Galatians 4:1-3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 4:1-7

In this chapter the apostle deals plainly with those who hearkened to the judaizing teachers, who cried up the law of Moses in competition with the gospel of Christ, and endeavored to bring them under the bondage of it. To convince them of their folly, and to rectify their mistake herein, in these verses he prosecutes the comparison of a child under age, which he had touched upon in the foregoing chapter, and thence shows what great advantages we have now, under the gospel, above what they had... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 4:1-7

4:1-7 This is what I mean--so long as the heir is an infant there is no difference between him and a slave, although he is owner of everything, but he is under the control of stewards and overseers until the day which his father has fixed arrives. It is just the same with us. When we were infants we were in subjection to the elementary knowledge which this world can supply. But when the fulness of time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order that he might... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:1

Now I say ,.... To illustrate what he had said of the law's being a schoolmaster to the Jews until the coming of Christ, and then ceasing as such, he proposes the case of an heir during his minority, till he come to the proper time of enjoying his estate. that the heir, as long as he is a child ; anyone that is an heir to his father's estate, or another's, whilst under age, being reckoned as a child, as he is from his infancy to his manhood, differeth nothing from a servant : he is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:2

But is under tutors and governors ,.... The word rendered "tutors", is adopted by the Jewish Targumists and Rabbins into their language; and by the former is used F24 Targum Jon. ben Uzziel in Gen. xxxix. 4. & xli 34,35. & xliii 15. Targum in Esther i. 8. & 2. 3. for any ruler and governor, civil or domestic; and by the latter, for such as are guardians of infants, fatherless children, and such as are under age, as it is here used; and who were either appointed by the will... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:3

Even so we ,.... Jews, for of such the apostle is only speaking, and to whom he applies the above case of heirs in minority; it was to the Jews he had spoken of the law, as being a military guard, a prison, and a schoolmaster to them; and then having addressed the Gentiles, as being the children of God, baptized into Christ, one in him, interested in him, the spiritual seed of Abraham, and heirs of all the blessings of grace and glory; he returns to the Jews, and represents their estate and... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:1

Verse 1 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... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:3

Verse 3 3.Under the elements of the world. Elements may either mean, literally, outward and bodily things, or, metaphorically, rudiments. I prefer the latter interpretation. But why does he say that those things which had a spiritual signification were of the world ? We did not, he says, enjoy the truth in a simple form, but involved in earthly figures; and consequently, what was outward must have been “of the world,” though there was concealed under it a heavenly mystery. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 4:1-7

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 4:1-7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 4:3

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:3

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