How was Ishmael, Abraham's son by Hagar, born according to Galatians 4?
Galatians 4 states that Abraham had two sons: one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman. Ishmael, the son of Hagar the bondwoman, was born after the flesh—entirely in the energy of the flesh—whereas Isaac was connected to the promises. Paul uses these births as an allegory for the age of grace.
Les explains that in Galatians 4:22–23 Paul refers back to Abraham’s two sons: one by a bondmaid and the other by a free woman. The son of the bondwoman, Ishmael, was born after the flesh, and Les emphasizes that this child by Hagar was produced entirely in the energy of the flesh. By contrast, Isaac came as a result of the promises over almost forty years. Les teaches that the whole concept of Ishmael’s birth and Isaac’s birth was intended as an allegory Paul would use in the age of grace.
But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
More Questions
Why is Ishmael described as having been born after the flesh in Galatians 4:23?
The bondwoman's son Ishmael was born after the flesh because his birth was Sarah's idea, not God's.
What does it mean that Isaac was the child of promise in Galatians 4?
Isaac was the child of promise, born through God's promise, not through the flesh like Ishmael; God promised this child even though Abraham and Sarah were 100 and 90 years old.
Why does Paul call the Hagar and Ishmael scenario "after the flesh"?
In Galatians, the whole scenario of Hagar and Ishmael is called "after the flesh" because God was not speaking or involved in that arrangement.
Who is the son of promise in the Abraham story, as opposed to the son of the flesh?
Isaac is going to be the son of the promise of God, in contrast to the fleshly son produced by the slave woman.