Galatians 4

God Sent Forth His Son, Made of a Woman

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, Galatians 4:4

At exactly the right time the Father sent His Son to be born of a mortal woman, Mary, and to live under the law of Moses. The phrase "made of a woman" recalls the first promise of a Redeemer born as the seed of the woman.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• fulfils Genesis 3:15 — The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head.
• the same event in 1 Nephi 11:18-21 — Nephi sees the virgin, the mother of the Son of God.

Redeemer

Redeem — to buy back, to free by paying the price

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Galatians 4:5

The Son came to redeem, to buy back, those bound under the law, so they could be adopted as God's sons and daughters.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

His Son

Abba — Father (an intimate Aramaic word)

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:6

The Spirit sent into disciples' hearts cries "Abba, Father," the very word Jesus used when He prayed in Gethsemane. Through the Son we are invited into His own closeness with the Father.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Mark 14:36 — Jesus in Gethsemane: Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee.

Heir through Christ

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:7

Through Christ a person is no longer a servant but a child and an heir of God.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

Christ Jesus

Christ — the Anointed One

And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Galatians 4:14

The Galatians once welcomed Paul as they would have welcomed Christ Jesus Himself. Receiving the Lord's servant is like receiving the Lord.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Matthew 10:40 — He that receiveth you receiveth me.

Christ Formed in You

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, Galatians 4:19

Paul labors like a mother in childbirth until Christ's image and character are fully formed in the Saints.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

Isaac, Child of Promise

But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Galatians 4:23

Paul's allegory uses Isaac, born by God's promise, as a picture of covenant believers. Isaac's promised, miraculous birth is also widely taught as a type of Christ, the promised Seed of chapter 3, though Paul does not make that point here.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same event in Genesis 21:1-3 — Sarah bears Isaac as God had promised.