Translated by Qwen
Gal 4:22-23 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But he who was by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, while he who was by the free woman was born through the promise. Ishmael was the son of the flesh; Isaac was the son of faith. For Abraham begot the former according to carnal custom; the latter he received against nature through the promise, believing.
Who are born according to the flesh but lovers of the world? Who are born through the promise but lovers of the kingdom of heaven? Because to them also eternal life is promised, [to those] desiring it, worshipping God freely. These things are said through allegory. This is one thing figured from another. The Apostle gave a rule for how we ought to allegorize, namely that we understand the figures while the truth of the history remains. For when he had said that Abraham truly had two wives, afterwards he showed what these same things prefigured. And he did this same thing where some deeds of saints are related, not where sins are condemned.
Moreover, to call sins mysteries marks God either of impossibility or of ignorance: [as if] He either could not show His sacraments otherwise, or, not knowing sins were necessary for Himself, had previously condemned them generally, and then afterwards had not reproved and avenged them, if He Himself had wished those things to be done for the sake of His mysteries. You will hardly find precepts interpreted thus, lest it seem to empty their virtue.
Gal 4:23-25 For these are the two Testaments: one indeed from Mount Sinai. The Old and New [Testaments are] as two mothers. And that which was given on Mount Sinai through Moses [tends] to bondage. [The word] "law" is understood. Generating: The Jews were compelled even by present fear that they might serve; they were terrified by the threats of the law. Christians are invited by rewards that they might be free. Those, as slaves, besides moral precepts, are occupied also with diverse works. To us, as sons, with moral admonitions fulfilled, all servile burdens are removed. And they, serving priests by debt, were compelled to render tributes also. We indeed, owing nothing besides charity, honor them voluntarily.
From that same stock were those who crucified the Lord and remained in the same unbelief. Thence they are dispersed through all lands, so that from their books the testimony to Christian truth may not be lacking. From the Old Testament therefore God established the New, because it pleased God, until the fullness of time, with earthly promises established as it were in reward, to reveal heavenly promises. And to the people gaping after earthly goods He gave the law on stone tablets. Which is Hagar, the bondwoman of Abraham. For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia. From the qualities of places He wishes the diversity of the Testaments to be understood. Which is joined to her who now is Jerusalem and serves with her sons. [She is] bordering.
Gal 4:26-27 But that which is above. Therefore also the mediator and high priest of the New Testament came from heaven. And the Gospel is preached not in one place but in the whole world. Jerusalem is free. The sons of the free woman ought not to be servants. Which is the mother of us all. This is [the mother] of the multitude of believers. For it is written: Rejoice, barren one who does not bear. He proves we have another mother better than the Jews, Jerusalem full of iniquity. Break forth and cry, you who do not travail. Cry out with great joy. Because many are the sons of the desolate one. Which Anna prefigured, who said: The barren has borne seven, and she that has many children is weakened. More than hers who has a husband. Who glories in fecundity, thinking she has a husband, or because she then had [one] before the bondwoman was cast out with her son.
Gal 4:28-29 But we, brethren, [are] according to Isaac. Just as it was promised to Abraham concerning Isaac, so also concerning us, because in him all nations would be blessed. We are sons of promise, [not] according to Ishmael of the flesh. But just as then he who was born according to the flesh [persecuted]. Not only Jews but carnal Christians today also persecute, either by slandering or bringing calumnies or living badly, which is a far greater persecution. Always indeed those who are carnal persecute those who are spiritual, which we ought not to wonder at if [it arises] from nature.
Gal 4:30 Cast out the bondwoman and her son. For he shall not be heir. Let us spiritual men understand this, if such ones persecute us. He persecuted him who was according to the spirit. In Genesis indeed it is written: Because Ishmael played with Isaac. But here it is shown it was not simple play which is named persecution, but because he wished to make him [Isaac] buffoonish and light, such as he himself was, lest he be preferred to him in the inheritance. Therefore Abraham is ordered to hear the voice of Sarah in casting [her] out. Perhaps Ishmael, as older by birth and circumcised at that time when he could already understand and feel what he suffered, claimed the birthright for himself. Scripture called the quarrel of the little ones "play." Even today Jews more than gentiles persecute the Church. So also now.
Gal 4:31 So these ones desire you to be servants like themselves. But what does Scripture say? The son of the bondwoman with the son of the free. Therefore, brethren, we are not sons of the bondwoman. However much iniquity exalts itself, it is a bondwoman and must be subjected to the saints. However much they exalt themselves and boast that they are sons of Abraham, as long as they are sons of the bondwoman they cannot have inheritance with you. But [we are of the] free. Therefore we ought not, having left our mother, to follow the bondwoman, because although she was the wife of the same husband, nevertheless [she was so] for a time, because Sarah could not yet generate. With what liberty Christ has liberated us. He redeemed [us] from the hand of the enemy.
CONTINUE
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