E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Galatians 4:1
as long = for (Greek. epi . App-104 .) such time. child. Greek. nepios . App-108 . nothing . Greek. oudeis . servant . Greek. doulos . App-190 . lord = owner. Greek. kurios . App-98 . read more
Galatians 4:1-3 Nlt,niv,esv
E.W. Bullinger
E.W. Bullinger
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Galatians 4:2
under . Greek. hupo . App-104 . tutors . Greek. epitropos . Elsewhere, Matthew 20:8 . Luke 8:3 (steward). governors . Greek. oikonomos . See Luke 16:1 (steward). time appointed . Greek. prothesmios . Only here. An adjective in feminine agreeing with "day" (understood). read more
E.W. Bullinger
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Galatians 4:3
Even so we = So we also. in bondage = enslaved. Greek. douloo App-190 . elements = elementary rules. Greek. stoicheion . Here, Galatians 4:9 . Colossians 2:8 , Colossians 2:20 . Hebrews 5:12 . 2Pe 3:10 , 2 Peter 3:12 . Compare Romans 2:14 , Romans 2:15 . world . Greek. kosmos . App-129 . read more
James Burton Coffman
Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Galatians 4:1
GAL. 4The argument of this whole chapter is a continuation of Paul's teaching on the abolition of the Law of Moses and the replacement of the entire system by Christianity. First, he compared the Law to the conditions governing a person not yet come of age, as something sure to be replaced by another arrangement later on (Galatians 4:1-7). Secondly, he pointed out the restrictive and onerous nature of the Law itself, comparing it to slavery or bondage (Galatians 4:8-11). Next, he reminded them... read more
James Burton Coffman
Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Galatians 4:3
So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world.We ... The word here means all people, Jews and Gentiles alike, the world itself being in bondage to all kinds of rudimentary and imperfect conceptions until Christ came.Bondage ... Peter himself described the Law of Moses in this same terminology (Acts 15:10); and when one considers the incredible number of rules and regulations which were enforced by it, it becomes clear enough that it was indeed... read more
Thomas Coke
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Galatians 4:1
Galatians 4:1. Now I say, that the heir, &c.— The Apostle goes on farther to prove, that the law was not against the promise, in that the child is not disinherited by being under tutors: But his chief design is, to shew that, though both Jews and Gentiles were intended to be the children of God, and heirs of the promise by faith in Christ,yet they both of them were left in bondage, till Christ, in due time, came to redeem them both; and therefore it was folly in the Galatians, being... read more
Thomas Coke
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Galatians 4:3
Galatians 4:3. Even so we,— It is plain that St. Paul speaks here in the name of the Jews or Jewish church, which, though God's peculiar people, yet was to pass a nonage,—so St. Paul calls it,—under the restraint and tutelage of the law; and not to receive the possession of the promised inheritance till Christ came. read more
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:1
1-7. The fact of God's sending His Son to redeem us who were under the law ( :-), and sending the Spirit of His Son into our hearts ( :-), confirms the conclusion ( :-) that we are "heirs according to the promise." the heir— ( :-). It is not, as in earthly inheritances, the death of the father, but our Father's sovereign will simply that makes us heirs. child—Greek, "one under age." differeth nothing, c.—that is, has no more freedom than a slave (so the Greek for "servant" means). He is not at... read more
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:2
2. tutors and governors—rather, "guardians (of the person) and stewards (of the property)." Answering to "the law was our schoolmaster" or "tutor" (Galatians 3:24). until the time appointed of the father—in His eternal purposes (Galatians 3:24- :). The Greek is a legal term, expressing a time defined by law, or testamentary disposition. read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:1-7
The law’s purpose illustrated (3:23-4:7)Jews under the law were like children under the control of a guardian, but this was only in anticipation of the coming of Christ. When he came, those who trusted in him were forgiven the sins they had committed against the law and were put right with God. Instead of being like children under a guardian, they now enjoyed the freedom of full-grown mature sons of God (23-26). Since the coming of Christ, all believers are united in him and are God’s children,... read more