[[Gal-04]] Prev: [[Prophecies in Gal-03]] | Next: [[Prophecies in Gal-05]] --- ### But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, *Type*: fulfillment *Summary*: The incarnation of Jesus Christ is presented as the fulfillment of a divinely appointed timeline and specific biological and legal conditions. *Historical context*: Theological tradition links the 'fullness of time' to the 'seventy weeks' prophecy in [[Dan-09#v24|Daniel 9:24]]-27. Historians often note that the Pax Romana, Roman road systems, and the spread of the Greek language provided a unique historical window that facilitated the rapid spread of the message of the 'Son born to a woman' (referencing the 'seed of the woman' in [[Gen-03#v15|Genesis 3:15]] and the virgin birth in [[Isa-07#v14|Isaiah 7:14]]). *Related to*: [[Gen-03#v15|Genesis 3:15]], [[Isa-07#v14|Isaiah 7:14]], [[Dan-09#v24|Daniel 9:24]]-27 ### For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren who don't bear. Break out and shout, you who don't travail. For the desolate have more children than her who has a husband." *Type*: fulfillment *Summary*: Paul identifies the miraculous growth of the New Covenant community (the Church) among the Gentiles as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy concerning the barren woman's offspring. *Historical context*: [[Isa-54#v1|Isaiah 54:1]] originally addressed the exiles in Babylon, promising that the desolate city of Jerusalem would be restored and overflow with inhabitants. Paul interprets this as a 'higher' fulfillment where the 'Jerusalem that is above' (v. 26) gains a spiritual family that outnumbers the physical descendants under the Old Covenant. *Related to*: [[Isa-54#v1|Isaiah 54:1]] ### However what does the Scripture say? "Throw out the servant and her son, for the son of the servant will not inherit with the son of the free woman." *Type*: fulfillment *Summary*: Paul interprets the historical command in Genesis to expel Hagar and Ishmael as a prophetic allegory for the eventual exclusion of those relying on the Law from the inheritance of the promise. *Historical context*: [[Gen-21#v10|Genesis 21:10]] records Sarah's demand during the weaning of Isaac. Paul treats this historical event as a 'type' or prophetic shadow that was realized in the first century when the 'children of promise' (believers in Christ) replaced the system of the Sinai covenant as the true heirs of God. *Related to*: [[Gen-21#v10|Genesis 21:10]] ### Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. *Type*: fulfillment *Summary*: The existence of the Christian community is identified as the fulfillment of the specific promise made to Abraham regarding his spiritual and miraculous offspring. *Historical context*: In [[Gen|Genesis 12]], 15, and 17, God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations and that a specific 'child of promise' would be born through Sarah. Paul argues that this promise is ultimately fulfilled in those who receive the 'Spirit of his Son' (v. 6) regardless of their biological lineage. *Related to*: [[Gen-12#v1|Genesis 12:1]]-3, [[Gen-17#v15|Genesis 17:15]]-19 --- #ai_prophecy