Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin
Chapter
Galatians 4:1-5
Galatians 4:1-5
1. Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
1. Dico antem: quamdiu haeres puer est, nihil differt a servo, quum tamen sit dominus onmium;
2. But is under tutors and governors, until the time appointed of the father. 2. Sed sub tutoribus et curatorbus est, usque ad tempus a patre definitum. 3. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
3. Sic et nos quum essemus pueri, sub elementis mundi in servitute eramus. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
4. Quando autem venit plenitudo temporis, misit Deus Filium suum, facturn ex muliere, redactum sub Legem;
5. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
5. Ut eos, qui sub Lege erant, redimeter, ut adoptionem reciperemus. 1. Now I say. Whoever made the division into chapters has improperly separated this paragraph from the preceding, as it is nothing else than the concluding section, ({ἐπεξεργασία},) in which Paul explains and illustrates the difference that exists between us and the ancient people. He does so by introducing a third comparison, drawn from the relation which a person under age bears to his tutor. The young man, though he is free, though he is lord of all his father's family, still resembles a slave; for he is under the government of tutors. 78 But the period of guardianship lasts only ``until the time appointed by the father'' after which he enjoys his freedom. In this respect the fathers under the Old Testament, being the sons of God, were free; but they were not in possession of freedom, while the law held the place of their tutor, and kept them under its yoke. That slavery of the law lasted as long as it pleased God, who put
78"{Επίτροπος} signifies both a child's guardian to take care of his person and estate, and his instructor and tutor, {ἐπίτροπος} {καὶ} {τοῦ} {παιδὸς} {καὶ} {τῶν} {χρημάτων}, `the guardian both of the child and of his property.' (AElian, v. H. 1. 3. c. 26.) Here it properly signifies the latter, his preceptor or tutor. The next word, {οἰκόνομος}, which we render governor, here denotes his guardian, who is to take care of his person and estate; and to each of these the heirs to large inheritances are generally subject, even as servants are subject to their proper masters.'' --- Chandler.