Why did Paul use the Hagar and Sarah story as an allegory?
The account functions as an allegory of two covenants: Hagar pictures the covenant from Mount Sinai, which produces bondage, identified as the Law; the other son pictures the promise. Paul used this familiar Middle Eastern family setting to bring a lesson for believers today.
Les explains that Galatians 4 gives the allegory so it can be understood in common-sense interpretation. The two boys—one born after the flesh, the other born as a result of promise—represent the two covenants or agreements. The one from Mount Sinai, which genders to bondage, is Hagar, and that bondage is the Law. Galatians 5 calls it the yoke of bondage. Les says one reason this happened was so Paul could use the very typical setting in that Middle Eastern desert economy of these families and bring it to a lesson for us today. The passage then points to Acts 15 and the Jerusalem council, where Peter also addressed the issue.
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
More Questions
How can Paul call the Hagar and Sarah story an allegory?
Paul can use the Hagar–Sarah account as an allegory because God deliberately set up those historical events; they really happened, so Paul could later write this picture.
Why did Paul use the Middle Eastern desert family setting in the Galatians 4 allegory?
One reason the events in the allegory happened as they did was so Paul could use the typical setting of Middle Eastern desert family life to bring a lesson for us today.
What does Hagar represent in Galatians 4?
Hagar represents the covenant from Mount Sinai, which is the Mosaic Law, and that covenant produces bondage.
Which covenant does Hagar represent in Galatians 4?
Hagar represents the covenant from Mount Sinai, which genders to bondage.