GALATIANSGALATIANS

Ch 3-4: Grace-Faith versus Law-Works

A.A. 3:1-93:1-9 The Preeminence of FaithThe Preeminence of Faith

B.B. 3:10-143:10-14 The Curse of WorksThe Curse of Works

C.C. 3:15-183:15-18 The Precedent of PromiseThe Precedent of Promise

D.D. 3:19-253:19-25 The Purpose of the LawThe Purpose of the Law

E.E. 3:26-4:73:26-4:7 Sons and Heirs through ChristSons and Heirs through Christ

F.F. 4:8-184:8-18 The Emptiness of LegalismThe Emptiness of Legalism

G.G. 4:19-314:19-31 Law and Grace Cannot CoexistLaw and Grace Cannot Coexist

Galatians 4:22Galatians 4:22““It stands written!”It stands written!”Vine’sVine’s““it is used of Scripture as a standing authority.”it is used of Scripture as a standing authority.”

cp. Gal 3:10, 13; 4:27cp. Gal 3:10, 13; 4:27

Galatians 4:23Galatians 4:23katakata.. (KATA)(KATA)with the accusative of “flesh”—denotes here with the accusative of “flesh”—denotes here according to the natural standard of physical birthaccording to the natural standard of physical birth

diadia.. (DIA)(DIA)denotes the channel of an act, in this case God’s denotes the channel of an act, in this case God’s promise resulting in a supernatural (or promise resulting in a supernatural (or miraculous) birthmiraculous) birth

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

Legitimate Allegory?Legitimate Allegory?R. C. H. LenskiR. C. H. Lenski““Paul does not go a step beyond the Scripture Paul does not go a step beyond the Scripture facts; what he does is to point out facts; what he does is to point out the same the same naturenature in both: mere flesh in Hagar’s birth, and in both: mere flesh in Hagar’s birth, and thus slavery—the same slavery in all those whose thus slavery—the same slavery in all those whose birth is no better; divine promise in Sarah’s birth, birth is no better; divine promise in Sarah’s birth, and thus liberty—the same liberty in all whose and thus liberty—the same liberty in all whose birth is connected with promise. Thus in v. 24-28 birth is connected with promise. Thus in v. 24-28 Paul identifies: Hagar = Sinai = the mother of all Paul identifies: Hagar = Sinai = the mother of all who do law-works; Sarah = Jerusalem from above who do law-works; Sarah = Jerusalem from above = the mother of all believing the promise.”= the mother of all believing the promise.”