I honestly had never heard of the word " kai", nor the fact that there was a different interpretation implying a separation of salvation of Jews vs gentiles. Perhaps I am not as knowledgeable in reference to God's word but I do believe that salvation is available to all who earnestly accept Jesus Christ as his LORD & SAVIOR. Nor do I believe that the church took the place of God's chosen people. God bless...
Thank you for reading and commenting Roberto. Much appreciated.
One means of salvation for Jews and Gentiles. You are absolutely right about that. And God has not rejected and replaced Israel, you are right about that as well.
Thank you Stuart - It has never been Jesus + anything else as the Judaizers of past and present have promoted and God would never break His covenant with anyone!
Interesting. Since v. 16 is part of the overall summary and benediction that Paul himself wrote at the end of the letter ("see the big letters I'm using ..."), it can't reasonably be interpreted outside of the context of the entire letter. In that context, the "which is to say" interpretation is a bit bizarre. But, that hasn't kept it from occasionally appearing in popular translations. Here is the verse in a variety of English translations.
First is the Greek text from the most recent Nestle-Aland version, and my literal translation of it. The symmetry of "kai ... kai" makes the replacement interpretation even more bizarre, as you point out.
Following the Greek are the KJV and the major forks off of it (NASB, RSV). All of them translate the verse as you do. The New American Bible (a popular Catholic translation) does the same. The ISV, the CSB (Christian Standard Bible) and the HCSB (Holman CSB) have a variation on that, which attaches the word mercy specifically to the Israel of God. That's not an impossible translation, but it's not the most obvious one.
The NIV is a bit surprising to me, in that it's a good translation that does take the replacement approach. The New Living Translation and The Message both make a clear and forceful replacement statement in their "translations", but that's not surprising since both are shameful disasters that should never be read in church, but sadly very commonly are.
How do you deal with Galatians 4? “ 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.” Again I am on your side on this one, but it really looks like Paul is naming believers as the true inheritors of the promise and leaving those embracing the law to be cast out like Hagar and Ismael.
Thanks for the great question Jeff. This Galatians passage is often invoked to make a case for replacement theology. This, however, is not Paul’s intent at all.
The issue Paul is dealing with has to do with how people are justified… Is it by Law or by promise (faith)?
Gentile believers in Galatia were being pressured to submit to the Law of Moses (circumcision, etc.) in order to be fully saved.
To counter this erroneous perspective, Paul takes us back to Abraham’s family in order to illustrate two opposing principles:
-Human effort/Law (Hagar- Ishmael)
V.S.
-Divine promise/Grace (Sarah-Isaac)
Paul clearly states that this is an allegory: “This is allegorically speaking…” (Gal. 4:24)
He is not saying:
Hagar = literal ethnic Israel forever
Sarah = the Church replacing Israel
He is drawing a typological contrast between:
Covenant of Sinai (Law)
Covenant of promise (fulfilled in Christ)
When Paul says:
“You, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise” (v. 28)
He is not redefining Gentiles as “the new ethnic Israel.” He is saying they share in the same basis of inheritance as Isaac:
They are recipients of God’s promise by grace, not by human effort.
That matches up perfectly with what he said earlier:
“Those who are of faith are sons of Abraham” (Gal. 3:7)
“The promise… was to Abraham and to his seed… that is, Christ” (Gal. 3:16)
What about “cast out the slave woman” (v. 30)?
Paul is quoting Genesis 21:10. His point is that law and grace, as means of salvation, cannot coexist. The Gentile believers must reject the legalism being imposed on them.
So “cast out” does not mean Israel is to be rejected as a people. It means that the Gentile believers are to reject the Law as a means of justification.
Paul is not redefining Israel—he is redefining how one is saved:
Not by Law (Sinai / Hagar)
But by promise (Abraham / Sarah)
And that promise is fulfilled in Christ and shared by all who believe
Galatians 4 teaches that:
Believers (Jew or Gentile) are children of promise like Isaac
I was thinking my question might turn into another article. It did. Just the article was in the form of a reply. Ha! I now know why so many people at church bring their problem passages to you. Here you can answer questions and others benefit from the dialogue. Now to your answer. It is very well thought out and exposes problems for those who would take the scripture on the surface and misinterpret it. I have seen where these passages that elevate faith over law are twisted into replacement theology and then the people doing it fall into all sorts of problems afterward. I take a pretty lax attitude when discussing these things, but the correct dividing of the Word is really important. Maybe Kenny is right to chastise me sometimes. :-)
I honestly had never heard of the word " kai", nor the fact that there was a different interpretation implying a separation of salvation of Jews vs gentiles. Perhaps I am not as knowledgeable in reference to God's word but I do believe that salvation is available to all who earnestly accept Jesus Christ as his LORD & SAVIOR. Nor do I believe that the church took the place of God's chosen people. God bless...
Thank you for reading and commenting Roberto. Much appreciated.
One means of salvation for Jews and Gentiles. You are absolutely right about that. And God has not rejected and replaced Israel, you are right about that as well.
Blessings to you!
Thank you Stuart - It has never been Jesus + anything else as the Judaizers of past and present have promoted and God would never break His covenant with anyone!
