born as a result of any confidence in the flesh, because Abraham and Sarah were both beyond the age of childbearing. Hence the promise was miraculously fulfilled and salvation demonstrated to be a work of God from start to finish.”

Legitimate Allegory? R. C. H. Lenski “Paul does not go a step beyond the Scripture facts; what he does is to point out the same nature in both: mere flesh in Hagar’s birth, and thus slavery—the same slavery in all those whose birth is no better; divine promise in Sarah’s birth, and thus liberty—the same liberty in all whose birth is connected with promise. Thus in v Paul identifies: Hagar = Sinai = the mother of all who do law-works; Sarah = Jerusalem from above = the mother of all believing the promise.”