Paul speaks of such “a symbolic drama” involving Abraham’s two sons by Sarah and the slave girl Hagar. He shows that the two women “mean” two covenant relationships.

On the other hand, Sarah, the free woman, corresponded to “the Jerusalem above,” the heavenly wifelike part of God’s organization, which produces sons in accord with what was foretold in the Abrahamic covenant. (Ga 4:21-31; compare Joh 8:31-36.)