“Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all…”
In 4:1-7, Paul illustrates the believer’s privileges because of his status in Christ as compared to those who live under the law. This section further develops 3:23-26.
Now I say […]
Archive for March, 2000
“…but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father”
but is under guardians
Paul uses two terms that both carry the idea of entrusting someone with something of value: 1) guardians and 2) stewards. Both of these terms indicate that others have authority over the heir.
A “guardian” was one to whose […]
“Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world”
Even so we,
Paul now applies the illustration of the first two verses to Christians.
when we were children,
The Galatians were bound in legalism when they operated by rules. People subject to rules function like children.
were in bondage
The law […]
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law…”
But when the fullness of the time had come,
The word “fullness” means something that fills up anything. God allotted a certain amount of time for sending His Son. The phrase “the fullness of […]
“…to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons”
There are two reasons Jesus came:
1) to redeem those under the law, and
2) to fix the full rights of privilege with God for the believer.
to redeem those who were under the law,
Everyone falls under the judgment […]
“…to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons”
that we might receive the adoption as sons
God adopts us “as sons” as a gift [receive]. God gives us sonship by redeeming us by His Son. God sent His Son so that we might freely become sons with privilege.
The word […]
“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’”
This verse divinely attests that we are sons of God because the Holy Spirit cries out in our hearts.
And because you are sons,
God gives us proof that we are His sons because we have […]
“Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ”
Therefore
Paul concludes his argument about sonship with a summary of his point by the word “therefore.”
you
The word “you” is in the singular making the application very personal to the Galatians.
are no longer a […]
“But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods”
Paul now appeals to the Galatians not to revert to the slavery of religion. They were under slavery to the religion of the Greco-Roman pantheon. Now legalists want to take them back to the slavery of the law, […]
“But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?”
But now
“But now” is the contrast after the conversion of the Galatians.
after you have known God,
Now that the […]