The Run Down
Christmas Clip ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
Read Galatians 4:1-11
זַרזַרְעֲךָ֖ σπέρματι (seed)
Genesis 3:15 Seed
Of the Woman
Hebrew, Translated to Greek by Jews Pre-Jesus, Translated to English
So odd written in 1500BC almost would not make any sense.
Genesis 15:18 Seed
The Covenant Promise to Abraham
Hebrew, Translated to Greeks by Jews Pre-Jesus, Translated to English
Galatians 3:15-18 Seed
Abraham’s seed who is Christ.
Written in Greek, Translated to English
Genesis 3:15 – זַרְעֲךָ֖ σπέρματι (seed)
Hebrew OT Genesis 3:15
בראשית “seed”
וְאֵיבָ֣ה אָשִׁ֗ית בֵּֽינְךָ֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ (seed) וּבֵ֣ין זַרְעָ֑הּ (seed) ה֚וּא יְשׁוּפְךָ֣ רֹ֔אשׁ וְאַתָּ֖ה תְּשׁוּפֶ֥נּוּ עָקֵֽב׃ ס
The Jewish Greek OT (100BC): Septuagint Genesis 3:15
καὶ ἔχθραν θήσω ἀνὰ μέσον σου καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῆς γυναικὸς καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σπέρματός (seed) nσου καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ σπέρματος (seed) αὐτῆς αὐτός σου τηρήσει κεφαλήν καὶ σὺ τηρήσεις αὐτοῦ πτέρναν
English Standard Version Genesis. 3:15
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your σπέρματός (seed) and her σπέρματός (seed); he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Arabic: Smith & Van Dyke Genesis 3:15
واضع عداوة بينك وبين المرأة وبين نسلك ونسلها. هو يسحق راسك وانت تسحقين عقبه.
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Genesis 15:18 – זַרְעֲךָ֖ σπέρματι (seed)
Jewish Greek OT (100BC): Septuagint Genesis 15:18
ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ διέθετο κύριος τῷ αβραμ διαθήκην λέγων τῷ σπέρματί (seed) σου δώσω τὴν γῆν ταύτην ἀπὸ τοῦ ποταμοῦ αἰγύπτου ἕως τοῦ ποταμοῦ τοῦ μεγάλου ποταμοῦ εὐφράτου
English Genesis 15:18
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your σπέρματί (seed) I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,…
Arabic Genesis 15:18
في ذلك اليوم قطع الرب مع ابرام ميثاقا قائلا. لنسلك اعطي هذه الارض من نهر مصر الى النهر18 الكبير نهر الفرات.
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Galatians 3:15-18 σπέρματι (seed)
English Galatians 3:16-18
16Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his σπέρματι (seed). It does not say, “And to σπέρμασιν (seeds),” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your σπέρματί (seed),” who is Christ. 17This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Arabic Galatians 3:16-18
ايها الاخوة بحسب الانسان اقول ليس احد يبطّل عهدا قد تمكن ولو من انسان او يزيد عليه. 16واما المواعيد فقيلت في ابراهيم وفي نسله. لا يقول وفي الانسال كانه عن كثيرين بل كانه عن واحد وفي نسلك الذي هو المسيح. 17وانما اقول هذا ان الناموس الذي صار بعد اربع مئة وثلاثين سنة لا ينسخ عهدا قد سبق فتمكن من الله نحو المسيح حتى يبطّل الموعد. 18لانه ان كانت الوراثة من الناموس فلم تكن ايضا من موعد. ولكن الله وهبها لابراهيم بموعد
Vs. 1 In antiquity, the “moment” of growing up was a very specific one.
A Jewish boy at 12… a Greek boy at 18…. In Roman law… it was a time at the discretion of the father.
So… Paul is referring to this moment as decided by the father as the “moment” where legal guardianship ends… and responsibility begins.
At this time the father “legally” adopted the son as full heir.
As a child he was no different than a slave… no rights… no freedom.
Actually…. As mentioned last week… he could be under the guardianship of a slave.
Vs. 2 Paul drops pedagogue… now uses another word guardian and trustee.
These are legal functions. Legal words. This is how Paul must be thinking.
Vs. 3 Here’s the analogy. Slaves to “basic principles” or “elemental spirits”.
