What does Paul use Abraham's two sons as?
Paul uses Abraham's two sons as an allegory. One son, Ishmael, was born of the bondwoman Hagar according to the flesh; the other, Isaac, was born of the free woman according to promise. This allegory is applied by Paul in the age of grace.
Les teaches that Paul uses Abraham's two sons as an allegory, directing us back to Galatians 4:22-24. He notes that Abraham had two sons: one by a bondmaid, Hagar, and the other by a free woman. The son of the bondwoman was born after the flesh—Ishmael was born in the energy of the flesh. The other son, Isaac, came as a result of the promises over almost 40 years. Les explains that the whole concept of the birth of Ishmael and the birth of Isaac was for an allegory that Paul uses now in the age of grace.
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
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