Question: Dear Greg,
Can you please explain Galatians 4:30. Is Paul telling us the bondwoman is natural Israel and the free woman is the true church of the Jerusalem above which is free? This is a very important scripture to be understood, as many people are convinced all natural Israel is to be restored for a 1,000 or a millenium. What’s the truth?
Ford
Answer: Dear Ford,
Some Christians, primarily those who are influenced by dispensationalism and pre-millennialism, would take such a view. However, the majority opinion of this passage is that Paul is speaking of the free woman as the church, the church that is "one in Christ" (Galatians 3:28) and that one-ness transcends gender, race, and socio-economic status.
The great allegory of Galatians 4 is not given in order to help us understand prophecy or eschatology (study of last things) but to help us understand the new covenant, that fulfills, and transforms the old covenant. Given the context, it would be problematic to try to imply this allegory has something to do with "last things" – as that is not the context of the chapter, or indeed of the book of Galatians.
Hope this helps!
In Christ,
Greg Albrecht