Christmas Season · Solemnity of Mary: The Holy Mother of God · Year B
Galatians 4:4-7
Sons of God
January 1, 2027
Overview & Insights
“God sent forth his Son, born of woman... so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)
The basis upon which Paul makes the previous statement in verse 25 is his conviction that the Galatians are all sons of God by virtue of their being in Christ Jesus . Paul continues to work with the metaphor of inheritance to underscore that all of his readers are inheritors of God’s promise. Paul emphasizes that the Galatians already are “sons” or inheritors of God’s promise. (Paul’s use of “sons” is meant not to exclude the female members of the Galatian churches, but to work with the inheritance metaphor. In the ancient world it was generally sons and not daughters who could expect to be inheritors.) For the benefit of both his Gentile Galatian converts and the Jewish Christian troublemakers who would have eventually heard his words, Paul says that “all” receive the inheritance through the faith of Jesus Christ.
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Commentary
Commentary on Galatians 4:4-7 Working Preacher
The RCL Name of Jesus commentary on God sending the Son, born of a woman, to make us heirs.
Galatians 4:4-7 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed commentary on the fullness of time, redemption, and adoption as children.
Galatians 4 Commentary: Heirs and Slaves, Grace and Law Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical commentary on the chapter.
Galatians 4 Commentary Precept Austin
In-depth study notes and cross references on sonship and the Spirit of adoption.
Galatians 4:4 Commentaries BibleHub
Compiled classic commentaries on born of a woman, born under the law.
Background & Word Study
Galatians - Enter the Bible Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the occasion and argument of Galatians.
Book of Galatians Summary | Watch an Overview Video BibleProject
An animated overview of Paul's argument about the gospel and freedom.
Galatians 4:4 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek word-by-word interlinear of the fullness of time passage.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
Why is Galatians 4 a Christmas reading?
It gives the theology of Christmas in one sentence: in the fullness of time God sent his Son, born of a woman, to redeem us and make us sons and heirs who cry, “Abba, Father.”
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