Galatians 4:7 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 4:7

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

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:7

Verse 7 7.Wherefore thou art no more a servant. In the Christian Church slavery no longer exists, but the condition of the children is free. In what respect the fathers under the law were slaves, we have already inquired; for their freedom was not yet revealed, but was hidden under the coverings and yoke of the law. Our attention is again directed to the distinction between the Old and New Testaments. The ancients were also sons of God, and heirs through Christ, but we hold the same character... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:1-7

Majority through the gospel. Paul, having spoken of the Law-school in the preceding sections, and of the participation of believing Gentiles in the privileges of the Abrahamic family, proceeds in the present section to speak of the times before Christ's advent as infantile, of the advent as the fulness of times, and of the majority which is realized by believers through the gospel. Four leading thoughts are thus presented. I. THE IMPERFECT TIMES . ( Galatians 4:1-3 .) The Old... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:1-11

Majority and minority. I. THE CHILD COMING TO HIS MAJORITY . Analogy. "But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bond-servant, though he is lord of all; but is under guardians and stewards until the term appointed of the father." At the close of the preceding chapter Christians were described as Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise. It is with regard to this that the apostle now makes use of an analogy. It is a very simple and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:7

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son ( ὥστε οὐκ ἔτι εἷ δοῦλος ἀλλ υἱός ); so then , no longer art thou a bondservant , but a son. " ωστε , properly "so that," is frequently used by St. Paul for" so then" or "wherefore," to state a final conclusion (cf. Galatians 4:16 , below; Galatians 3:24 ; Romans 7:4 , etc.). It here marks the conclusion resulting from the statements of the preceding six verses, viz. of God having sent forth his Son to do away... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:7

The son and the slave. The Christian is compared to the son, the Jew to the slave. The gospel brings sonship, Law inflicts bondage. The sonship of the new order involves liberty and heirship. Consider some of the privileges herein implied. I. INTELLIGENT PRINCIPLES SUBSTITUTED FOR SPECIFIC COMMANDMENTS , The slave is ordered to do this or that without his master condescending to tell him the reason for his mandates. He is bound to a blind, implicit obedience. Nothing is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:7

Wherefore - In consequence of this privilege of addressing God as your Father.Thou art no more - You who are Christians.A servant - In the servitude of sin; or treated as a servant by being bound under the oppressive rites and ceremonies of the Law; compare the note at Galatians 4:3But a son - A child of God, adopted into his family, and to be treated as a son.And if a son ... - Entitled to all the privileges of a son, and of course to be regarded as an heir through the Redeemer, and with him.... 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 4:7

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 4:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 4:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 4:7

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