THE WATCHTOWER—STUDY EDITION

Questions From Readers​—June 2026

Liberian English
Questions From Readers​—June 2026
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w26 June p. 31

Questions From Readers

Questions From Readers

What two agreements the apostle Paul talk about in Galatians 4:24?

The apostle Paul talk about the relationship Abraham wor having with Sarah and Hagar. Then he say: “This thing dem get different meaning. This women dem stand for two agreements.” (Gal. 4:​22-24) So Jehovah Witnesses use to believe da this two agreement dem da wor the Law agreement and the new agreement. But after we study this verse dem good-good again, we believe da we need to change the way we use to understand it. It like Paul wor not talking about the new agreement. But he wor talking about God agreement with Abraham. Let look at some example. a

Paul make connection between Mount Sinai and Hagar the slave girl. (Gal. 4:25) Hagar mean the Law covenant da Jehovah give the Israelite dem on Mount Sinai in 1513 B.C.E. (Ex. 19:​5, 6) The Israelite dem wor not able to obey the Law good-good because they wor not perfect. So the Law always use to remind them da they wor slave to sin. This agreement also suppose to help the Israelite dem to know the Messiah. And da because he wor coming be the only human being who wor coming be able to obey the Law good-good. When the Messiah sacrifice his perfect life, he make it possible for human being to be free from sin and death. (Gal. 3:​19, 24, 25) After Jesus fulfill God purpose, the Law wor not needed again.—Rom. 10:4.

Paul also show the difference between Hagar and Sarah, “who wor not slave” who born “because of the promise God make.” (Gal. 4:23) This promise wor the agreement God make with Abraham. (Gal. 3:29; 4:​28, 30) God talk about this agreement in Genesis 22:18 when he say: “By means of your [Abraham’s] offspring all nations of the earth will obtain a blessing for themselves because you have listened to my voice.”

Da agreement God make with Abraham give more information about the promise Jehovah make in Eden. (Gen. 3:15) It show da the “offspring” wor going to come from Abraham family line. Paul explain da this “offspring” da Jesus Christ. But those who “for Christ,” the 144,000 anointed Christians who will rule with Jesus in his Kingdom, also part of this offspring. (Gal. 3:​16, 29; Rev. 14:​1-3) Because of God promise to Abraham, people who will accept and obey Jesus will get plenty blessings.

So what the lesson Paul wor teaching about this thing dem da get “different meaning”? He wor saying da if the Israelite dem during his time decide to continue following the Law, they wor going to continue to be slave just like Hagar. But if they wor coming accept Abraham “offspring” Jesus Christ, they wor coming be free just like Sarah. They wor coming to be free good-good from sin and death. (John 8:​32-34) So if they wor not coming accept Jesus, da mean they not understand the reason why God make the Law agreement. And this Law agreement suppose to guide them to know the Christ.

Plenty of the Galatian Christian dem who Paul wor writing to, wor not Jews and they never follow the Law before. But some Jews in the congregation wanted those who wor not Jews to continue following the Law like forcing people to get circumcise. So Paul say da it wor not coming to make sense for people to continue to be slave to the Law because they already accept Jesus Christ. So they wor free.—Gal. 5:​1, 10-14.

a This one change the way we use to understand this Bible verse dem in the March 15, 2006 Watchtower, pp. 10-12.