For my exegetical paper, I chose a passage from Galatians 4:1-7, which focuses on explaining why Galatians do not necessarily need to follow the Law of Moses as God’s children. The passage presents a specific interest in dissection and understanding because Paul uses a complex allegory in the text. The following paper will explain the passage and examine how the use of words and images in the text provides additional meaning while utilizing John Chrysostom’s homilies and Augustine’s reflections to acquire more context.
Firstly, a close examination of the passage is important for understanding the text because it includes several subjects such as law, sonship, slavery, connection with God, oversight, and compliance. However, Paul manages to facilitate the understanding of several concepts and their complex connections in introducing the allegory of an underage heir of an estate (Gal. 4:1). The essence of people under the Law of Moses is captured in the image of a young estate heir following strict rules which leave him with fewer rights than an enslaved person can have. The young heir will follow all the necessary rules, expecting to get something more at the end of his path. Thus, the heir deliberately decides to follow the instructions of guardians and trustees to become a better housekeeper and take his father’s place in the future. Therefore, by including the allegory, the author suggests that people must adopt similar thinking to understand the importance of being redeemed from the law.
In addition to the use of allegory, the passage emphasizes the words heir, slave, sonship, and adoption. In particular, the text contrasts the concepts of “slave” and “underage” child by suggesting that all people are God’s children (Gal. 4:1). Thus, those who knowingly deprived themselves of freedom in slavery now become God’s children and heirs. Lastly, the text points to the moment of adoption of sonship as being the lawful action, integrating a legal approach to the birth of God’s son.
Chrysostom’s homilies on the passage include a closer examination of words used in the passage and their deeper meaning. For example, Chrysostom’s reflections suggest that the word ‘child’ in the passage represents the level of understanding more than age. Thus, in denying the gifts from God, people acted childishly and, as a punishment, were forced to experience “elemental spiritual forces” (Gal. 4:4). Moreover, the use of comparison between child and slave can refer to the influence that “elemental spiritual forces” such as time had on people (Gal. 4:4). Therefore, Chrysostom’s reflections perceive the human need to return to the state of a young heir as the need to cleanse from misunderstanding accumulated over the years of being under the influence of spiritual forces. Thus, Chrysostom’s close attention to the term “child’ used in the passage adds new meaning to the allegory of the young heir.
Furthermore, Chrysostom pointed to Paul’s explanation of the benefits of God’s grace. The reflections emphasize how in addition to being God’s “first made sons,” people also received his grace, which allowed them to develop into freemen (Chrysostom). The homily suggested that the passage illustrated the benefits of God’s grace in a way that equates deserting it with “utter absurdity” and “stupidity” (Chrysostom). Thus, Chrysostom’s exegetical study of the passage in homilies identifies important details in both the author’s use of words and the deep message the text conveys to the reader.
Next, Augustine’s commentary on the passage accentuates the reader’s attention on the author’s use of the term adoption. The commentary suggests that using the term emphasizes the distinction between Christ as the only son of God by nature and his adopted children who receive the title of heirs from God’s favor (Augustine). Thus, Augustine’s suggestion about the introduction of the term ‘adoption’ also points to the benefits of God’s grace defined by Chrysostom. Therefore, in defining people as adopted children of God, Paul also pointed to the gratitude people should experience from receiving God’s favor and the foolishness in refusing his gifts.
Lastly, Augustine points that Paul attempted to bring unity between Jews and Gentiles through the choice of words of the Spirit. In the passage, the Spirit calls to “Abba, Father” simultaneously using Hebrew and Greek terms (Gal. 4:6). While the choice of featuring two words with the same meaning can be perceived as a literacy device, Augustine explains that it represents the unity of the faith. Thus, Paul’s inclusion of Gentiles as God’s adopted children continues by adding them to the list of people who received the Holy Spirit as a gift (Augustine). Therefore, besides the use of literary devices, the choice of words in the verse plays a vital role in conveying a unifying message.
In conclusion, this exegetical paper illustrated the importance of close examination of religious texts as every word and image used in the text can contain an additional meaning and provide more context to the message. Close examination of passage from Galatians 4:1-7 showed how the author used allegory and introduced familiar terms, such as “adoption to sonship,” to explain complicated terms to the reader (Gal. 4:5). Lastly, the paper showed that terms such as ‘child’ could describe both age and level of understanding. In contrast, ‘adoption’ can point to the individual’s connection with God or status in relation to God’s son by nature.
Works Cited
Augustine. “Augustine on Galatians 4.” Patristic Bible Commentary.
The Bible. New International Version, Zondervan, 1986.
Chrysostom, John. “Homily 4 on Galatians.” New Advent.