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Tuesday, November 5th, 2024
the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31

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Bible Commentaries
Galatians 4

GalatiansGal 3 GalatiansGal GalatiansGal 5

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Verse 1

Verse 1

Though he be lord of all; though he is to inherit all.

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Verse 3

Verse 3

The elements of the world. The Jewish institutions are obviously intended by this expression; but why they are, so designated is not very clear.

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Verse 4

Verse 4

The fulness of the time; the full time predicted.--Made under the law; born a. Jew, and consequently under the Mosaic institutions.

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Verse 5

Verse 5

To redeem them, &c.; thus showing that they owe their redemption not to their Judaism, but to their Christianity.

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Verse 8

Verse 8

The apostle here appears to address the Gentile portion of the Galatian churches.--Ye did service unto, ye were in bondage unto.

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Verse 10

Verse 10

Ye observe; that is, religiously; depending upon such observances for acceptance with God.

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Verse 12

Verse 12

This passage is evidently elliptical, and is considered obscure.

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Verse 13

Verse 13

Through infirmity of the flesh; that is, suffering under infirmity of the flesh. (Comp. 2 Corinthians 12:7.)

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Verse 14

Verse 14

As Christ Jesus; as clothed with his authority.

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Verse 17

Verse 17

They; the false teachers.--Zealously affect you; pretend to be ardently interested in your welfare.--Exclude you; separate you; that is, from me.

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Verse 18

Verse 18

Always in a good thing; that is, to adhere firmly and steadily to what is right.--Not only, &c.; referring to what he had said in Galatians 4:15.

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Verse 19

Verse 19

Of whom I travail in birth; for whom I feel the deepest solicitude and anxiety.

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Verse 20

Verse 20

To change my voice; that is, to administer admonition and reproof to them, which it had not been necessary to do when he was with them before.

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Verse 22

Verse 22

A bond-maid; Hagar.

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Verse 24

Verse 24

An allegory; that is, may be regarded as such.--These are the two covenants; may be considered as representing the two covenants.

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Verse 25

Verse 25

Is Mount Sinai; that is, represents Mount Sinai in this illustration.

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Verse 26

Verse 26

Jerusalem which is above; the spiritual Jerusalem; that is, the body of believers under the gospel.

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Verse 27

Verse 27

It is written; Isaiah 54:1.

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Verse 29

Verse 29

He that was born after the flesh; Ishmael, the son of Hagar.--Him that was born after the Spirit; Isaac.

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Verse 30

Verse 30

Cast out, &c The rejection of Hagar thus represents the rejection of the bondage and servitude entailed by the Jewish law.

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GalatiansGal 3 GalatiansGal GalatiansGal 5

Bibliographical Information
Abbott, John S. C. & Abbott, Jacob. "Commentary on Galatians 4". "Abbott's Illustrated New Testament". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/ain/galatians-4.html. 1878.

Bible CommentariesGalatians 4

Abbott's Illustrated New TestamentAbbott's NT

Bible Commentaries
Galatians 4