“But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.”
At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. — the historical pattern (Ishmael mocking Isaac, Genesis 21:9) is rehearsed in the present: the law-oriented Jews ('sarka' — according to flesh) persecute the Spirit-born believers, a paradigm of conflict between flesh and Spirit.
Church Fathers on Galatians 4:29
“But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Howbeit what says the Scripture? Genesis 21:10 Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.” What! Does all this consolation consist in showing that freemen are persecuted by bond-men? By no means, he says, I do not stop here, listen to what follows, and then, if you be not pusillanimous under…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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