You are so right Dianne!
Interesting. Since v. 16 is part of the overall summary and benediction that Paul himself wrote at the end of the letter ("see the big letters I'm using ..."), it can't reasonably be interpreted outside of the context of the entire letter. In that context, the "which is to say" interpretation is a bit bizarre. But, that hasn't kept it from occasionally appearing in popular translations. Here is the verse in a variety of English translations.
First is the Greek text from the most recent Nestle-Aland version, and my literal translation of it. The symmetry of "kai ... kai" makes the replacement interpretation even more bizarre, as you point out.
Following the Greek are the KJV and the major forks off of it (NASB, RSV). All of them translate the verse as you do. The New American Bible (a popular Catholic translation) does the same. The ISV, the CSB (Christian Standard Bible) and the HCSB (Holman CSB) have a variation on that, which attaches the word mercy specifically to the Israel of God. That's not an impossible translation, but it's not the most obvious one.
The NIV is a bit surprising to me, in that it's a good translation that does take the replacement approach. The New Living Translation and The Message both make a clear and forceful replacement statement in their "translations", but that's not surprising since both are shameful disasters that should never be read in church, but sadly very commonly are.
------------------------------------
καὶ ὅσοι τῷ κανόνι τούτῳ στοιχήσουσιν, εἰρήνη ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἔλεος καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ τοῦ θεοῦ.
And as many as to this rule they shall walk in line, peace upon them and mercy and upon the Israel of God.
-------------------------
(KJV) And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
(ERV) And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
(NASB) And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
(NASB 2020) And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
(LSB) And those who will walk in step with this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
(RSV) Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.
(NRSV) As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
(ESV) And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
(NAB) Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule and to the Israel of God.
(ISV) Now may peace be on all those who live by this principle, and may mercy be on the Israel of God.
(CSB) May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy even to the Israel of God!
(HCSB) May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy to the Israel of God!
-----------------------------------
(NIV) Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.
(NIV-1984) Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.
(NLT) May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.
(MSG) All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!
So grateful you are “on board” Kenny. I always benefit from your comments and insights.
How do you deal with Galatians 4? “ 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.” Again I am on your side on this one, but it really looks like Paul is naming believers as the true inheritors of the promise and leaving those embracing the law to be cast out like Hagar and Ismael.
Thanks for the great question Jeff. This Galatians passage is often invoked to make a case for replacement theology. This, however, is not Paul’s intent at all.
The issue Paul is dealing with has to do with how people are justified… Is it by Law or by promise (faith)?
Gentile believers in Galatia were being pressured to submit to the Law of Moses (circumcision, etc.) in order to be fully saved.
To counter this erroneous perspective, Paul takes us back to Abraham’s family in order to illustrate two opposing principles:
-Human effort/Law (Hagar- Ishmael)
V.S.
-Divine promise/Grace (Sarah-Isaac)
Paul clearly states that this is an allegory: “This is allegorically speaking…” (Gal. 4:24)
He is not saying:
Hagar = literal ethnic Israel forever
Sarah = the Church replacing Israel
He is drawing a typological contrast between:
Covenant of Sinai (Law)
Covenant of promise (fulfilled in Christ)
When Paul says:
“You, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise” (v. 28)
He is not redefining Gentiles as “the new ethnic Israel.” He is saying they share in the same basis of inheritance as Isaac:
They are recipients of God’s promise by grace, not by human effort.
That matches up perfectly with what he said earlier:
“Those who are of faith are sons of Abraham” (Gal. 3:7)
“The promise… was to Abraham and to his seed… that is, Christ” (Gal. 3:16)
What about “cast out the slave woman” (v. 30)?
Paul is quoting Genesis 21:10. His point is that law and grace, as means of salvation, cannot coexist. The Gentile believers must reject the legalism being imposed on them.
So “cast out” does not mean Israel is to be rejected as a people. It means that the Gentile believers are to reject the Law as a means of justification.
Paul is not redefining Israel—he is redefining how one is saved:
Not by Law (Sinai / Hagar)
But by promise (Abraham / Sarah)
And that promise is fulfilled in Christ and shared by all who believe
Galatians 4 teaches that:
Believers (Jew or Gentile) are children of promise like Isaac
The Mosaic Law is not the basis of inheritance
Freedom in Christ replaces bondage to the Law
Hope that helps. Blessings to you.
Stuart
I was thinking my question might turn into another article. It did. Just the article was in the form of a reply. Ha! I now know why so many people at church bring their problem passages to you. Here you can answer questions and others benefit from the dialogue. Now to your answer. It is very well thought out and exposes problems for those who would take the scripture on the surface and misinterpret it. I have seen where these passages that elevate faith over law are twisted into replacement theology and then the people doing it fall into all sorts of problems afterward. I take a pretty lax attitude when discussing these things, but the correct dividing of the Word is really important. Maybe Kenny is right to chastise me sometimes. :-)
Great article and great sermon this week. I will refrain from humor or substantive comment as I think it lands wrong with some.
Greatly appreciate you reading these article Jeff. Greatly appreciate you!