the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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THE MESSAGE
Galatians 4:29
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But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh was persecuting him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
But Abraham's other boy, Ishmael, the one born normal, caused a lot of problems for the promised child, Isaac. The same thing is happening today.
But as in those days he who had birth after the flesh was cruel to him who had birth after the Spirit, even so it is now.
But as then he that was born according to flesh persecuted him [that was born] according to Spirit, so also [it is] now.
But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now.
But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
But as then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so it is now also.
Yet just as, at that time, the child born in the common course of nature persecuted the one whose birth was due to the power of the Spirit, so it is now.
But as then hee that was borne after the flesh, persecuted him that was borne after the Spirit, euen so it is now.
But then, even as he born according to flesh persecuted the one according to Spirit, so it is also now.
But like as at that tyme, he that was borne after the flesh, persecuted him yt was borne after the sprete, euen so is it now also.
but as then, he that was born in the ordinary course of nature, persecuted him, who was born by an extraordinary power; even so it is now.
But as at that time the child [of ordinary birth] born according to the flesh persecuted the son who was born according to [the promise and working of] the Spirit, so it is now also.
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, so also it is now.
But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now.
But as then he yt was borne carnally persecuted him that was borne spiritually. Even so is it now.
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, so also it is now.
But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him [that was born] according to the Spirit, even so [it is] now.
but as then he who was born according to the flesh did persecute him according to the spirit, so also now;
The son who was born in the normal way treated the other son badly. It is the same today.
But just as at that time the one born by natural descent persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is now.
At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now.
But the child who was born in the natural way made trouble for the child who was born because of the Spirit. The same thing is happening today.
But just as then the one born according to limited human capability persecuted the one born through the Spirit's supernatural power, so it is now.
But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
But as then hee that was borne after the flesh, persecuted him that was borne after the Spirit, euen so it is nowe.
But as then he who was born after the flesh persecuted him who was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
But just as then the son who was conceived according to the flesh persecuted the son who was conceived according to the Spirit, so it is now.Genesis 21:9; Galatians 5:11; 6:12;">[xr]
And as then he who was born of the flesh persecuted him who was after the Spirit, so also now.
And as then, he that was born after the flesh, persecuted him [fn] of the Spirit; so also [fn] now.
But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit.
At that time the son born as other children are born made it hard for the son born by the Holy Spirit. It is the same way now.
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
But, just as, then, he that after the manner of the flesh had been born, did persecute him who had been born after the manner of the Spirit, thus, also now.
But as then he that was born according to the flesh persecuted him that was after the spirit: so also it is now.
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
But just as at that time the child born according to human descent persecuted the child born according to the Spirit, so also now.
But as then he that was borne after the fleshe, persecuted hym that was borne after the spirite: euen so is it now.
But the other son of Abraham, who was born in the normal way, caused trouble for the one who was born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same today.
But as at that time the son who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, so it is even now.
At that time the son who was born in the usual way persecuted the one who was born because of God's Spirit; and it is the same now.
but now as this that was borun after the fleisch pursuede him that was aftir the spirit, so now.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
he that: Genesis 21:9
after the Spirit: John 3:5, John 15:9, Romans 8:1, Romans 8:13
even: Galatians 5:11, Galatians 6:12-14, Matthew 23:34-37, 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:15, Hebrews 10:33, Hebrews 10:34
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 2:23 - mocked Song of Solomon 1:6 - my mother's John 8:40 - now Galatians 4:1 - That Philemon 1:16 - a brother
Gill's Notes on the Bible
But as then,.... In the times of Abraham, when Hagar and Sarah, the types of the two dispensations of the covenant, and Ishmael and Isaac, the figures of the two different seeds, the natural and spiritual seed of Abraham, legalists and true believers, were living:
he that was born after the flesh; which was Ishmael, who was a type, or an allegorical representation of such who were under the Sinai covenant, and were seeking for righteousness by the works of the law; as he was born after the flesh, according to the ordinary course of nature, and was, as he was born, a carnal man; so are self-justiciaries, notwithstanding all their pretensions to religion and righteousness, just as they were born; there is nothing but flesh in them; they are without God, and Christ, and the Spirit, and have neither true faith, nor hope, nor love, not any other grace; they have no internal principle of goodness in them; flesh, or corrupt, nature, has the government of them, is the reigning principle in them; their minds are fleshly, and so are their tenets; and such is their conversation, they trust in the flesh, in outward performances, in their own righteousness, and so come under the curse; for as many as trust in an arm of flesh, or are of the works of the law, are under the curse of it:
