John Gill Commentary Galatians 4:31

John Gill Commentary

Galatians 4:31

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
John Gill
John Gill

John Gill Commentary

Galatians 4:31

1697–1771
Reformed Baptist
SCRIPTURE

"Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman." — Galatians 4:31 (ASV)

So then, brethren
This is the conclusion of the whole allegory, or the mystical interpretation of Agar and Sarah, and their sons:

we are not children of the bondwoman ;
the figure of the first covenant, which gendered to bondage, and typified the Jews in a state, and under a spirit of bondage to the law; New Testament saints are not under it, are delivered from it, and are dead unto it:

but of the free ;
of Sarah, that was a type of the new and second covenant; and answered to the Gospel church, which is free from the yoke of the law; and whose children believers in Christ are, by whom they are made free from all thraldom and slavery; so the children of the mistress and of the maidservant are opposed to each other by the Jews F11 .

The Vulgate Latin version adds to this verse from the beginning of the next chapter, "with the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free"; and the Ethiopic version, "because Christ has made us free"; and begin the next chapter thus, "therefore stand, and do not be entangled" and so the Alexandrian copy, and three of Stephens's.


FOOTNOTES:

  • F11: Tzeror Hammor, fol. 152. 1.