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The Symbolism of the Two Sons

Galatians 4:21-31

Moses reports the most remarkable stories of the conceptions, births, and aftermath of Abraham's two sons, Ishmael and Isaac, in Genesis 16—21. Paul, however, in this very famous passage in Galatians, uses the two sons in an allegory (a spiritual or figurative idea built on a story) to contrast grace and legalism. Ishmael's conception and birth are divine gifts to Abraham and Sarah, but the conception of Isaac goes beyond anything in all of the OT. When Paul compares Isaac to grace, believers of that era would understand what he means because of the spectacular miracle of Isaac's birth. But when Paul compares Ishmael to the law, he is opposing the idea that keeping rules brings salvation (legalism).

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