Today, as we are now well into the illustration/story/allegory of Ishmael and Isaac … Paul writes: “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” Galatians 4:29
Ishmael literally “mocked” Isaac, often it appears, when the latter was just a boy! “And the child (Isaac) grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, MOCKING (meaning “laughing at, making fun of,” in the PIEL, “very energetic, aggressive” Hebrew stem of verbs).” Genesis 21:8-9
So Paul lets this Hebrew verb “mocking” be changed/translated into “persecuting” in the New Testament. And he does so guided by the omniscient, inspiring Holy Spirit, mind you. (The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible, in many ways!)
By the way, Paul has this very Old Testament Text (Genesis 21:8-9) in mind as he writes Galatians 4:29. How do I know? Come back and read tomorrow’s Lesson, the Lord willing. In Verse 30 of Galatians 4, Paul quotes parts of Genesis 21, nearly word for word!
“But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” Back to Galatians 4:29.
In olden days, Ishmael persecuted Isaac, the child of slavery persecuted the free-born child! The “Spirit” born child! As opposed to the fleshly born child!
This verb “persecuted” is “dioko,” meaning “to chase after” a person, in order “to do him or her harm!” (The grammatical idea is “to put to” flight” an enemy.) One would have expected “dioko” here to be an aorist verb, but not so, “completed action! Rather, it’s an “imperfect verb,” a technical Greek way of saying this persecution … once started, continued on and on!
Then Paul (quite appropriately) adds … “even so it is now.”
Paul the Apostle was then, the very second he was writing these lines, being persecuted by Ishmael’s crowd! By the Jews who loved slavery to the Law!
Heretics!
Like these: “Certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, EXCEPT YE BE CIRCUMCISED after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” Acts 15:1, adding to God’s Plan of Salvation by Grace, Salvation as a Gift! As a Blessing that cannot be earned by human works!
Much of Paul’s life he was “dogged” by these (true) legalists!
In fact, they inadvertently contributed to Paul’s (first) Romans imprisonment anyway!
They hated the Apostle with a passion!
The “salvation by works” people (even in our “modern” 21st century) still can’t stand us “salvation by Grace” folks, either!
But (thank God) Paul was willing to suffer for, to fight, and to defend the marvelous saving Power of God’s amazing Grace!
And all of us should be thankful!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell