Bondmaid and Freewoman Galatians 4:22 - Equipped for Battle

After reading and studying as many verses as we have thus far, we might think that Paul has convinced the church members in Galatia that following the false doctrine of the Judaizers was not a good idea. However, as though he needed to share more, Paul wrote that he desired to be with them because he was now in doubt of them, and he began to challenge to those who returned to following the law rather than walking in God's grace. He continues his appeal with an example of Abraham as he wrote in chapter four and verse twenty-two where he wrote:

For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

Paul refers to scriptural references for his persuasions - “For it is written, that Abraham had two sons,...” In Genesis chapter sixteen and verses three and four we read:

And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

And in Genesis chapter twenty-one and verse two we read:

For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

Paul referred to these two sons in this manner, “the one by a bondmaid” or as in the original Greek it reads, “the one by the bond maid”, and “the other by a freewoman” or as in the original Greek it reads, “the one by the free woman.” By the terms Paul employs, we can easily pick up on the implications expressed. When we think of those in bonds, we think of limitations, restrictions and regulated behavior. When we think of being free, we think of liberty, autonomy, license and power of choice. The inference is that one side is binding and the other side is liberating. If we are picking up on Paul's example, we will note that he is relating the gospel of grace to being free and the following of the law as being binding. Paul once again desires that the church members in Galatia would choose the way of being free. The question becomes, if there is opportunity, which would we lean towards if we had a choice? Hopefully by now even we know enough to choose grace.

Of course there is much more for Paul to reveal to us in his example in the verses ahead, but suffice it for now to have us leaning toward the free side, and as we do, we will align ourselves with the abundance of the grace of God available to us through Jesus Christ.

Next time Paul will tell us more about the bond maid and free woman so read ahead, and let us join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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