There is no interpretation to argue over in Galatians 4:24-31, if we accept Paul at his word.
Sure there is but allow me to explain why. Your interpretation of these scriptures are not biblical and has Paul in contradiction with Paul. You quoting Paul in Galatians 4:24-31 interpret him as saying
if we have been born again to love God and keep His commandments we are in bondage to the law. This is unbiblical an interpretation of lawlessness (without law) that is in disagreement with both the old and new testament scriptures.
Paul talked about the two covenants, and compared the "Sinai" Covenant to "bondage". These are not my words. They are Paul's. Any unbiased reader can see the truth below.
Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Gal 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.
Gal 4:30 Nevertheless 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 freewoman.
Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
No one can know Gods' truth without God's Spirit that is the Spirit of truth that all must seek from God through prayer. Galatians 4:21-31 is an allegory of the two covenants and those seeking height righteousness through the letter of the law (Hagar the bond women) and those seeking their righteousness through the Spirit of the law (Sarah free women new covenant).
So your scriptures are not applicable to our conversation as no one has claimed here that we can be made righteous with God by keeping the law no one can even in the new covenant and no one here that I have read has said that they can be made righteous by keeping Gods' law. That is not what the new covenant is about though is it? What is the new covenant according to the scriptures of the old covenant that is repeated in the new from Hebrews 8:10-12; Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:24-27. What do you think these scriptures are talking about? What is the old covenant and what is the new covenant?
We are in the new covenant now not the old covenant and no one is saying to get your righteousness from the law as all the law does is to give us the knowledge of right doing and wrong doing; good and evil; Sin and righteousness *
Romans 3:20;
Romans 7:7;
1 John 3:4;
Psalms 119:172. It shows us that we are all sinners and need of God's salvation *
Romans 3:9-20; Matthew 9:12-13 and leads us to Christ that we might be forgiven through faith and makes us free to be born again to walk in His Spirit *
Galatians 3:22-25;
Galatians 5:16;
Romans 8:1-4;
Romans 3:31.
Those who have been forgiven through faith (
Romans 8:1-4;
1 John 1:9) do not abolished God's law and become disobedient to it they obey it because they have been given a new heart to love God (
John 14:15;
John 15:10;
John 14:23;
1 John 5:3-4;
Romans 1:5;
Romans 3:31). Being born again into God's new covenant promise to love they now have God's law written in their hearts *
Hebrews 8:10-12; from
Jeremiah 31:31-34;
Ezekiel 36:24-27.
Those who have been born again to walk in God's Spirit according to the scriptures do not practice unrepentant sin *
1 John 3:6-9 and sin is defined in the scriptures as breaking anyone of God's 10 commandments and not believing and following God's Word *
James 2:10-11;
Romans 14:23.
So in summary, we are saved by grace through faith and not of ourselves it is a gift of God and not of works lest any man should boast *
Ephesians 2:8-9 but Gods grace is so we can be obedient to the faith *
Romans 1:5. Obedience to God's Law is not how we are saved it is the FRUIT of faith of one that is already been given Gods promise of salvation and the fruit of God's work in us *
Philippians 2:13 as we believe and follow his word *
John 10:26-27. If our faith has no fruit it is dead *
James 2:18-20; 26 and our tree will be cast down and thrown into the fire *
Matthew 3:10; 7:19-20; 13:49-50;
Hebrews 10:26-27.
Therefore we do not abolish God's law through faith like some people teach but God's law is established in the heart by faith that works by love *
Romans 3:31;
1 John 5:3-4;
Romans 13:8-10. According to the scriptures, sin (breaking God' commandments and not believing and following God's Word) is the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil *1 John 3:6-10; 1 John 2:3-4; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 14:12; Revelation 22:14.
What are the two covenants Paul is speaking about in the passage above?
See what he said in the letter below, where he compared the two covenants.
2Co 3:6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2Co 3:7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away,
2Co 3:8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
The word "was" in verse seven above is past tense.
Paul said the ten commandments covenant "was glorious", in the past.
This is in perfect agreement with what Paul said about the temporary nature of the Sinai Covenant in Galatians 3:16-29.
Paul said the law was "added" 430 years "after" the promise made to Abraham "until" the seed (Christ) could come to whom the promise was made. See Deuteronomy 5:3 for confirmation of the starting point of the Sinai Covenant.