1) Elementary stages of religion experienced by all man. Applies to both Jew and Gentile.
2) Law of Israel. Like in 3:23.
3) Elements: earth, wind, fire, water. Associated with the gods.
Vs. 4 “But when…. God…”
Man is lost without hope from God. Without him doing for us.
Of His own will and choosing and time.
“God sent forth his son.” Wow. God acts.
Eph. 2:4 “But God.. rich in mercy”
Born of a woman… not the man… just her… he was human… allusion to virgin birth.
And under the law. Within the parameters of the law. Circumcised on the 8th day.
Vs. 5 To redeem… 3:13 again. Buy out of slavery.
Those under the law. Under the elementary principles. Those under the slave custodian.
Rom. 8:17 co-heirs with Christ.
Adopted as sons.
The historical stream of salvation through Israel, incomplete through them… fulfilled through Jesus the Son of God.
Vs. 6 God’s second act of sending His Son first… then is sending His Spirit into our hearts.
Trinitarian teaching.
Aramaic for “Father”… Abba. Personal. “Daddy.”
Jesus used in his prayers.
This was unique to unheard of. Instead of God as the Distant Almighty Father…
He was the intimate… Daddy… not used… but Jesus constantly does in prayer and tells disciples to do the same.
Vs. 7 No longer a slave under the law… but a son… if a son… an heir through God.
We are heirs due to sonship… not incomplete,… unfulfilled obedience… guardianship of the law… but as heir’s through God. Abba. Sons.
God sent to redeem and adopt now heirs.
Vs. 8 The 3rd time he mentions the Galatians previous enslavement. When you don’t know God… you can’t help but be enslaved to sin, other gods, your own self, etc. Original sin entraps up from birth.
From the get go we need a savior… and that will be the vary Creator.
Slaves to the gods of paganism, specifically for the Galatians.
Who in reality are not gods.
Jeremiah 2:11
9″Therefore I still contend with you,
declares the LORD,
and with your children’s children I will contend.
10For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see,
or send to Kedar and examine with care;
see if there has been such a thing.
11 Has a nation changed its gods,
even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
for that which does not profit.
12Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
be shocked, be utterly desolate,
Vs. 9 Paul’s astonishment. But now… that you know God… or better yet rather are known by God… how are you turning back to weak and miserable principles?
One… you are turning back to error you once were in?
You know it’s error now… how is this possible? Are we that gullible, naïve, simple, or… willingly stupid?
Like the Hebrews… you what…? “Want to go back to Egypt and slavery?”
“Why do dogs return to their vomit?”
Sometimes we act as if the empowering Holy Spirit isn’t truly in us.
Can you imagine asking a freed African slave in the colonies if he wanted to go back into slavery again?
Can you imagine if he really wanted it?
“Know” here is not one of knowing facts…. But of “knowing” personally.
These weak elements/principals/spirits… can not free us from slavery. Why go back.. They actually bring slavery?
Only Christ can redeem us.
Vs. 10 These observances they are succumbing to are obviously Jewish ones from the legalizing teachers. A question some even today emphasize… or struggle with.
“Day” are Sabbath day.
“Months” are the celebrations on monthly cycles. New moons, Isaiah 1:14.
“Seasons” , for more than one day… like the Feast of Tabernacles, Passover.
“Years” like the recurring Year of Jubilee.
The amazing part is how he likens them to the pagan rituals and occultic practices. They all enslave…
Even the law… when distorted in a way… where people think that by obedience to it we can find salvation… that indeed becomes demonic.
You know that it is many times the “good” thing that draws us away from God more than the evil thing?
Name a few of them. Wife, children, work, money, sex… business, busyness, etc…
In and of themselves not bad… but before God, anything can become evil.
Even “the Law” if trying to obtain salvation by obedience.
Vs. 11 Yet Rom. 8:35-39 says nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Also in Phil 1:6 knowing the confidence that Paul had for Timothy in “that the work that He began He will finish”.
This is probably rhetoric. Or the exasperation of unproductive lives in Christ.
Like in 2 Peter 1:9 of unfruitful Christians, nearsighted and blind and forgotten their cleansing of sin.
What about you?
Have you forgotten?
Are you unproductive?
Are you living by some law?