Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Galatians 4

Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

we

i.e. Jews.

the elements of the world

Gal 3:9; Col 2:8, 20.

world

kosmos (Mat 4:8) = mankind.

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

the fulness of the time was come

Gen 18:10; Heb 9:26.

God sent forth his Son

Jhn 16:28.

made of a woman

Gen 3:15.

Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

To redeem them

Sacrifice (of Christ). Gal 4:4-5; Eph 1:7. (Gen 4:4; Heb 10:18.)

under the law

Gal 3:13.

adoption of sons

Adoption. Eph 1:5. (Rom 8:15; Eph 1:5.)

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Spirit

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Gal 4:6, 29; 5:5, 16-25. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

heir of God through Christ

Eph 1:14; 1Pe 1:4.

Gal 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

ye did service unto them

1Th 1:9.

Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye ye desire again to be in bondage?

weak and beggarly elements

Rom 8:3; Heb 7:18-19.

ye desire again to be in bondage

Gal 3:1-3.

Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

Ye observe days

Col 2:16.

Gal 4:12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

I beseech you

2Co 6:11-13.

ye have not injured me

2Co 2:5.

Gal 4:13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

gospel

Gospel. Eph 1:13. (Gen 12:1-3; Rev 14:6.)

Gal 4:14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

temptation

Temptation. Gal 6:1. (Gen 3:1; Jas 1:14.)

Gal 4:15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me

Act 20:37-38.

Gal 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

become your enemy

2Co 12:15.

Gal 4:17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

they would exclude you

2Ti 1:15.

Gal 4:18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

not only when I am present

Phl 2:12.

Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

little children

The allegory (Gal 4:22-31) is addressed to justified but immature believers (cf. 1Co 3:1-2), who, under the influence of legalistic teachers, "desire to be under the law," and has, therefore, no application to a sinner seeking justification. It raises and answers, for the fifth time in this Epistle, the question, Is the believer under the law? (Gal 2:19-21; 3:1-3, 25-26; 4:4-6, 9-31).

Gal 4:20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

I desire to be present with you now

1Co 4:21; 2Co 13:1-2.

in doubt of you

Gal 4:11.

Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

under the law

Law (of Moses). Gal 4:21-30; Eph 2:15. (Exo 19:1; Gal 3:1-29).

hear the law

Rom 3:19-20.

Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

Abraham had two sons

Gen 16:15; 21:2.

Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

flesh

Flesh. Gal 4:23-29; 5:13, 16-21, 24. (Jhn 1:13; Jde 1:23.)

by promise

Gal 4:28; Gen 17:15-17.

Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

two covenants

Heb 8:6-7; 9:15.

the one from the mount Sinai

Exo 24:6-8.

to bondage

Gal 5:1.

Agar [See also Gal 4:25.]

Hagar.

Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

is in bondage

Jhn 8:32-36.

Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Jerusalem which is above

Heb 11:10; 12:22; Rev 21:2.

the mother of us all

Phl 3:20.

Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not

Isa 54:1.

Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Now we…children of promise

Gal 3:29; Rom 9:8.

Gal 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

he that was born after the flesh persecuted him

Gen 21:9.

Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

Cast out the bondwoman and her son

Gen 21:10.

Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

not children of the bondwoman

Rom 6:14.

free

freewoman.