I have a question about this text.
First off, is an allegory supposed to be a perfect representation? Should it be read similar to that of a parable only taking it as far as the text represents lest we go to far and imply things God never meant to portray.
I hope I am not a distraction but I have been delving into Galatians lately and this is a text I have been meditating on also.
What are the two Covenants referred to here? I use to view them as two covenants that were in the Mosaic Covenant as a Particular (Reformed) Baptist. They were the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace which worked together side by side. But what are they really representative of in this text? Wouldn't they be representative of the Old and New Covenant? The Old would be the one where men were bound (over 600 commandments and ordinances) to shadows and things that point to Christ instead of to Him? The old was a schoolmaster which is hard and the the New was liberating freeing us from the hard schoolmaster?
It seems that the situation that the Galatians (very similar to the Hebrew Church) were facing was being turned back to the shadows instead of to the real and significant Anti-type. They were being turned to the shadows instead of being turned to the one who came and set us free. They were being turned to a darker Administration of the Covenant of Grace which was idolatrous to turn back to after the actual Person it signified came in His Fullness. They were also seeking to be just before God by their supposedly correct sacramental obligations which was not the purpose circumcision nor baptism were instituted. They were even changing the meaning of the sign and seal.
Thus they were falling prey to bad teaching which was bondage and things that were shadows instead of to the substance. For Christ's yoke is easy. The yoke Moses put on them, with all of the laws that pointed to Christ, was very burdensome. Being set free from the shadows by the substance was entering a real rest.
Does that make sense? I always viewed this differently as being two covenants in the Mosaic but I am not sure I was getting that correct. I believe I am seeing this analogy a bit clearer now. Maybe I aint. What thinkest thou?
As a side note this also reminds me of the following passage as application.
First off, is an allegory supposed to be a perfect representation? Should it be read similar to that of a parable only taking it as far as the text represents lest we go to far and imply things God never meant to portray.
I hope I am not a distraction but I have been delving into Galatians lately and this is a text I have been meditating on also.
What are the two Covenants referred to here? I use to view them as two covenants that were in the Mosaic Covenant as a Particular (Reformed) Baptist. They were the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace which worked together side by side. But what are they really representative of in this text? Wouldn't they be representative of the Old and New Covenant? The Old would be the one where men were bound (over 600 commandments and ordinances) to shadows and things that point to Christ instead of to Him? The old was a schoolmaster which is hard and the the New was liberating freeing us from the hard schoolmaster?
It seems that the situation that the Galatians (very similar to the Hebrew Church) were facing was being turned back to the shadows instead of to the real and significant Anti-type. They were being turned to the shadows instead of being turned to the one who came and set us free. They were being turned to a darker Administration of the Covenant of Grace which was idolatrous to turn back to after the actual Person it signified came in His Fullness. They were also seeking to be just before God by their supposedly correct sacramental obligations which was not the purpose circumcision nor baptism were instituted. They were even changing the meaning of the sign and seal.
Thus they were falling prey to bad teaching which was bondage and things that were shadows instead of to the substance. For Christ's yoke is easy. The yoke Moses put on them, with all of the laws that pointed to Christ, was very burdensome. Being set free from the shadows by the substance was entering a real rest.
Does that make sense? I always viewed this differently as being two covenants in the Mosaic but I am not sure I was getting that correct. I believe I am seeing this analogy a bit clearer now. Maybe I aint. What thinkest thou?
(Gal 4:1) Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
(Gal 4:2) But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
(Gal 4:3) Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
(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,
(Gal 4:5) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
(Gal 4:6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
(Gal 4:7) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
(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.
(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.
(Gal 4:26) But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
(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.
(Gal 4:28) Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
(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.
(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.
(Gal 4:31) So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
(Gal 5:1) Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
(Gal 5:2) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
(Gal 5:3) For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
(Gal 5:4) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
(Gal 5:5) For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
(Gal 5:6) For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
As a side note this also reminds me of the following passage as application.
(Rom 11:15) For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
(Rom 11:16) For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
(Rom 11:17) And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
(Rom 11:18) Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
(Rom 11:19) Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
(Rom 11:20) Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
(Rom 11:21) For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
(Rom 11:22) Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
(Rom 11:23) And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
(Rom 11:24) For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
(Rom 11:25) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
(Rom 11:26) And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
(Rom 11:27) For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins...
(Rom 11:31) Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
(Rom 11:32) For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
(Rom 11:33) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
(Rom 11:34) For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
(Rom 11:35) Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
(Rom 11:36) For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
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