Galatians 4:1-8 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:7

Wherefore thou art no more a servant ,.... This is a benefit resulting from adoption, and the manifestation of it to the children of God, and supposes them to have been formerly servants; as whilst in a natural state they were the servants of sin, the vassals of Satan, slaves to the world, and the lusts of it, and in bondage to the law; but now being declared to be the sons of God under the witnessings of the Spirit, they are freed from the servitude of sin, from the captivity of Satan, from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:8

Howbeit then, when ye know not God ,.... Whilst in Gentilism, and in a state of unregeneracy, they had no true knowledge of God; though they might know by the light of nature, and works of creation, that there was a God, yet they did not know who he was, but called either mortal men, or some one or other of the creatures, or stocks, and stones, and images of men's device, by this name; they knew not the God of Israel; they did not know God in Christ, and are therefore said to be without him;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:1

The heir, as long as He is a child - Though he be appointed by his father's will heir of all his possessions yet till he arrive at the legal age he is master of nothing, and does not differ from one of the common domestics. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:2

But is under tutors - Επιτροπους· Guardians and governors; οικονομους· those who have the charge of the family. These words are nearly similar; but we may consider the first as executor, the last as the person who superintends the concerns of the family and estate till the heir become of age; such as we call trustee. Until the time appointed of the father - The time mentioned in the father's will or testament. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:3

Even so we - The whole Jewish people were in a state of nonage while under the law. The elements of the world - A mere Jewish phrase, הזה עולם יסודי yesodey olam hazzeh , "the principles of this world;" that is, the rudiments or principles of the Jewish religion. The apostle intimates that the law was not the science of salvation, it was only the elements or alphabet of it; and in the Gospel this alphabet is composed into a most glorious system of Divine knowledge: but as the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:4

When the fullness of the time was come - The time which God in his infinite wisdom counted best; in which all his counsels were filled up; and the time which his Spirit, by the prophets, had specified; and the time to which he intended the Mosaic institutions should extend, and beyond which they should be of no avail. God sent forth his Son - Him who came immediately from God himself, made of a woman, according to the promise, Genesis 3:15 ; produced by the power of God in the womb of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:5

To redeem them - Εξαγορασῃ· To pay down a price for them, and thus buy them off from the necessity of observing circumcision, offering brute sacrifices, performing different ablutions, etc., etc. That we might receive the adoption of sons - Which adoption we could not obtain by the law; for it is the Gospel only that puts us among the children, and gives us a place in the heavenly family. On the nature of adoption see the notes on Romans 8:15 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:6

And because ye are sons - By faith in Christ Jesus, being redeemed both from the bondage and curse of the law; God - the Father, called generally the first person of the glorious Trinity, hath sent forth the Spirit - the Holy Ghost, the second person of that Trinity, of his Son - Jesus Christ, the third person of the Trinity - crying, Abba, Father! from the fullest and most satisfactory evidence that God, the Father, Son, and Spirit, had become their portion. For the explanation of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:7

Thou art no more a servant - Thou who hast believed in Christ art no longer a slave, either under the dominion of sin or under obligation to the Mosaic ritual; but a son of God, adopted into the heavenly family. And if a son, then an heir - Having a right to the inheritance, because one of the family, for none can inherit but the children; but this heirship is the most extraordinary of all: it is not an heirship of any tangible possession, either in heaven or earth; it is not to possess... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:8

When ye knew not God - Though it is evident, from the complexion of the whole of this epistle, that the great body of the Christians in the Churches of Galatia were converts from among the Jews or proselytes to Judaism; yet from this verse it appears that there were some who had been converted from heathenism; unless we suppose that the apostle here particularly addresses those who had been proselytes to Judaism and thence converted to Christianity; which appears to be most likely from the... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:8

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