GALATIANS 4:6-8 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
NSB* Just as God sent forth His Son "in the fullness of time" in world history (v.4), so God has sent forth the Spirit of Christ just at the right time for every person who believes in Christ. Into your hearts; Christians can now know intimacy with the Father because of the indwelling Spirit. (See Romans 8:1-17)
Notes Reference: Romans 8:1-17 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Spirit Of His Son; Spirit primarily denotes the wind" (akin to pneo, "to breathe, blow"); also "breath;" then, especially "the spirit," which, like the wind, is invisible, immaterial and powerful. The "Holy Spirit" is spoken of under various titles in the NT ("Spirit" and "Ghost" are renderings of the same word, pneuma; the advantage of the rendering "Spirit" is that it can always be used, whereas "Ghost" always requires the word "Holy" prefixed.) In the following list the omission of the definite article marks its omission in the original. This is one instance where the Holy Spirit is referred to as Spirit of (the) Lord. The Greek word for Spirit is πνεῦμα pneuma. Vine's (def 1, Notes 2), Strong's G4151.
Hearts; the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle Derivation: prolonged from a primary κάρ (Latin cor, "heart"); Thayer expands - Thayer: 1) the heart 1a) that organ in the animal body which is the centre of the circulation of the blood, and hence was regarded as the seat of physical life 1b) denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life 2a) the vigour and sense of physical life 2b) the centre and seat of spiritual life 2b1) the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours 2b2) of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence 2b3) of the will and character 2b4) of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions 1c) of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimateThe Greek word here is kardia καρδία . Strong's G2588.
Crying; properly, to "croak" (as a raven) or scream, i.e. (genitive case) to call aloud (shriek, exclaim, intreat). The Greek word is κράζω krazō. Strong's G2896.
Abba, Father; Abba is 1) father, customary title used of God in prayer. Whenever it occurs in the New Testament it has the Greek interpretation joined to it, that is apparently to be explained by the fact that the Chaldee "ABBA" through frequent use in prayer, gradually acquired the nature of a most sacred proper name, to which the Greek-speaking Jews added the name from their own tongue. Literal: Abba = "father". The Greek word is Ἀββᾶ Abba. Strong's G5.
The Greek word for father is from a root signifying a nourisher, protector, upholder" (Lat., pater, Eng., "father," are akin). The Greek word is πατήρ patēr. Strong's G3962.
Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Romans 8:15-16 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Moving to Verse 7.
Galatians 4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
NSB* Paul summarizes the illustration and teaching of the proceeding section (vv. 1-6) by speaking of the transformation of the believer from being a slave to being a son with full rights.
Slave; This is another instance where the King James used the word "servant", but that Greek word δοῦλος doulos means a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency). Strong's G1401.
Son; See this study under Sons.
Moving to Verse 8.
Galatians 4:8 8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
My Notes - Instead of "But then" the King James uses "Howbeit then". Gotta love it. Strongs defines "howbeit" as properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations). Contrariwise is another word that makes me laugh every time I read it. I think "but then" certainly captures the opening of the sentence nicely, but it's not as awesome sounding as "howbeit then"
Served; "To serve as a doulos". Thayer expands - Thayer: 1) to be a slave, serve, do service 1a) of a nation in subjection to other nations 2) metaph. to obey, submit to 2a) in a good sense, to yield obedience 2b) in a bad sense, of those who become slaves to some base power, to yield to, give one's self up to.In this instance, it would be in a bad sense to "those who by nature are not gods". The Greek word for serve is δουλεύω douleuo. Strong's G1398.
gods; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very Derivation: of uncertain affinity; a deity. (I) in the polytheism of the Greeks, denoted a god or deity," e.g., The Greek word is θεός theos. Vine's (def 1I) Strong's G2316.
Takeaways - I am not sure if Paul meant crying metaphorically or is the intention was to signify a loud scream. If so, this might be a verse that Christian rock bands might point to in order to justify loud screaming praise rock. In this text, I think we can also say with certainty that this crying of the Holy Spirit is not something to be taken lightly. What are we screaming, crying, asking (to or of) the Father? Does it match what the Holy Spirit would want? Have we stepped out of the slavery of sin and into the holy walk with God we are called to? It's definitely something I personally need to ask myself daily and then walk accordingly.
*NSB = Nelson Study Bible.
Comments