Galatians Study # 4 Slave or Free

You can watch the video of this Bible study tonight at 8pm AEST on my YouTube channel: Based Christiain History Here.

Galatians Chapter 4 Passage: English Standard Version

Sons and Heirs

“1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,

“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
    break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
    than those of the one who has a husband.”

28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 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. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.”

Introduction to Galatians 4

The fourth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatians stands as a passionate plea for believers to embrace their identity in Christ and reject a return to legalistic bondage.  Paul wrote this to a church flirting with Judaizing influences. False teachers were insisting to the Galatians that Gentile Christians must adhere to Jewish law, particularly circumcision, to be full members of God’s people. Paul argues fervently for the superiority of grace and the new covenant established through Jesus.

Paul opens with an analogy from the ancient world: an heir, while still a minor, is under guardians and stewards, no better than a slave, though he owns everything. Similarly, before Christ, humanity was under the “elementary principles” (or elemental spiritual forces) of the world, in a state of spiritual immaturity and bondage. But in “the fullness of time,” God sent His Son, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons. This is Paul’s core focus in chapter 4, a shift from slavery to sonship, from law to family, he wants the Galatians to know their identity in Christ. The proof of this adoption is the Holy Spirit, sent into our hearts, crying “Abba, Father!” We are no longer slaves, but heirs of God through Christ! Live in this light of this.

Paul then turns pastoral, expressing deep concern and even perplexity. In fact, he shows that he has taken their apostasy personally, it grieves him. The Galatians, who once received him as an angel, are now observing “days and months and seasons and years”, they have returned to ritualistic calendars. This signifies a retreat into law-based religion, the specialty of this world. He pleads with them to remember their freedom and not turn back to “weak and worthless” elementary principles.

The chapter culminates in a powerful allegorical interpretation of the story of Hagar and Sarah. Paul contrasts the two covenants: Hagar represents Mount Sinai (the law) and earthly Jerusalem, bearing children for slavery; Sarah represents the covenant of promise and the heavenly Jerusalem, which is free and is the mother of all believers. Paul identifies the Galatians, and all who live by faith, as children of the free woman, heirs of the promise, not of slavery.

Galatians 4 is a masterful blend of deep theology and heartfelt pastoral appeal. It celebrates the believer’s liberated identity as a beloved child of God, warns against the subtle slavery of religious performance, and anchors Christian freedom in the very story of Abraham. It calls every reader to live in the reality of the Spirit’s cry within: “Abba, Father.”

This passage has deep and powerful connection to controversies of today as well. Paul was persecuted by his Jewish opponents precisely because he sought to constantly remind them that one is only made a child of God through faith, never through the flesh. He was adamant that any Gentile who had faith was as much a member of the people of God as any Jewish person who had faith. This stood in opposition to the beliefs of the Pharisees and Sadducees as they saw themselves as the inheritance of Abraham through the flesh, and as the keepers of God’s covenants, therefore granting them a unique status in the world. Paul’s argument here is that this is not only not the case it is an inversion of the Biblical reality. You can only become part of God’s people through faith.  

Questions for Bible Study

1.     According to Galatians 4:1–3, how is an heir who is still a child similar to a slave? What does this teach about the condition of people before Christ came?

 

2.     In verses 4–5, what does “the fullness of time” mean? Why was it necessary for Jesus to be “born under the law”?

 

3.     What does it mean that God sent “the Spirit of his Son into our hearts” (v. 6)? How does the Spirit confirm our adoption?

 

4.     In verse 9, Paul says the Galatians are turning back to “weak and worthless elementary principles.” What specific practices does he mention in verse 10? Why are these a problem?

 

5.     Paul contrasts slavery with sonship. In what ways do Christians today risk living like “slaves” rather than like “sons and heirs”?

 

6.     What are the “weak and worthless” elementary principles of the world” that Paul is warning them about?

 

7.     The Galatians had once received Paul with great love (vv. 13–15). But now they have turned on him, treating him much like an enemy. Why did they turn on him?

 

8.     Paul says false teachers “make much of you, but for no good purpose” (v. 17). How can we recognize when someone’s attention or praise is manipulative rather than godly?

 

9.     In verse 19, Paul describes his ministry as “anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.” What does it mean for Christ to be “formed” in a believer? How does this happen?

 

10.  What is the difference between being born “according to the flesh” (Ishmael) and being born “through promise” (Isaac)? How does this apply to two different ways of relating to God?

 

11.  In the allegory, Hagar represents Mount Sinai and “the present Jerusalem” (v. 25). What does this say about trying to earn righteousness through the law? 

 

12.  What does “the Jerusalem above” (v. 26) represent? Why is she called “our mother”?

 

13.  Verse 30 quotes Genesis 21:10, “Cast out the slave woman and her son.” How should believers “cast out” the mindset of slavery in their own lives today? What practical steps can you take to live as a child of the free woman?