The apostle, having established the consolatory doctrine that believers, in every age and country of the world, are heirs of the promises made to Abraham and to his seed, goes on in this chapter to answer an inquiry which he knew would naturally occur to his readers, but which, according to his mann... [ Continue Reading ]
_But when the fulness of time_ Appointed by the Father, (Galatians 4:2,) and marked out by the predictions of the prophets for the accomplishment of this great event; _was come_ And we were arrived at the age proper for our entering on our adult state, and being put in possession of the promises, by... [ Continue Reading ]
_Howbeit_ Αλλα, _but_, or _however_, that ye Gentiles may not foolishly reject, neglect, or forfeit your privileges, as the sons of God, you ought to remember what your condition was while under _the elements of the world_, and compare it with your present happy state: that _then, when ye knew not_... [ Continue Reading ]
_I beseech you, be as I am_ Follow my example in laying aside your opinion of the necessity of the law; _for I am_ Or rather, _I was; as ye are_ That is, I was once as zealous of the law as you are; but by the grace of God I am now of another mind: be you so too. See Philippians 3:7. Or, as some und... [ Continue Reading ]
_Where is then the blessedness ye spake of_ On which ye so congratulated one another? Since ye once thought yourselves so happy in my presence with, and my preaching among you, how happens it that you are now so alienated from me? _For if it had been possible_ If it had been a thing allowable, and I... [ Continue Reading ]
_They zealously affect you_ The Judaizing teachers who are come among you express an extraordinary regard for you; _but not well_ Their zeal is not according to knowledge, neither have they a single eye to God's glory, and your spiritual advantage. _Yea, they would exclude you_ From me and from the... [ Continue Reading ]
_My little children_ Converted to the faith by my ministry. He speaks as a parent, both with authority and the most tender sympathy toward weak and sickly children: _of whom I travail in birth again_ As I did before, (Galatians 4:13,) in vehement pain, sorrow, desire, prayer; _till Christ be formed... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law_ Of Moses, as the rule of your justification; _do ye not hear the law?_ Regard what it says? how it teaches that Abraham's children, by faith, who are heirs of the promises, are free from the bondage of the law? “The argument the apostle is going to use b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which things are an allegory_ That is, a figurative speech, wherein one thing is expressed, and another intended. Or, as Macknight explains the expression more at large: “Properly, an _allegory_ is, when persons and events, present or near at hand, with their qualities and circumstances, are consid... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this Agar is mount Sinai_ That is, is a type of that mount. The whole of that mountainous ridge in Arabia Petrea, of which Sinai was a part, was called Horeb, probably on account of its excessive dryness. It was called by Moses, _the mountain of God_, (Exodus 3:1,) because on it God gave the la... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now_ That I may apply what has just been advanced to ourselves; _we, brethren_ Who believe, whether Jews or Gentiles; _as Isaac was_ Κατα Ισαακ, _after the manner of Isaac; are children of promise_ Are children of God, being children of Abraham and Sarah, by the promise which made him the father, a... [ Continue Reading ]