persecuted him that was born after the Spirit: by whom is meant Isaac, who, though he was not conceived under the overshadowings of the Holy Spirit, without the help of man, as Christ was; yet because of the divine power which was so eminently displayed in his conception and generation, under all the difficulties, and disadvantages, and seeming impossibilities of nature, he is said to be born after the Spirit: and besides, he was also regenerated by the Spirit of God, was a good man, and one that feared the Lord, as the whole account of him shows; and in this also fitly pointed out the spiritual seed, true believers, under the Gospel dispensation, who are born again of water, and of the Spirit, and are renewed in the spirit of their minds; in whom the work of the Spirit is begun, and grace is the governing principle; in whom the Spirit of God dwells and operates; and whose conversation is spiritual, and who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. The persecution of Isaac by Ishmael was by "mocking" him, Genesis 21:9 the Hebrew word there made use of is in allusion to Isaac's name, which signifies "laughter": and Ishmael laughed at him, jeered and derided him. The Jewish doctors are divided about the sense of this: some say that the word rendered "mocking" is expressive of idolatry, according to
Exodus 32:6 and that Ishmael would have taught Isaac, and drawn him into it; others that it signifies uncleanness, according to
Genesis 39:17 and that he talked to him in a lascivious and indecent manner, in order to corrupt his mind: others that it designs murder according to 2 Samuel 2:14 and that he intended to kill him, and attempted it a; it is pretty much received by them, that either he finding him alone, or they going out to the field together, he took his bow and drew it, and shot an arrow at him, with an intention to kill him b, though he pretended it was but in play: and one of their writers on the text says c, that the word used, by gematry, that is, by the arithmetic of the letters, signifies להרוג, "to slay"; so that this persecution was not by words only, but by deeds: but others d of them more rightly think, that it meant a contention about the inheritance, which Sarah's words to Abraham seem to confirm; and that Ishmael claimed the birthright, and despised Isaac as the younger son; insisted upon the right to the inheritance, and mocked at the promise of God, with respect to Isaac; and might threaten what he would do to him, should he claim it thereupon: mocking has been always reckoned a species of persecution; so the Old Testament saints, among other instances of persecution, had trial of "cruel mockings"; thus our Lord was persecuted, and also his apostles
and even so it is now. The carnal Jews, who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others, persecuted the spiritual seed that believed in Christ, both by words and deeds; they confiscated their goods, imprisoned their persons, and even put them to death; and the false teachers, though they did not, and could not go such lengths, yet as persons fitly represented by Ishmael, they derided the apostles, and mocked at the doctrines of grace preached by them, and despised those that embraced them; and pleaded that the inheritance belonged to them, upon the foot of the works of the law: and so it is at this day; though there is no persecution of men's persons and estates, yet there never was a greater persecution of the doctrines of grace, and of the righteousness of Christ, and the saints more mocked at and derided for maintaining them; and that by persons just of the same complexion as those in the apostle's time, signified by Ishmael, carnal professors, and self-righteous persons.
a Jarchi in Gen. xxi. 9. Bereshit Rabba, sect. 53. fol. 47. 4. b Jarchi & Bereshit Rabba, sect. 53, fol. 47. 4. Pirke Eliezer. c. 30. c Baal Hattrim, in loc. d Jarchi & Bereshit Rabba, ut supra. (sect. 53, fol. 47. 4.)
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
But as then he that was born after the flesh - Ishmael; see Galatians 4:23.
Persecuted him that was born after the Spirit - That is, Isaac. The phrase, “after the Spirit,” here, is synonymous with “according to the promise” in the previous verse. It stands opposed to the phrase “after the flesh,” and means that his birth was by the special or miraculous agency of God; see Romans 4:0. It was not in the ordinary course of events. The persecution here referred to, was the injurious treatment which Isaac received from Ishmael, or the opposition which subsisted between them. The particular reference of Paul is doubtless to Genesis 21:9, where it is said that “Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.” It was on account of this, and at the special request of Sarah, that Hagar and her son were expelled from the house of Abraham; Genesis 21:10.
Even so it is now - That is, Christians, the children of the promise, are persecuted by the Jews, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “as it now is,” and who are uninterested in the promises, as Ishmael was. For an illustration of this, see Paley’s Hora Paulina, on this Epistle, no. v. Dr. Paley has remarked that it does not appear that the apostle Paul was ever set upon by the Gentiles, unless they were first stirred up by the Jews, except in two instances. One of these was at Philippi, after the cure of the Pythoness Acts 16:19; and the other at Ephesus, at the instance of Demetrius; Acts 19:24. The persecutions of the Christians arose, therefore, mainly from the Jews, from those who were in bondage to the Law, and to rites and customs; and Paul’s allusion here to the case of the persecution which Isaac the free-born son endured, is exceedingly pertinent and happy.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 29. But as then he — Ishmael, who was born after the flesh-whose birth had nothing supernatural in it, but was according to the ordinary course of nature,
Persecuted him — Isaac, who was born after the Spirit-who had a supernatural birth, according to the promise, and through the efficacy, of the Holy Spirit, giving effect to that promise-Sarah shall have a son, Genesis 17:16-21; Genesis 21:1, c.
Persecuted him the persecution here referred to is that mentioned Genesis 21:9. It consisted in mocking his brother Isaac.
Even so it is now. — So the Jews, in every place, persecute the Christians; and show thereby that they are rather of the posterity of Hagar than of Sarah.