All of these are in perfect agreement.
You are trying to undo everything Paul said above through his reference to God's commandment to circumcise in the Abrahamic Covenant. It does not work. .
Not really dear friend. Your teachings and interpretation of these scriptures simply demonstrate you do not know what the old covenant is or the new covenant that the old points to and neither do you understand the ministration of the law and the ministration of the Spirit of the law which is the allegory of the two covenants.
Let's have a detailed look at the scriptures to see if they say what you are claiming here that Gods' 10 commandments are abolished which we will see they say no such thing..
2 CORINTHIANS 3:1-14
[1], Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, letters of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
[2], you are our letter written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
[3], For as much as you are manifestly declared to be the letter of Christ ministered by us,
WRITTEN NOT WITH INK, BUT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD; NOT IN TABLES OF STONE, BUT IN FLESHY TABLES OF THE HEART.
Note: in [v3] that Paul is stating that the Corinthians here are letters of Christ ministered by Paul and his companions “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone (reference to the 10 commandments) but IN the fleshly tables of the HEART! Pauls reference here is to Gods new covenant promise of JEREMIASH 31:31-34
repeated by Paul in HEBREWS 8:10-12 [10],
FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT that i will make with the house of israel after those days, said the lord; I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MIND, AND WRITE THEM IN THEIR HEARTS: and I will be to them a god, and they shall be to me a people.
So the context here is the ministration (Paul and his companions being the ministers) of the new covenant Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ of which the Corinthians are examples who have been given a new heart to love God and walk in his commandments which is the new covenant promise of JEREMIAH 31:31-34 repeated by Paul in HEBREWS 8:10-12 and HEBREWS 10:15-17.
[4], And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
[5], Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.
[6], WHO ALSO HAS MADE US ABLE MINISTERS OF THE NEW COVENANT; NOT OF THE LETTER,
BUT OF THE SPIRIT: FOR THE LETTER KILLS, BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE.
Note: in [6] the context are repeated from [v3] that is that Paul and his companions were the MINISTERS of the NEW COVENANT. “NOT OF THE LETTER OF THE LAW BUT OF THE SPIRIT; FOR THE LETTER KILLS BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE”. No where here does [v6] teach that God’s law is abolished. It simply states that “the letter killeth” that is the letter of the law gives us a knowledge of what sin is *ROMANS 3:20; ROMANS 7:7; 1 JOHN 3:4 when God’s 10 commandments are broken and the penalty of sin is death *ROMANS 6:21-23; ROMANS 8:13 but it is not able to save us from sin and change our hearts to love and follow God. The reference in [v6] “FOR THE LETTER KILLS BUT THE SPIRIT GIVETH LIFE” is to the new covenant promise of JEREMIAH 31:31-34; HEBREWS 8:10-12 and HEBREWS 10:15-17.
[7],
BUT IF THE MINISTRATION OF DEATH, WRITTEN AND ENGRAVED IN STONES, WAS GLORIOUS, SO THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL COULD NOT STEADFASTLY BEHOLD THE FACE OF MOSES FOR THE GLORY OF HIS COUNTENANCE; WHICH GLORY WAS TO BE DONE AWAY:
Note: It is the ministration of condemnation and death (sin) that is to be done away with and the letter through the Spirit not God’s law as God’s law is not sin but is Holy, Just and Good * ROMANS 7:7; ROMANS 7:11-12 and gives us a knowledge of what sin is in the new covenant *ROMANS 3:20; ROMANS 7:7 and leads us to Christ that we might be forgiven through faith *GALATIANS 3:22-25
[8],
HOW SHALL NOT THE MINISTRATION OF THE SPIRIT BE RATHER GLORIOUS?
[9],
FOR IF THE MINISTRATION OF CONDEMNATION BE GLORY, MUCH MORE DOES THE MINISTRATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS EXCEED IN GLORY.
