Galatians 4

Galatians 4

4.8  Formerly...  It is an important concept for a believer.

4.19  in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!  The anguish of the elders for their people, the process of salvation (in a total sense), object of our salvation.
4.24  may be interpreted allegorically...
"Verse twenty four. Paul says that the story of Hagar and Ishmael and Sarah and Isaac, is an allegory. This does not mean that he is casting doubt upon the historical trustworthiness of the patriarchal narrative in Genesis. An allegory is a statement of facts which is to be understood literally, and yet requires or justly admits a moral or a figurative interpretation. Paul, while using the story as an illustration, does so in order to prove his argument to the effect that the law is superseded by grace. Then he speaks of the covenant of law that was given at Mt. Sinai. This is allegorically identified with Hagar. This covenant places its children in a condition of bondage.
    Translation. Which class of things is allegorical. For these are two covenants, one from Mount Sinai, begetting bondage, which is as to its nature classed as Hagar."
Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament : For the English reader (Ga 4:24). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans..