'Cast Out the Slave Woman and her Son': The Dynamics of Exclusion and Inclusion in Galatians 4.30

Traditionally, the exclusionary command of Gal. 4.30 has been interpreted as proclaiming the exclusion of Jews from salvation, and more recently as commanding the Galatians to cast out the circumcising missionaries and their followers. Tracing the denotations of the respective mothers and sons in Paul's 'allegory', and noting in particular the singular form of the imperative in v. 30, this article offers an alternative interpretation: in Gal. 4.30, as in Gal. 3.8, Paul's converts overhear Scripture preaching the gospel to Abraham. The proclamation that the fulfillment of the promise comes only through divine faithfulness rather than through any human activity functions as a warning directed at those Galatians seeking circumcision.

Duke Scholars

Author Susan Eastman Divinity School