Note: The 10 commandments (the letter) written on stone is the “MINISTRATION OF CONDEMNATION” that is it condemns sin or the breaking of God’s 10 commandments. It brings a knowledge is sin and condemnation brings the guilt of sin which is death. Through the Spirit of JESUS our sins are forgiven as we have faith in God’s Word *JOHN 3:16-19; 1 JOHN 1:9 and His Spirit through faith in the Word of God *JOHN 6:63 changes our heart *HEBREWS 8:10-12 to love and obedience that leads to righteousness *ROMANS 13:8-10; HEBREWS 8:10-12; ROMANS 3:31; ROMANS 8:1-4; ROMANS 6:14:16; ROMANS 1:5; 1 JOHN 2:3-4; 1 JOHN 3:6-9; REVELATION 14:12; REVELATION 22:14.
[10],
FOR EVEN THAT WHICH WAS MADE GLORIOUS HAD NO GLORY IN THIS RESPECT, BY REASON OF THE GLORY THAT EXCELS.
[11],
FOR IF THAT WHICH IS DONE AWAY WAS GLORIOUS, MUCH MORE THAT WHICH REMAINS IS GLORIOUS.
Note: The purpose of God’s law was only to give us a knowledge of what sin is *ROMANS 3:20 and to lead us to JESUS *GALATIANS 3:22-25. It could never change us and free us from the power and condemnation of sin. The old covenant Sanctuary laws for remission of sins (burnt offerings and animal sacrifices and blood offerings) pointed to JESUS and God’s plan of salvation in the new covenant and God’s promise of salvation from sin’s power *JEREMIAH 31:31-34; HEBREWS 8:10-12; HEBREWS 10:15-17; JOHN 8:31-36; 1 JOHN 3:6-9.
[12], Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
[13],
AND NOT AS MOSES, WHICH PUT A VEIL OVER HIS FACE, THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL COULD NOT STEADFASTLY LOOK TO THE END OF THAT WHICH IS ABOLISHED:
Note: the veil to be abolished is the “letter of condemnation and sin” which leads to death through the Spirit of life which is received by faith in God’s Word that leads us to the Spirit of Christ that works in us to love *PHILIPPIANS 2:13; HEBREWS 8:10-12; ROMANS 3:31; ROMANS 8:1-4; GALATIANS 3:22-25; GALATIANS 5:16; ROMANS 13:8-10; 1 JOHN 3:6-9; REVELATION 14:12.
[14],
BUT THEIR MINDS WERE BLINDED: FOR UNTIL THIS DAY REMAINS THE SAME VEIL NOT TAKEN AWAY IN THE READING OF THE OLD TESTAMENT; WHICH VEIL IS DONE AWAY IN CHRIST.
[15],
BUT EVEN TO THIS DAY, WHEN MOSES IS READ, THE VEIL IS ON THEIR HEART.
Note: Following the “letter of the law”(old covenant) only leads to the outward appearance of righteousness condemned by JESUS when talking to the Scribes and Pharisees as highlighted above and in MATTHEW 5:20; MATTHEW 23:13 MATTHEW 23:25-28. We need to be saved from the INSIDE and receive a new heart to love. Outward obedience to God’s law does not save us because sin originates from the heart *MATTHEW 5:17-27.
[16], NEVERTHELESS WHEN IT SHALL TURN TO THE LORD, THE VEIL SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY.
[17], NOW THE LORD IS THAT SPIRIT: AND WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, THERE IS LIBERTY.
[18], BUT WE ALL, WITH OPEN FACE BEHOLDING AS IN A GLASS THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE CHANGED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, EVEN AS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD.
...........................
CONCLUSION: Just like Galatians 4 is talking about the two covenants 2 Corinthians 3 is also talking about the
ministration of the two covenants. The old covenant is the ministration of the letter that brings condemnation and death because it is through the law that we have a knowledge of what sin is when we break it *Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7; 1 John 3:4. The Spirit of the law or the
ministration of the Spirit is JESUS and God’s new covenant promise of salvation from sin, condemnation and death through faith in Christ in those who have been born again with a new heart to love *HEBREWS 8:10-12; ROMANS 13:8-10 according to God's new covenant promise; Whosoever is born of God does not practice sin *1 JOHN 3:6-9. Sin is breaking anyone of God’s 10 commandments *JAMES 2:10-11 or not believing and following Gods’ Word *ROMANS 14:23.
Your teachings of lawlessness has Paul in contradiction with Paul when he says in Romans 3:31 does faith abolish Gods' law? Certainly not it establishes Gods' law in all those who believe and follow Gods' Word.
Hope this helps