Galatians 3:23-27

Paul pictured Israel before the advent of Christ as a child. The coming of faith (Galatians 3:23) is synonymous with the coming of Christ in Paul’s view of salvation history.

In Paul’s day it was common for children between age six and puberty to be under the care of a pedagogue (tutor). The pedagogue protected them from evil influences and demanded their obedience.

"No doubt there were many pedagogues who were known for their kindness and held in affection by their wards, but the dominant image was that of a harsh disciplinarian who frequently resorted to physical force and corporal punishment as a way of keeping his children in line." [Note: George, p. 265.]

The Law did just that for Israel. [Note: See Michael J. Smith, "The Role of the Pedagogue in Galatians," Bibliotheca Sacra 163:650 (April-June 2006):197-214.] The Law was essentially a disciplinarian for the Israelites. However the need for that kind of assistance ended when Christ came.

"Christ is the real teacher, who takes us in hand and shows us the way of God in terms of grace." [Note: Harrison, p. 1292.]

Now all who trust in Christ are adult sons (Gr. huioi), no longer children. It is faith in Christ Jesus that makes one a son of God (Galatians 3:25).

"Now the focus shifts from the historical to the personal, from the institutional to the individual. Paul has discussed the inheritance promised to the children of Abraham; now he zooms in on the heir who claimed his bequest." [Note: George, p. 271.]

George suggested that Galatians 3:26 is the center of a chiasm. [Note: Ibid., pp. 271-74.] The first half of the chiasm has a Jewish emphasis whereas the second half has a Gentile emphasis.

A Promise (Abraham) Galatians 3:6-14

B Law (Moses) Galatians 3:15-22

C Faith (Christ) Galatians 3:23-25

D "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26

C’ Faith (Spirit) Galatians 3:27 to Galatians 4:7

B’ Law (stoicheia tou kosmou [elements of the world]) Galatians 4:8-11

A’ Promise (Sarah) Galatians 4:21-31

What unites us to Christ is the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit that takes place at the moment of salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13). Paul’s original readers may have taken his reference to baptism as being water baptism, but water baptism dramatized what happened to them when the Spirit baptized them. When Roman male children reached son status their fathers gave them a special toga that identified their status. Paul compared that toga to Christ (Galatians 3:27).

God has dealt with humanity as a father deals with his children. When children are young, having limited information and experience, a good father makes allowances for their immaturity, but when they become mature, he deals with them as adults. The differences in the house rules that Paul spoke of here reflect different dispensations (i.e., economies, Gr. oikonomos, lit. house law). It is interesting that even non-dispensational commentators admit that the coming of Christ, as Paul spoke of it here, inaugurated a new dispensation in God’s dealing with humanity.