Galatians 4:22-23

4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the ¹  slave woman and the other by the free woman. 4:23 But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent, ²  while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise.

Galatians 4:10

4:10 You are observing religious ³  days and months and seasons and years.

Galatians 4:31

4:31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, ⁴  we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.

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¹ tn Paul’s use of the Greek article here and before the phrase “free woman” presumes that both these characters are well known to the recipients of his letter. This verse is given as an example of the category called “well-known (‘celebrity’ or ‘familiar’) article” by ExSyn 225.

² tn Grk “born according to the flesh”; BDAG 916 s.v. σάρξ 4 has “Of natural descent τὰ τέκνα τῆς σαρκός children by natural descent Ro 9:8 (opp. τὰ τέκνα τῆς ἐπαγγελίας). ὁ μὲν ἐκ τῆς παιδίσκης κατὰ σάρκα γεγέννηται Gal 4:23; cp. vs. 29.”

³ tn The adjective “religious” has been supplied in the translation to make clear that the problem concerns observing certain days, etc. in a religious sense (cf. NIV, NRSV “special days”). In light of the polemic in this letter against the Judaizers (those who tried to force observance of the Mosaic law on Gentile converts to Christianity) this may well be a reference to the observance of Jewish Sabbaths, feasts, and other religious days.

⁴ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:11.