"For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, and the other by a free woman But he who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman, was by promise Which things are said by an allegory. For these are the two testaments. The one from mount Sina, engendering unto bondage; which is Agar For Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But that Jerusalem, which is above, is free: which is our mother For it is written: Rejoice, thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise But as then he, that was born according to the flesh, persecuted him that was after the spirit; so also it is now But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free"
St. Paul presents the history of Abraham's two sons as a divinely inspired allegory. The slave woman and her son signify the Old Covenant, bringing forth children into bondage under the Law. The free woman and her son signify the New Covenant, bringing forth children into freedom through grace in Christ. This reveals how the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New.
| Type (Old Testament) | Antitype (Fulfillment in the New Testament) |
|---|---|
| Hagar - the slave woman | Sarah - the free woman |
| Ishmael - born according to the flesh | Isaac - born according to the promise |
| Mount Sinai - the Law | Christ - grace and fulfillment |
| Earthly Jerusalem - in bondage | Heavenly Jerusalem - our mother, free |
| Old Covenant | New Covenant |
| Bondage | Freedom |
| Flesh | Spirit |
“Abraham had two sons, one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman; these things are said in allegory, for they signify the two Testaments.”
— St. Augustine
“The one gendereth to bondage, the other to freedom; not that the Law is evil, but that it was weak through the flesh.”
— St. John Chrysostom
“The synagogue brought forth children unto servitude; the Church brings forth children unto liberty.”
— St. Jerome
St. Paul concludes that the faithful are not children of the slave woman, but of the free. Salvation is not attained through the works of the Law alone, but through the promise fulfilled in Christ. Therefore, Christians are called to live in the freedom of the children of God and to cling to their heavenly inheritance.