Paragraph 4:28–31

In this paragraph, Paul showed the Galatians how the allegory about the free woman and the slave woman applied to their situation.

4:28a

Now: In this verse, Paul began to apply his allegory of the previous paragraph. Begin this verse in a way that shows that Paul is going to make an application. For example:

And so
-or-
So then
-or-
Here is the point

In some languages, you may not need to use a connecting word or phrase.

you, brothers: Paul used the pronoun you and the word brothers to directly address the Galatians. He wanted them to pay attention to what he was about to say.

Some ways to translate these words are:

you, my ?dear? fellow believers
-or-
you, fellow believers ?in Christ?
-or-
you, my ?dear? friends

you: There is a textual issue here:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts have you. For example:

you (Good News Translation)

(Berean Standard Bible, English Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, New American Standard Bible, New Century Version, NET Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Good News Translation)

(2) Other Greek manuscripts have we. For example:

we (Revised Standard Version)

(Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, King James Version, Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), with the majority of English versions.

4:28b

like Isaac: Isaac was the name of the son of Abraham and Sarah, the free woman whom Paul spoke of in 4:22–23. He was free. Paul compared the Galatian believers to Isaac.

Some ways to translate this phrase are:

just like Isaac, ?the son of the free woman?
-or-
in the same way as Isaac

are children of promise: Isaac was born because of God’s promise to give Abraham a son. In the same way, the Gentiles have been born spiritually because of God’s promise to bless all nations through Abraham. The Gentiles are Abraham’s spiritual children. They are free.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

are ?counted as Abraham’s? children ?because? of ?God’s? promise
-or-
you have become ?Abraham’s? children ?because? of the promise ?that God made?

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